Republicans want to end perception as 'stuffy old men'

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Washington (CNN) – The beleaguered Republican Party put into writing Monday what many of its top strategists and leaders have been saying since last year's election losses: The GOP is too old, too white, and too insular to win national contests.

In a months-in-the-making report - which tops out at 100 pages and includes hundreds of recommended fixes - the Republican National Committee acknowledges its messaging problems, identifies structural setbacks to the primary calendar and spells out how to target specific demographic groups that voted overwhelmingly for Democrats in 2012.

"The report notes the way we communicate our principles isn’t resonating widely enough," RNC Chairman Reince Priebus, who also happened to be celebrating his birthday, said at the report's release in Washington. "Focus groups described our party as 'narrow minded,' 'out of touch,' and 'Stuffy old men.' I’m only 41, by the way. Today."

"It all goes back to what our moms used to tell us: It's not just what we say; it's how we say it," Priebus continued. "The promise of opportunity will be our message, and a spirit of optimism will infuse everything that we do."

The report was initiated by the RNC soon after last November's vote, which saw Republicans lose the presidency as well as seats in the U.S. House. Mitt Romney, the party's White House hopeful, lost among every demographic bloc except white men, a fact that helped spur collective soul searching among the party's leaders.

"Public perception of the Party is at record lows," the report states. "Young voters are increasingly rolling their eyes at what the Party represents, and many minorities wrongly think that Republicans do not like them or want them in the country. When someone rolls their eyes at us, they are not likely to open their ears to us."

Romney won only 27% of Latino voters - a lower percentage than the last two GOP presidential candidates. Many pointed to Romney's hardline stance on immigration, including his endorsement of a policy of "self-deportation," as a reason.

In Monday's report, that policy was specifically shunned as a turnoff for voters who could potentially vote Republican.

"If Hispanic Americans perceive that a GOP nominee or candidate does not want them in the United States (i.e. self-deportation), they will not pay attention to our next sentence," it states. In one of its few policy recommendations, the report counsels Republicans to "embrace and champion" comprehensive immigration reform.

And in order to attract young voters, the party recommends a "change in tone," particularly on social issues.

"In every session with young voters, social issues were at the forefront of the discussion; many see them as the civil rights issues of our time. We must be a party that is welcoming and inclusive for all voters," it states, adding later that it's imperative that young people not regard the GOP as "totally intolerant of alternative points of view."

"Our policies are sound, but I think that in many ways the way that we communicate can be a real problem," Priebus said at the report's release.

He continued, "Decent people can disagree on issues. I don't agree with my wife on 100% of the issues, but it doesn't mean we don't have a good marriage. I think that we have to be a welcoming party. I think that we have to have a party that says, 'If you want to support our party and you want to walk through that door, I don't need to agree with you on every single issue.'"

"Republican Party is, indeed, a big tent," said Ari Fleischer, a CNN contributor who was one of the report's authors, on Monday. "We need to make sure that's a big tent, and not just rhetoric."

"Take the issue of gay marriage, for example, and gay rights. There is a genuine generational split in the Republican Party on that issue. Many, many young conservatives are for gay rights, are for gay marriage. And we openly talk about that and acknowledge that and we welcome that. That's part of what a big tent should be about," Fleischer said on CNN's "Starting Point."

The party's primary process has also generated problems for Republicans, the report finds, including the months-long primary process that saw candidates ripping each other in front of too many debates.

The number of debates should be cut in half, the report recommends, and the Republican National Convention should be moved earlier in the summer, so that the party's presidential candidate can start using RNC money earlier - the candidate is prevented from using those funds until they are officially nominated at the convention.

Also necessary, according to the report: a more robust digital effort, including the creation of a chief technology and digital officer for the RNC, to compete with Democrats online.

"Digital can simply no longer be an afterthought in our campaigns," the report states. "It has to be embedded in every function and backed up with appropriate staffing and funding."

