After suffering pretty intensive electoral losses, Republicans are dealing with the issue of how to repair their image. Stereotypes of Republicans aren't really doing the party any favors, since the caricature of a group of old, out-of-touch, white men doesn't necessarily resonate with the bulk of the U.S. population, so the question remains: where do they go from here?
It’s easy to point out various problems plaguing the problem, like the relatively low numbers of minorities or young people, and there are several explanations as to how national opinions of the party have become increasingly unfavorable.
There are also several ideas about how to reform the Republican image, such as the proposal by Rebuild the Party, but implementing many of these proposals can be easier said than done.
Should Republicans “return to their roots?” Should they make concerted efforts to branch out to minorities? Should they adopt a more moderate approach? All of the above?
RNC leaders will be discussing this and other issues as they vote for a new chairman this week, and while the future strategy remains uncertain, there are several ways that the Republicans will NOT do themselves any favors.
Blaming the media, vast-left wing conspiracy, or liberal bias is not going to win any elections. For a Christmas gift, Chip Saltsman, one of the six candidates for RNC chairmanship, distributed a CD with the song "Barack the Magic Negro." For a party that has been wanting to break the perception of being hostile to minorities, this probably wasn’t the best strategy.
Rather than suggesting that the song might be a bit insensitive, Saltsman told MSNBC that he was the victim of media bias, since he got the phrase from an L.A. Times editorial. He blamed the press for not originally berating the journalist who coined the phrase, without offering any sense of remorse.
You can argue that the media is full of left-wing lunatics who hate everything that Republicans stand for, but it's not going to win elections.
Perhaps even Sarah Palin would receive a better reception if she stopped complaining about how her interviews were taken out of context, or how the press was out to get her, and just let her actions and performance as governor speak for itself.
Remembering the "good old days" of St. Ronald Reagan is another weak strategy. For starters, it doesn't necessarily resonate with youth voters who weren't even alive or old enough to remember the 1980s. No amount of Regan worshiping will bring him back to the Oval Office from the grave, and even if that were possible, the challenges facing America today are not parallel to those of twenty or thirty years ago.
If Republicans really want to succeed and connect to young voters, they don’t need to forget the past, but they also need to point to new role models and fresh ideas that will energize a wider audience.
Blaming outside sources or resisting new ideas won’t work, but building an infrastructure will. This could take the form of utilizing technology more effectively, improving fundraising mechanisms, or simply building a strong, cohesive message that resonates with all Americans.
It will be interesting to see how or even if the next RNC chairman will be able to reshape the party or whether Republicans will suffer yet another electoral loss. In the near future, it’s possible that much of their success in the next election cycle might hinge on the popularity of the current congress and president.
Regardless, the sense of uncertainty in terms of the economy and national security could possibly provide Republicans a unique opportunity to redefine their voice.