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The GOP's new hope: rising stars at war for their party The GOP's new hope: rising stars at war for their party
(5 months later)
Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is right: "Simply being the anti-Obama party didn't work. You can't beat something with nothing."Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal is right: "Simply being the anti-Obama party didn't work. You can't beat something with nothing."
For a major political party in America today, if single women, minorities and young people don't like what you offer, then you face a de facto existential problem. Until recently, many Republicans didn't get this fact, or if they did, they simply didn't care. But that's finally begun to change. It seems we conservatives have realized that idiocy is an ineffective competitor to liberalism.For a major political party in America today, if single women, minorities and young people don't like what you offer, then you face a de facto existential problem. Until recently, many Republicans didn't get this fact, or if they did, they simply didn't care. But that's finally begun to change. It seems we conservatives have realized that idiocy is an ineffective competitor to liberalism.
This evolution has been most apparent in the GOP's noticeable change of tone. From young social conservative bloggers to high-ranking congressional leaders, Republicans are slowly grasping a truth ignored for too long: arrogant condescension doesn't win votes. Persuasion is key.This evolution has been most apparent in the GOP's noticeable change of tone. From young social conservative bloggers to high-ranking congressional leaders, Republicans are slowly grasping a truth ignored for too long: arrogant condescension doesn't win votes. Persuasion is key.
And the change hasn't just been found in words. Even Sarah Palin has largely been replaced as the Tea Party favorite by a more intellectual leader, Texas Senator Ted Cruz. We're also seeing a sudden courage for proposing bold new ideas, like Bobby Jindal's original thinking on Medicaid, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's celebration of compromise, or Marco Rubio's leadership on immigration reform. And it's not just men; Republican women are also at the vanguard of this revolution.And the change hasn't just been found in words. Even Sarah Palin has largely been replaced as the Tea Party favorite by a more intellectual leader, Texas Senator Ted Cruz. We're also seeing a sudden courage for proposing bold new ideas, like Bobby Jindal's original thinking on Medicaid, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's celebration of compromise, or Marco Rubio's leadership on immigration reform. And it's not just men; Republican women are also at the vanguard of this revolution.
This risk-taking dynamism beckons a new GOP, a more serious, less emotional party that has an eye to the future. These conservatives have recognized that the party needs a better pool of candidates in future elections.This risk-taking dynamism beckons a new GOP, a more serious, less emotional party that has an eye to the future. These conservatives have recognized that the party needs a better pool of candidates in future elections.
Take one poll that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) recently undertook in California. The NRCC gauged probable voters on their potential support for Carl DeMaio, an openly gay Republican and former San Diego mayoral candidate. That this poll was even taken illustrates that GOP reform has a long road ahead, but still, this was a step in the right direction – orthodoxy was being challenged. The results of this highly competitive House district were also unsurprising: DeMaio would be a highly competitive Republican candidate. The NRCC now has proof to take to the naysayers that Americans care far more about jobs and leadership than they do about the private lives of consenting adults. It's the economy, stupid.Take one poll that the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) recently undertook in California. The NRCC gauged probable voters on their potential support for Carl DeMaio, an openly gay Republican and former San Diego mayoral candidate. That this poll was even taken illustrates that GOP reform has a long road ahead, but still, this was a step in the right direction – orthodoxy was being challenged. The results of this highly competitive House district were also unsurprising: DeMaio would be a highly competitive Republican candidate. The NRCC now has proof to take to the naysayers that Americans care far more about jobs and leadership than they do about the private lives of consenting adults. It's the economy, stupid.
The latest polls suggest that Americans like what they're seeing. Congressional Republicans are ever so slightly more popular, and if they continue to change, things are likely to look good going forward.The latest polls suggest that Americans like what they're seeing. Congressional Republicans are ever so slightly more popular, and if they continue to change, things are likely to look good going forward.
Take the expected pool of candidates for the 2016 GOP Presidential primaries. The 2012 GOP primaries were often defined by indistinction and a catastrophic (albeit inadvertent) celebration of slapstick humor. But the 2016 field will be far more likely to be characterized by articulate and passionate debate. We'll see Christie's confident pragmatism battle with Cruz's energetic traditionalism. We'll observe Kentucky Senator Rand Paul's rebranded libertarianism contest Rubio's desire for unapologetic leadership.Take the expected pool of candidates for the 2016 GOP Presidential primaries. The 2012 GOP primaries were often defined by indistinction and a catastrophic (albeit inadvertent) celebration of slapstick humor. But the 2016 field will be far more likely to be characterized by articulate and passionate debate. We'll see Christie's confident pragmatism battle with Cruz's energetic traditionalism. We'll observe Kentucky Senator Rand Paul's rebranded libertarianism contest Rubio's desire for unapologetic leadership.
This will be good for Republicans, who deserve serious choices, but it'll also be good for America. Whoever wins the 2016 GOP nomination will have to do so by being cognizant of changing demographics. As a result, hopefully a new, more accessible conservatism will hopefully be born from the sharp debates. This new conservatism should speak to the aspirations of the many, rather than the anger of the few, and be concerned more for social mobility and less with "takers".This will be good for Republicans, who deserve serious choices, but it'll also be good for America. Whoever wins the 2016 GOP nomination will have to do so by being cognizant of changing demographics. As a result, hopefully a new, more accessible conservatism will hopefully be born from the sharp debates. This new conservatism should speak to the aspirations of the many, rather than the anger of the few, and be concerned more for social mobility and less with "takers".
And yet, for reformists, the task is far from over. We have to force our fellow conservatives towards a louder condemnation of those Republicans who think racism is OK. We need to encourage our party to engage with citizens who believe the GOP has abandoned them.And yet, for reformists, the task is far from over. We have to force our fellow conservatives towards a louder condemnation of those Republicans who think racism is OK. We need to encourage our party to engage with citizens who believe the GOP has abandoned them.
We ought to challenge those who slander independent thought as RINO-ism (rants might be fun, but they don't win elections). We must ask why a politician who lied and committed adultery is worthy of Republican support, but a soldier who honorably served our country is not.We ought to challenge those who slander independent thought as RINO-ism (rants might be fun, but they don't win elections). We must ask why a politician who lied and committed adultery is worthy of Republican support, but a soldier who honorably served our country is not.
If we simply tinker at the edges of our image, the GOP won't survive. PR gurus cannot save us. To win relevance (the object of political endeavor), conservatism must first win a broader base.If we simply tinker at the edges of our image, the GOP won't survive. PR gurus cannot save us. To win relevance (the object of political endeavor), conservatism must first win a broader base.
The task for conservatives is clear and twofold: First, we must actively, openly and unrepentantly oppose those who would imprison conservatism in a unchanging fortress of orthodoxy. Unless it advances our practical agenda, absolute ideological purity is a vice, not a virtue – it alienates rather than attracts. Second, as we seek to remedy our flaws, we must reaffirm our articulation of conservatism's strongest, sustaining message: our faith in individuals and our opposition to the overreaching hand of excessive government.The task for conservatives is clear and twofold: First, we must actively, openly and unrepentantly oppose those who would imprison conservatism in a unchanging fortress of orthodoxy. Unless it advances our practical agenda, absolute ideological purity is a vice, not a virtue – it alienates rather than attracts. Second, as we seek to remedy our flaws, we must reaffirm our articulation of conservatism's strongest, sustaining message: our faith in individuals and our opposition to the overreaching hand of excessive government.
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