Monday, June 03, 2013

New report says younger voters see Republican party as "closed-minded, racist, rigid, old-fashioned." Sounds about right to me.

Courtesy of Politico: 

The 95-page study, which looked at the party’s views on social and economic issues, as well as its messaging and outreach, echoes a March report on the election debacle issued by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, which presented a devastating assessment of the party’s current state of affairs. 

But in some ways the new report from inside the GOP tent is even more scathing and ominous — since it comes from the party’s next generation. 

Titled the “Grand Old Party for a Brand New Generation,” the report is sharply critical of the GOP on several fronts. The study slams some Republicans’ almost singular focus on downsizing Big Government and cutting taxes; candidates’ use of offensive, polarizing rhetoric; and the party’s belly-flop efforts at messaging and outreach, even as the report presents a way forward and, at times, strikes an optimistic tone. 

In the report, the young Republican activists acknowledge their party has suffered significant damage in recent years. A sampling of the critique on: 

Gay marriage: “On the ‘open-minded’ issue … [w]e will face serious difficulty so long as the issue of gay marriage remains on the table.” 

Hispanics: “Latino voters … tend to think the GOP couldn’t care less about them.” 

Perception of the party’s economic stance: “We’ve become the party that will pat you on your back when you make it, but won’t offer you a hand to help you get there.” 

Big reason for the image problem: The “outrageous statements made by errant Republican voices.” 

Words that up-for-grabs voters associate with the GOP: “The responses were brutal: closed-minded, racist, rigid, old-fashioned.” 

“[The] Republican Party has won the youth vote before and can absolutely win it again,” the report says, pointing to presidents Ronald Reagan and George W. Bush who were competitive with that demographic. “But this will not occur without significant work to repair the damage done to the Republican brand among this age group over the last decade.”

This is a report put together by the College Republican National Committee so it attempts to maintain a sunny, hopeful disposition in the face of rather overwhelmingly bad news about the future of the GOP.

I think the idea that the youth flocked to Ronald Reagan has been much exaggerated. I lived through those times and Reagan was really a President for our parents more than for those of us in a younger demographic. We may have voted for him against Fritz Mondale for his second term but that had more to do with Mondale than Reagan. And after Reagan's lack of response on the AIDS epidemic during that second term his stature among the younger set was essentially that of Mitch McConnell today.

I do not see a way forward for the Republicans among the younger voters right now, unless they were to TOTALLY reinvent themselves and openly accept Hispanics, women, and gays into the party while also advocating getting out of the war business and going after big banks.

Not exactly a scenario that I see happening anytime soon.

No the Republicans will continue to be competitive in local races located in very conservative areas, but nationally they are finished unless the Democrats screw up in a big way.

33 comments:

  1. Anonymous2:42 PM

    Racist GOP members must be coming unglued...

    John Boehner's daughter marries a black Jamaican and this weekend John McCain's oldest son marries a good looking black girl.

    Sarah was not at McCain wedding. Must have forgot to RSVP.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous3:37 PM

      I'm sure she was the first to be invited, but her speech to the high school graduation probably kept her from attending. (sarc)

      Delete
    2. So now we know. She finally agreed to speak at the Republic graduation, following months of pleading from that student, right after someone asked her if she was going to the McCain wedding, which she had not heard of until that moment.

      Delete
  2. Holy Cow! Right wing heads must be exploding everywhere!

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  3. Anonymous3:29 PM

    Reagan never ran against Michael Dukakis; he defeated Fritz Mondale in 1984, while George H. W. Bush defeated Dukakis in 1988 (Reagan's *third* term).
    Please tell me you didn't really vote Republican in either of those elections; both Democratic candidates were good men, and both would have made better presidents than the ones we wound up with.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Damn it! I mixed up Dukakis and Mondale again. Not the first time.

      And no I NEVER voted Republican in a national election.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous5:57 AM

      I'll admit it, I did. I voted for Reagan in my young, rugged individualist days - today "Libertarian." That was while thinking I could make it on my own, yet living off mom and some parental SSI benefits (not realizing where they came from) somewhat and a lifestyle that worked just fine for a healthy, single person for a year or two. And the ReTHUGS were (at least)sane then.

      Then I became an adult, mom got sick a needed $40K (1990's) a year nursing home care, joined the working world, had a couple kids, bought a house ...in other words - I became an adult and suddenly that rugged individualism looked as stupid as little boys playing with plastic guns singing "bomb Iran" and urging war in teh real world based on their play.

      Delete
  4. @2:42pm

    "Baldy was not at McCain wedding. Must have forgot to RSVP."

