GOP would be smart to follow this guy’s playbook
Of the races outside Georgia, I’ve spent comparatively little time following the Virginia governor’s race because it has seemed like a slam-dunk for Republican candidate Bob McDonnell for some time now. But this piece by Jennifer Rubin on the Commentary blog caught my eye:
The McDonnell campaign understood the problem of a shrinking base in an increasingly diverse state. As one Virginia Republican confided to me recently, “Republicans tried running against Hispanics. It doesn’t work.” Sergio Rodriguera Jr., a young party activist and veteran of the 2004 and 2008 presidential campaigns, had urged McDonnell back in December to reach out to minorities. He told me last week that he is pleased with McDonnell’s efforts, citing charter schools as a significant draw for minorities: “McDonnell has been a good listener, and his Hispanic-outreach events have not been token events with chips and salsa. He understands that Hispanics, like other minorities, want to live the American dream of building a small business and owning their own home.”
Rubin goes on to note the important distinction between being “anti-immigrant” and “anti-illegal immigration.” She also notes his gains among Asian-Americans and concludes:
Among the lessons Republicans will try to extract from McDonnell’s race will be how he succeeded, if his numbers hold, with nonwhite voters. It’s really not brain surgery: show up and explain why the conservative platform works for them. Whether they follow that message and execute it remains to be seen.
Like I said, a smart Republican Party would pick up on this key to success and run with it.
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42 comments Add your comment
Lewis
November 3rd, 2009
8:57 am
The key to Republican victories is to return to their roots. Less government. Fiscal responsibility. Debate and discussion within the Party. Drop the divisiveness and polarization, attacks on minorities, and straight-jacket ideology.
Churchill's MOM
November 3rd, 2009
9:22 am
Politico says the tea baggers are out to get the RINO wing of the party, yet there is not even a Democrat running against our junior Socialist Senator Johnny. 1st he is against drilling off short, then votes for TARP and now works with the Democrats to waste $18 Billion on the fraud filled housing rebate. What does it take for Georgia to deserve a Conservative Senator rather than the 2 bums we have.
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1109/29057.html
jconservative
November 3rd, 2009
9:23 am
Those who read my comments know I love political history & facts more than opinion. Having said that – look at the Virginia governors race today.
McDonnell will win today – Republican candidate – Democratic President.
This will the ninth straight Virginia governors race in which the winner was of the opposite party of the incumbent in the White House. You must go back to Godwin(R) elected in 1974 while Ford was in the White House to break the string.
Why? Speculation is that a huge percentage of the Federal bureaucracy live in Northern Virginia & they swing between Republican & Democrat by using the opportunity to take it out on their boss. Speculation only.
Interesting political fact.
(Google or Yahoo a list of Virginia governors & look at their election dates).
jt
November 3rd, 2009
9:38 am
big government=less liberty. Cherish your liberty or go lick the hand of the R & D party.
No hispandering necessary.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
10:01 am
Kyle, you confuse me sometimes.
WHERE WERE YOU 12 MONTHS AGO WHEN RUSH LIMBAUGH SAID THE EXACT SAME THING?????????
Bottom Line: The GOP and every single Rush Limbaugh naysayer owes Rush a big fat apology.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
10:03 am
jconservative, ok Mr. Pessimistic conservative guy, check out Doug Hoffman. He is 100% conservative and many conservative members of the GOP backed him. He’s poised to win today. Explain away!!!!!
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
10:08 am
Kyle, you should read this because after more AJC cancellations, I could see Bookman and Tucker coming to your cubicle to punch you and Wooten out.
FISTS FLY AT WASHINGTON POST!
Washington Post executive editor Marcus Brauchli found himself in the middle of an altercation Friday evening between Style reporter Manuel Roig-Franzia and editor Henry Allen, but will not say whether the two have been reprimanded by the paper.
“We take this incident seriously and will address it appropriately,” Brauchli told POLITICO, declining to comment further.
Reports that Allen punched Roig-Franzia surfaced Monday morning on FishbowlDC, Washingtonian and City Paper (which reported Brauchli was traveling).
Multiple Post sources independently confirmed to POLITICO that Roig-Franzia got hit while defending colleague Monica Hesse from harsh criticism leveled by her editor, Allen.
Allen, according to the Washingtonian, had told Hesse that a piece she had written was “the second worst story I have seen in Style in 43 years.”
Roig-Franzia, also working a story with Hesse that ran Saturday, told Allen not to be such a “c—sucker.”
