The high profile GOP losses in this week's special elections has the GOP looking for answers."The conference was shaken by the two losses," one House GOP leadership aide told Real Clear Politics. "We just couldn't get it done." The fallout has encouraged a brewing feud between House Majority Leader John Boehner and National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Tom Cole, two top Republicans who have spent much of the past year fighting. And while other Capitol Hill Republicans are almost unanimous in agreeing the trouble is not all Cole's fault, someone has to take the hit. "The two offices are positioning themselves to avoid blame or to lay blame," the aide said.As I noted this week, there will be a changing of the guard post-November. It looks from the GOP aide quote above that the blame game is already amongst leadership circles is already in full effect. But lost amidst the positioning is the fact that there are answers for the here and now that the GOP should be able to see.
The Wall Street Journal's Kim Strassel points out that the big GOP loss in Louisiana should have been predictable. The GOP candidate was uninspired to say the least. The GOP needs to sell a different message. What message?
Strassel points to another election that took place this week in Louisiana. This was received no attention, but its importance for the GOP could be incalculable if the message could be adopted:
The 43-year-old Republican, Steve Scalise, had pinpointed today's GOP vulnerabilities, and ran an anti-status-quo campaign. His focal point was wasteful spending, and he touted his legislation to reform Louisiana's earmark process. Another hallmark was ethics reform and his fight against public corruption. He talked up competitive private health care, lower taxes and school choice.
Republicans looking for an Obama doppelganger would have been better served by his Democratic competitor, Gilda Reed. She campaigned on immediate withdrawal from Iraq and "universal" health care. Trade came in for a bashing, as did secret ballots in union-organizing elections. Ms. Reed explained she was personally pro-life, but felt abortion needed to remain legal. Her cause became that of the liberal left, with the Daily Kos hosting an online fund-raiser on her behalf. Mr. Scalise won 75% of the vote.
This is how the GOP should redefine itself.
2 comments:
The worst thing the GOP could do is to come up with another Obama. The man is charismatic and that is all -- he has no substance; no program, no issue, nothing. He is pure ambition with no respect for the office of President of the United State and no respect for its people. If he did have that respect, he'd take the time to learn how to operate in Washington and get some serious experience.
Republicans need to commit to issues, sound a clarion call to win the war (which is what most Americans really want), back nuclear energy, and find new ways to shore up the economy without raising taxes. Being careful to tell the truth at all times would help build credibility.
But a Obama "doppleganger" would be a serious mistake.
Well put. I completely agree.
Post a Comment