    This is why she did the commencement thing at that high school this weekend! She didnt want her cult members to wonder why she wasn't invited! Slick ass bitch! Amirite RAM or amirite! LOL!!

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous4:27 PM

      He also didn't share the wealth when they divvied up the spoils, GinaM! Verrrrry telling, no? What's he going to say,"I TOTALLY fucked up?" We have Steve Schmidt for the face-making and giggles.

      Refudiate that RAM. LOL!

      Delete
    2. Anonymous6:18 PM

      great point!
      VernD

      Delete
  5. Anonymous3:34 PM

    This should be aloud warning to the current Republican leaders such as McConnell, Boehner, and Pence. If this is not a wake up call I don't know what is. It seems the Republican party right now is more committed in finding ways to get rid of a 2nd term President than doing what their constituents sent them to do, govern. Everyone, not just the Democrats, should be up in arms about the way the Republicans have abandoned governing, and instead putting their party, their political career, and favors for the rich before our country's best interest.

    One thing I have to say for Obama, is that he is a very patient person, maybe too patient.

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  6. Anonymous3:41 PM

    The Republicans are going to lose there asses in the upcoming election and I'm going to help! They are rigid, racists, obstructionist, nasty, negative, anti women (reproductive rights and income) and could care less about the poor or middle class!

    Especially in the U.S. Congress - jerks every one of them - get rid of them beginning w/Boehner, Issa, Cantor, and McCain.

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  7. Anonymous3:42 PM

    I'm sure she was NOT invited!!! McCain wants to stay away from her knowing full well he was totally off base in picking her for his ticket. What a huge goof he made and he'll NEVER live it down!

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:02 AM

      Love this one:
      http://www.falfiles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=353713

      oopsie, Orange Johnny.
      http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/house-speaker-john-boehner-daugther-ties-knot-dreadlocked-jamaican-born-beaux-article-1.1342922
      Looks like that war on drugs ain't working so well.

      Delete
  8. Anonymous3:55 PM

    John Boehner's daughter marries a black Jamaican? Wow!!! He has appeared as such a racist. Serves him right and I like Jamaicans - have been there - love their music too!

    President Obama and First Lady Michelle must be chucking!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Anonymous #25:23 PM

      What are they chucking?

      Delete
  9. Anonymous3:56 PM

    This will become more the norm and the Republicans had better get use to it and accept it! The old farts will be dying off and the younger people coming up and things are going to change. Hope I live long enough to see it! Vote the current Republicans out of office!

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  10. Anonymous4:04 PM

    Hell, it's not just the younger folks who think the Republicans are nuts. I'm 64 and interestingly enough, was a registered Republican, although very liberal on all social issues, all of my adult life. A few days after McCain named our illustrious half-gov his running mate, I changed my registration to "non-declared" and voted for Obama in the last two elections. Between Palin and the wingnuts with tea bags hanging off their hats, I couldn't do anything but swap sides. I won't change my registration to Democrat as I want to be able to vote a Republican ballot in the upcoming Senatorial primary so I can vote for uber-nutcase Joe Miller. Even though I haven't been happy with Begich (voted for him too) in terms of the background check vote or his non-stance on the Pebble Mine, I'd like to see Miller win the Republican primary so that Begich is a given for a second term. Can't do that if I register as a Democrat. So no one misunderstands...Begich should be a resounding, "NO" on the Pebble Mine.

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  11. Anonymous4:22 PM

    I detest the Republican Party! As they try to 'appear' to change in order to obtain the votes of the younger generation I urge everyone to follow them (on national, state and local levels) and to be VERY careful before placing your vote. Watch what they are doing behind the scenes even though they might say something different publicly so as to enhance younger voters.

    Look at your state legislatures and review their records very carefully. So many say one thing publicly and vote the total opposite! Same goes for your people serving in the U.S. Congress. They are nothing more than obstructionists, racists and could care less about the poor OR middle class. They only represent THEMSELVES in D.C. - plus do not work (like we do in the private sector) and give themselves pay increases even though taking more and more time off!

    These folks DO NOT REPRESENT AMERICA!!!

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  12. Anonymous4:25 PM

    As Two Prominent GOP Women Fade.....

    http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/06/03/18700047-as-two-prominent-gop-women-fade-a-question-of-how-to-woo-female-voters

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  13. Anonymous4:30 PM

    Totally O/T but the troll that frequents here often denies the fact that skank has left Alaska and is living primarily in Arizona. Well at seaopee they are arguing about whether brewer will give mccain's seat to skank-as if!! However one staunch supporter of the queen of skankenstein has said it!