Allen swung twice, with one punch hitting Roig-Franzi, according to sources. Next, staffers on the 4th floor —including Brauchli, whose office is temporarily across from the Style section — jumped in to break up the altercation.
Allen, a Pulitzer Prize-winning editor who already took a buyout, has just three weeks left on his contract, and was not in the office Monday. Roig-Franzia is in the office.
http://www.politico.com/click/stories/0911/punches_thrown_in_wapo_newsroom.html
Davo
November 3rd, 2009
10:25 am
Whither the Alternative Right?
by Jack Hunter on November 03, 2009
http://www.takimag.com/article/whither_the_alternative_right/
“And today, and in any era, the cultural and constitutional wings of the Alternative Right would gain far more by hunting where the ducks are than trying to invent a brand new bird.”
Kyle Wingfield
November 3rd, 2009
10:30 am
Where was I2 months ago, Axelfraud? In Brussels, not writing about U.S. politics.
To your broader point, this obviously is not the first time Republicans or right-leaning people have pointed out that the GOP needs to attract more minority voters if it’s to remain viable. But McDonnell is the latest example that this (still) works if the candidate/campaign will commit to it.
Kevin
November 3rd, 2009
10:35 am
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. If the GOP doesn’t unhitch itself from the polarizing social issues, it will implode.
Talk all you want about “preserving integrity”. If the GOP continues down this path, there will be 5% of the US population affiliated with the party.
Focus on fiscal. Get past the other crap. You will NEVER get people to see eye-to-eye on abortion, gay rights, whatever else. In the mean time, we’ll continue to get our CLOCKS CLEANED.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
10:51 am
Kyle Wingfield, my bad, didn’t realize that you were not here 12 months ago. Anyway, Reagan attracted all kinds of voters as did W. W attracted large Hispanics in 2004. Conservatism attracts all kinds of people when implemented correctly. The GOP needs a thorough cleansing to get rid of people like Arlen Specter and Olympia Snowe.
We need to run candidates like Palin, Jindal, Hoffman, Daniels, Rubio and others as strong conservatives who are not afraid to take on Obama. Mccain was so afraid of offending everyone.
Kyle Wingfield
November 3rd, 2009
10:55 am
That should read “Where was I 12 months ago…” of course.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
10:55 am
Kyle, I want to reiterate the point about Rush Limbaugh. 12 months ago he was ridiculed by the media for saying that he wanted Obamas policies to fail. 12 months later the country hates Obamas policies and his radical marxist ways. Rush was and still is the leading the charge for conservatives. Liberals are scared out of their minds of this man. All one has to do is look at Jay Bookman blogs, or even MSNBC where Chris Matthews, Rachel Maddow and Kieth Olbermann talk about the guy on an hourly basis. People don’t talk about something unless it’s something that they are afraid of or something that has a lot of clout. The man has been called every name in the book, smeared as a racist even though he’s never said a racist comment on the air. Even MSNBC admitted that they had no evidence of him saying anything racist.
Rush Limbaugh will be around longer than any pansy lib.
BS Aplenty
November 3rd, 2009
10:57 am
Conservatives find many areas of common purpose among Hispanic voters not the least of which is the value many in this community place on the traditional family. Strong families have less need for governmental assistance – less need for welfare and a lessening demand on the judicial & penal system. The traditional family leads to a smaller government. This benefit is the natural outgrowth of a political philosophy that values the family & personal responsibility.
Ultimately, what is also attractive about the conservative philosophy is that it is sustainable. The Democrat philosophy of government control is a deeply flawed system that has been discredited in the Soviet Union, communist China, the Israeli kibbutz and the U.S. Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security systems. Increasingly, the Democrat Party, who champions the socialist/communist system in this country, is becoming known as the Party of the ignorant and irreponsible. They who are doomed to repeat history’s mistakes.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
10:58 am
Kevin, the majority of Hispanics are against abortion. Most Americans are. The people who protested to have it legal are sitting in the Democrat party right now. In a few years most of those aging hippies will have died off. Abortion will eventually be overturned because its ridiculous to begin with.
But I agree, the GOP needs to get back to conservative values and run strong conservative candidates who can stay on message and beat down liberal thugs like Obama and Pelosi.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
11:01 am
BS Aplenty, that was a very articulate way of putting it. Nice.
The Democrat Party is responsible for the breakdown of the African-American family which is non-existent right now. African-Americans rely on government assistance more than ANY other race in this country. Its a sad sad fact.