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2013/03/18/republicans-want-to-end-perception-as-stuffy-old-men/?hpt=hp_t2

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

In order to do that, they have to invite minorities in and work with them on issues. That will be a start.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

In order to do that, they have to invite minorities in and work with them on issues. That will be a start.

They need to be far more inclusive than they have in the past.

The "Democratic voters only want free stuff" nonsense also has to end - their supporters keep repeating it, for some reason, when it's the exact attitude that lost them an election.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

The "Democratic voters only want free stuff" nonsense also has to end

Yes. No place for truth in politics.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

They need to be far more inclusive than they have in the past.

The "Democratic voters only want free stuff" nonsense also has to end - their supporters keep repeating it, for some reason, when it's the exact attitude that lost them an election.

True, they tend to have a more hard line stance on issues, which is fine in my opinion, but they tend to offend folks a lot more than the Democrats, or maybe I just don't see it as much.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

True, they tend to have a more hard line stance on issues, which is fine in my opinion, but they tend to offend folks a lot more than the Democrats, or maybe I just don't see it as much.

Republicans are like your parents - they never want you to have any fun.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

Yes. No place for truth in politics.

Truth. Sure.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Truth. Sure.

What does the Democratic Party stand for, if not taxing the evil rich to pay for free stuff for the less fortunate, the less capable, and the less willing? You are fooling yourself if you think otherwise.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Republicans are like your parents - they never want you to have any fun.

There is a difference between being truthful and being rude. Once they learn that, they will get their message out more effectly.

[Penny Lane 8,159]

What does the Democratic Party stand for, if not taxing the evil rich to pay for free stuff for the less fortunate, the less capable, and the less willing? You are fooling yourself if you think otherwise.

There's nothing evil about being rich, but they should indeed pay more since they can afford to. There is nothing wrong with a country taking care of its less fortunate and capable. As for the 'less willing', there will always be people to abuse a system, but that does not mean the people who truly need help should not get it.

To insinuate that an entire voting base is the same ("they just want free stuff, that's all they care about!!") is insulting and hardly the way to get the point across. That does nothing but alienate millions upon millions of people, as proven in November.

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

There is a difference between being truthful and being rude. Once they learn that, they will get their message out more effectly.

Yes, they do lack tact. It is hard to be compassionate when your basic message is, "I got mine, now go get yours," and "army of one."

[JohnR! 5,495]

"Public perception of the Party is at record lows," the report states. "Young voters are increasingly rolling their eyes at what the Party represents, and many minorities wrongly think that Republicans do not like them or want them in the country. When someone rolls their eyes at us, they are not likely to open their ears to us."

The GOP has alienated anyone who does not march lockstep with their doctrine. Also the takeover by the TBs and the infiltration by the likes of Palin, Bachman and their ilk only cause the party to polarize itself from reality. Finally they managed to get to a point where anyone with a brain and/or a conciliatory tone is being called a RINO. You need not look further than the criticism Christie received for praising the POTUS for his reaction in the aftermath of Sandy.

It is as though the GOP became the umbrella under which any extremist can find shelter.

Slowly they are shunning several segments of American society. Their demise should come as no surprise. It is self inflicted for the most of it.

[Karee 4,190]

The GOP has alienated anyone who does not march lockstep with their doctrine. Also the takeover by the TBs and the infiltration by the likes of Palin, Bachman and their ilk only cause the party to polarize itself from reality. Finally they managed to get to a point where anyone with a brain and/or a conciliatory tone is being called a RINO. You need not look further than the criticism Christie received for praising the POTUS for his reaction in the aftermath of Sandy.

It is as though the GOP became the umbrella under which any extremist can find shelter.

Slowly they are shunning several segments of American society. Their demise should come as no surprise. It is self inflicted for the most of it.

You're crazy.

[JohnR! 5,495]

You're crazy.

It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world! :rofl: :rofl:

[Ban Hammer 13,344]

There's nothing evil about being rich, but they should indeed pay more since they can afford to. There is nothing wrong with a country taking care of its less fortunate and capable.

why should we take care of the capable?