    Pete Petretich section9 • 3 hours ago −
    Who cares what they think? Sarah is a national figure and she is a genuine resident of Arizona.
    1 2 •Reply•Share › TwitterFacebookLink

    ReplyDelete
  14. Anonymous4:32 PM

    A gen-u-ine resident of Arizona!!! Right there at seaopee and not one of those pathetic people has disputed what Pete said.
    So there you troll-even the thick minded ones at the sea know skank is a resident of Arizona.

    Like shown in game change-skank did not want to go back to Alaska-:)

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  15. Barney Fife5:31 PM

    They needed a 95 page report to come to these conclusions? Hell, I could've saved them all that paper and told them what young people think of them.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Anonymous5:53 PM

    Now wait a minute...the youthful Christian conservative Republicans have young role models to look up at. Why, good gosh, there's...well...OK, there's Bristol Palin!
    She's young...'Christian' conservative...got knocked up in high school, barely finished high school...lives off her mama's name...laughs when her son uses homophobic slurs..
    Yup...young conservative Republicans..they got it going on...

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  17. I read the report and I felt it was quite well-written and also bluntly true. Whoever wrote this - and I think it was the CR group and a paid consultant - was very good at getting at the nitty-gritty. There wasn't much bull shit and the report referred to the Democratic Party AS the Democratic Party.

    The one part that was very bad for the Democrats was that while the Republicans had plenty of up-and-coming potential leaders (not that we would think so) BUT the Democrats surveyed named Hilary and Biden as "future leaders". There seems to be very little Democratic "bench". We HAVE to have more new names out there in case Hilary doesn't run. (And I don't think she will).

    Who is our future? Let's take a page from a well-written Republican report and start working TODAY on introducing Dem governors and Senators and Reps to our base. Let's get some future leaders known to our people.

    I'd advise everyone to read the Republican report. It was basically brutally honest.

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    Replies
    1. Anonymous6:17 AM

      What ARE you talking about - Gillibrand, Castro (x2), Madigan, Duckworth, Giffords, Weiner (yeah, if Henry Hyde can claim an actual affair at 40+ as a "youthful indiscretion," I think Weiner can outlive a "sexting surprise." Then there's Deval Patrick, Corey Booker, Chelsea Clinton(?),Granholm (not for Prez as she was Canadian born, but certainly Senate or House)

      Add your non-midwestern names to the list.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous at 6.17a - I agree. YOU and I know those politicians, but I'm 62 and have been a life-long Democratic political junkie. I don't know how old you are, but you're obviously into politics, too.

      What I was trying to say above was that Democratic "Millenials" tend not to be as up on politics and the players as we are. When they see Hilary and Biden as the "future" of the party, we have some education ahead of us.

      We need to be spotlighting the Gillibrands, the Lisa Madigans (who I assume you're talking about. I heard her speak last year and was astounded at how smart and well-spoken she was), the Tammy Duckworths, etc.

      THAT'S what I was saying; NOT that we didn't have any up-and-comers. We have a great bench; we need to publicise it!

      Delete
  18. BabyRaptor6:35 PM

    Did they really not say anything about abortion?

    I guess that's just off the table, because it's the only thing that holds their voting bloc together.

    Either way, that's what's bleeding them votes amongst the people I talk to. I know several "diehard" conservatives that have started voting Democrat because of the bullshit the Right has been pulling RE abortion/contraception/women's health over the past few years.

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  19. Well, they're doing everything they can to rig the system so that they can keep a hold on power - no matter what the majority wants. It may take an exorcism to get rid of them.

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  20. Anita Winecooler9:13 PM

    There's one thing we can count on the Republicans to do to divert attention from this factual report-

    Vote to Appeal Obamacare.

    ReplyDelete
  21. Anonymous5:51 AM

    Even these "young" ReTHUGlicans are delusional:"Big reason for the image problem: The “outrageous statements made by errant Republican voices.”

    If it was a few errant voices, that wouldn't be a problem, every group has a whackaloon or uber enthusiastic fanatic or two - you excise the problem and move on. The TeaTHUGS speak with one (insane) voice, and the few whispers - like the (sane) OK doc REP that Gryphen posted today - is the voice of discord who will likelybe primaried by the ReTHUGS and TeaTHUGS.

    I say they are beyond hope.... and YEAH!!!!!!!!


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  22. Anonymous6:38 AM

    We may also have Ashley Judd at some point.

    Meanwhile, the ReTHUGS have:
    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/06/04/miss-america-congress_n_3383197.html

    who has abstinence as her platformh (LOL as if that has EVER worked).

    Even when ReTHUGS are chronologically young, they are mentally moribund.

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  23. Anonymous7:06 AM

    Against another pageant Walker, the Dems have Judge Ann Callis
    https://www.facebook.com/callisforillinois

    ReplyDelete

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