Churchill's MOM
November 3rd, 2009
11:05 am
There are only 2 REAL REPUBLICANS in the Senate, how can the Republican party grow when they have the worse characteristics of the Communist, Socialist and Democratic party. The “Republican” Senators need to stop spending my grandchildren’s money NOW.
“A $20 billion-plus package of homebuyer and business tax breaks was advanced in the Senate Monday, together with a precedent-setting expansion of unemployment benefits to help carry the jobless through the holiday season.
Ending weeks of delay, all but two Republicans joined Democrats on an 85-2 roll call to cut off debate. Procedural obstacles remain, but passage this week appears all but certain. The House is expected to take up the measure next and send it on to President Barack Obama for his signature.”
BS Aplenty
November 3rd, 2009
11:31 am
Axelfraud,
Thanks and agreed. It’s a tragedy, really, that many in the African American community believe that the liberal socialism heralded by the the Dems is their community’s salvation. I understand it somewhat from an historic perspective, but not today – not now.
Nevertheless, you know there are those who “cry out in the wilderness” like Thomas Sowells & Walter Willams. Conservative thinkers in the black community who champion the conservative ideals. Their intelligent arguments paint them as the true intellectual leaders of the black community but they find little acceptance there.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
12:14 pm
BS Aplenty, don’t forget Clarence Thomas. He’s been ridiculed by Jesse and Al for years as being an uncle tom.
Ray Pugh
November 3rd, 2009
12:29 pm
Clarence Thomas is an Uncle Tom…
Jefferson
November 3rd, 2009
1:06 pm
Problem with the “R”s is they talk a good game but turn in to liers when they get the power, then when they lose it they go into Neocon rehab, but relapse.
Problem with the “D”s is they want to fix too much and be nice instead of just putting the foot down and taking care of the big things and telling some of the morons exactly what they are.
If there were no political UNIONS what would the base do ?
Anita Mao Dunn
November 3rd, 2009
1:58 pm
The $787 billion stimulus bill was passed in February and was promised as a job saver and economy booster. Here is where some of the money went:
- $300,000 for a GPS-equipped helicopter to hunt for radioactive rabbit droppings at the Hanford nuclear reservation in Washington state.
- $30 million for a spring training baseball complex for the Arizona Diamondbacks and Colorado Rockies.
- $11 million for Microsoft to build a bridge connecting its two headquarter campuses in Redmond, Wash., which are separated by a highway.
- $430,000 to repair a bridge in Iowa County, Wis., that carries 10 or fewer cars per day.
- $800,000 for the John Murtha Airport in Johnstown, Pa., serving about 20 passengers per day, to build a backup runway.
- $219,000 for Syracuse University to study the sex lives of freshmen women.
- $2.3 million for the U.S. Forest Service to rear large numbers of arthropods, including the Asian longhorned beetle, the nun moth and the woolly adelgid.
- $3.4 million for a 13-foot tunnel for turtles and other wildlife attempting to cross U.S. 27 in Lake Jackson, Fla.
- $1.15 million to install a guardrail for a persistently dry lake bed in Guymon, Okla.
- $9.38 million to renovate a century-old train depot in Lancaster County, Pa., that has not been used for three decades.
- $2.5 million in stimulus checks sent to the deceased.
- $6 million for a snow-making facility in Duluth, Minn.
- $173,834 to weatherize eight pickup trucks in Madison County, Ill.
- $20,000 for a fish sperm freezer at the Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery in South Dakota.
- $380,000 to spay and neuter pets in Wichita, Kan.
- $300 apiece for thousands of signs at road construction sites across the country announcing that the projects are funded by stimulus money.
- $1.5 million for a fence to block would-be jumpers from leaping off the All-American Bridge in Akron, Ohio.
- $1 million to study the health effects of environmentally friendly public housing on 300 people in Chicago.
- $356,000 for Indiana University to study childhood comprehension of foreign accents compared with native speech.
- $983,952 for street beautification in Ann Arbor, Mich., including decorative lighting, trees, benches and bike paths.
- $148,438 for Washington State University to analyze the use of marijuana in conjunction with medications like morphine.
- $462,000 to purchase 22 concrete toilets for use in the Mark Twain National Forest in Missouri
- $3.1 million to transform a canal barge into a floating museum that will travel the Erie Canal in New York state.
- $1.3 million on government arts jobs in Maine, including $30,000 for basket makers, $20,000 for storytelling and $12,500 for a music festival.
