Frankness about the GOP (Part 1)

Politics is not all that hard to figure out. Like any other choice made in life, the political choice is often made based on who people are more comfortable with and trust. All sorts of things factor into such a choice. Some contend sexual attractiveness is paramount. Recently I listened to a frustrated Republican tell me his theory that the candidate who people think is more attractive always wins. He listed out names and results.

While I do not see that, how comfortable people are with candidates and a party does matter. People, especially the middle ground voters who decide elections, like people who are optimistic and sincere. As people become more educated on politics in the new media, less of them are likely to be scared into voting for or against a candidate.

The Democrats and especially the Obama people, got that change in culture and comfortableness. The Obama Campaign coupled an uplifting message on the internet with a great ground game. They shifted the game so to speak. While Republicans were playing the old game of some charged mail pieces to certain groups and a hard hitting ad on during the evening news, the Democrats beat them to the punch in hitting them on the internet with words like change and hope and the like. Obama even had a tool where people could use his web assets to form groups to blog for him, giving people a since that they mattered and that they were involved in the process more. Like in sports and business, not realizing that the opponent found a way to whip you is just plain dumb.

But, the Republican Party is not in trouble just because of the methods of the last election. Republicans seem angry and bitter and just well, pissed off. That will work in a flash moment, but long term, people tire of such and move back to where they feel comfortable. One might cheer the hothead on in his moment of glory, but giving the hothead the political pilot’s seat becomes another thing all together.

That is why the Republican Party must make changes in its approach. First, we Republicans must admit that we are at times too angry and too upset. It is understandable, but it will not restore the Republicans to power nationally and it jeopardizes the Republican cause within South Carolina. One can never convince people to change their views if one yells at them how wrong they are. It is simple human nature.

Consider this situation. Suppose you are in a position to decide who among two co-workers is to lead a major project. The first guy comes in, yelling about how bad the other guy and his ideas are. You have worked with this guy for years. Often you agree with him, but he goes on and on, so much that you don’t even have a chance to ask a question. During his rant, he reminds you that you too have some ideas that you agree with the other guy on and that you will ruin the company. He leaves the room with a couple of clever lines about the sex life of the other guy. There you sit, almost stunned. You have been called disloyal and the last thing the guy you want to pick had to say was irrelevant to the project.

The other guy then comes in. You have always thought he was a little “out there,” but he has a couple of good ideas here and there you agree with. He is calm, pleasant, asks you what you think and gives you a thumb drive with documents detailing why his approach to the project is right. He does not bring up the fact that you agree with the other guy on other issues. He asks about your spouse and children and keeps the conversation on what you agree on. He does not even mention the other guy.

Now, be honest. Who would you choose for the project?

That is the choice the He-Man RINO Hater’s Club is presenting to far too many once Republican middle of the road voters. People are not stupid. The vast majority of voters work in jobs where they work out differences to get things done. That is the American way. Even if they agree on policy points more with the angry guy, they are going to be uncomfortable with him. They are certainly going to question working for or voting for a candidate whose minions tell them that they are not real Republicans.

Reagan and Goldwater are the best examples of how such things play out. Barry Goldwater was a great man, and is a hero of mine. His clarity on the logic of freedom alone makes him one. But, Goldwater was gruff, seemed angry and got whipped in a landslide. Reagan took the same ideas, talked about how they would make things better, used humor to attack his opponents, and won two landslides. Reagan’s famous “11th Commandment,” “Thou shall not speak ill of another Republican,” is long gone in South Carolina and the United States.

More will be posted in the coming days about what to talk about how to approach it for the GOP to rebound and thrive. But, for now, let’s admit the anger, and especially the tactics of the He-Man RINO Hater’s Club, are a problem.