- $71,000 for a hybrid car to be used by student drivers in Colchester, Vt., as well as a plug-in hybrid for town workers decked out with a sign touting the vehicle’s energy efficiency.
- $1 million for Portland, Ore., to replace 100 aging bike lockers and build a garage that would house 250 bicycles.
Sources: News reports, Office of the Senate Minority Leader, Office of Sen. Tom Coburn
Common Sense
November 3rd, 2009
2:29 pm
“Too late for the ballot box; too early for the revolution.”
Conservative Hypocracy
November 3rd, 2009
2:56 pm
To “BS Aplenty” and “David Axelfraud”:
How kind of you two non African Americans to babble on about the “ills” of the African American community. That’s very big of you, considering you had anywhere from a 200- to 400-year head start on the African American community in America, where you had access to education as well as business and political capital, while we built the foundation of this nation (including 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue) for free.
Incredible.
“The African American family is non-existent …” I guess the scores of intact families at my church – including mine – missed that memo.
“African-Americans rely on government assistance more than ANY other race in this country….” Maybe when you’re talking percentages, but in terms of raw numbers there are more whites using various forms of public assistance (food stamps, subsidized rent, SSI, etc.) than any other race. Of course, that’s because there are more whites in this country, but it’s still a “sad fact.”
Personally, I don’t mind Sowell, Williams or Herman Cain. I don’t always agree or disagree what their thoughts/writings. But Justice Thomas, who was aided in his life by “Affirmative Action” programs, basically claims that society is color blind and that there is no need for such programs, and then the second his confirmation hearing starts to unravel what does he do? He says his hearing has turned into a “high class lynching,” knowing full well the hidden impact that phrase would have for an African American being peppered with questions from a group of white men. THAT is the problem African American’s have with Clarence Thomas – that he is a hypocrite.
And not all of us fall in lock step with the preachings of Jesse Jackson and/or Al Sharpton. We don’t have one “leader” just like there is no one white “leader.”
But there’s really no way to have an intelligent debate/conversation with ANYONE who thinks SARAH PALIN is a legitimate option as a political figure in this country. Aside from all of the highjinx in her personal/family life (which I really don’t care about), the woman couldn’t name ONE SINGLE news magazine/publication when Katie Couric asked her what she read. She couldn’t even LIE and name one arbitrarily. But instead of being astounded at how shallow and unlearned she is, what do folks of your ilk do … rail against Couric, accusing her of “blindsiding” Palin.
Unbelievable.
Kyle’s original post didn’t mention anything about African Americans but you two bigoted bozos couldn’t help yourselves.
How about we make a deal here: African American family men like me will keep volunteering in our communities, raising our families while also trying to mentor to other kids in the process, for the purpose of improving our race. In the meantime, why don’t you two take a look at fixing your rising teen pregnancy rate, your exploding meth problem and your rising abortion rate. Sound like a plan?
BS Aplenty
November 3rd, 2009
3:21 pm
Conservative Hypocracy -
It doesn’t appear that you disagree with what I said so much as you wished to say “butt out.” I’d be happy to butt out if the problem of out-of-wedlock mothers and incarceration rates weren’t a pandemic in the black community. It seems that even in certain (entertainment) quarters there are those who glorify the thug life.
Your work on behalf of your African-American family is laudable if only it were the norm. It was prior to 1964 – remember, when the government “butted-out.” The great disconnect between the AA community and the conservative movement centers around the primacy of the family unit as the fundamental social unit.
Cutty
November 3rd, 2009
3:33 pm
Maybe you should pass this posting on to Wooten. I don’t think he got the talking points today. Anyone that isn’t ideologically pure is from the Arlen Spector wing of the party according to him.
HDB
November 3rd, 2009
3:42 pm
Re: BS & Axelfraud: PLEASE!! You two don’t even know the DAMAGE that the GOP and conservatives have done to the African-American community! And you put REAGAN as the example?? Remember the history of the GOP since 1964: Goldwater was racist…and welcomed the Dixiecrats into the GOP when the Democrats and moderate Republicans welcomed integration; Nixon created the “Southern Strategy”, whereby the white racists were welcomed into the GOP and marginalized the minority vote; Reagan announced his candidacy in Philadelphia, Mississippi, lauding “states rights”….which is Southern for segregation; GWB, aka Shrub, marginalized the African-American vote!! Each Republican President cut education spending…..and other areas in domestic spending to increase spending for their cronies in power!! No conservative President has enforced the Affirmative Action laws….and Reagan marginalized the Voting Rights Act….forcing Congress to override his objections!! Republicans don’t care about African-Americans!! Kanye West WAS RIGHT!!
HDB
November 3rd, 2009
3:50 pm
Re: BS @ 1521: Conservative Hypocracy and people like us ARE the norm in the African-American community; what conservatives fail to realize that to marginalize a large segment of the population by denying access to education and employment creates the “pandemic” of which you speak! Please also remember that there are more Caucasians suffering under conservative policies than the preponderance of ethnic minorities! More Caucasians are needing food stamps, unemployment benefits, health care….particularly those in Appalachia!! Conservatives, when denying ethnic minorities access to these programs, also hurt the same Caucasians they claim to help! To keep minorities down, they keep themselves down!! SHAMEFUL!!!
Conservative Hypocracy
November 3rd, 2009
3:54 pm
BS -
As an African American, I know all too well about the negative issues that plague our communities and families. My problem with your post is that it has NO correlation to Kyle’s original post WHATSOEVER, so what was/is your point? Other than siezing the opportunity to trash the African American community, I don’t see one.
I suggest you visit Black Planet.com and chime in on one of the various blog topics that address these issues directly, where your comments will be more appropriate.
And there are plenty of my fellow African Americans who think our community was better off prior to Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society” in 1964. I see their point, and on many levels they are correct. But overall, I do not agree.
HDB
November 3rd, 2009
3:55 pm
BS & Axelfraud: The reason that Thomas Sowell ann Walter Williams aren’t totally accepted is this: they HAVE money!! How do you say that conservative policies work when conservatives constantly DENY access to capital by redlining, fraudalent credit practices, and control of the monetary market?? Clarence Thomas isn’t believed because he wants to deny everyone the access that got him where he is!! He is the epitome of hypocracy!! THAT’S why they are not to be believed!!!
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
4:14 pm
Conservative Hypocracy, last time I checked, I could speak my mind as I damn well please. Maybe you should be out talking to baby mamas and daddys who live off the taxpayers.
Oh, and correct your grammatical errors before posting.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
4:17 pm
HDB, your party has an active member of the KLU KLUX KLAN in it right now.
In 1944, Byrd wrote to segregationist Mississippi Senator Theodore Bilbo:[9]
“ I shall never fight in the armed forces with a Negro by my side… Rather I should die a thousand times, and see Old Glory trampled in the dirt never to rise again, than to see this beloved land of ours become degraded by race mongrels, a throwback to the blackest specimen from the wilds. ”
— Robert C. Byrd, in a letter to Sen. Theodore Bilbo (D-MS), 1944,
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
4:18 pm
Conservative Hypocracy, also, why don’t you address the hypocrisy, that’s HYPOCRISY, of the democrat party?
Oh thats right, democrats and black people can’t be racist. HA
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
4:27 pm
Conservative Hypocracy, one more thing, anyone who is an American can debate any issue they want. If I want to debate the horrible state of the black community, I will do so. I don’t need your permission or your godfather Jesse Jackson’s.
MLK would be ashamed as to what the black community has turned into.
Funny how Jesse and Al, supposed “reverend doctors” believe more in money and power than they do in Jesus Christ.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
4:33 pm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/politico/20091103/pl_politico/29055
Ragnar Danneskjöld
November 3rd, 2009
5:01 pm
Kyle’s essay is on point. My Republicans would abolish number limits on immigration, as Congress is inherently incompetent to guess the right number of immigrants needed by the economy. (Just as Congress is incapable of guessing the right amount for the public to spend on healthcare, or anything else economic.) I could live with any strenuous test for immigration, so long as the test was not designed to depress the numbers of immigrants. Normally these discussions reflect some animus toward our Mexican friends, who are church-going, hard working, close to their family types – hardly a classic description of a democrat. I am unpleasantly surprised to see the weird black-white culture argument arising from an essay on respect for immigrants.
dewstarpath
November 3rd, 2009
5:14 pm
- The key to a Republican victory is to return to
their alternate universe, and take BS & Axelfraud
with them.
They can return to a world where armchair chickenhawks
are experts at war, all black people originate from ghettos,
and “experts” such as themselves can solve all of the world’s
problems from a message board.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
5:31 pm
dewstarpath, sure, and you can return to your imaginary World of Warcraft where you play a queen of the slug people. There you can eat sit in your moms basement, live off her welfare check and gain 300 more pounds.
hryder
November 3rd, 2009
5:36 pm
Egad!!! The great majority of people being identified as Arican-Americans are not, most are blacks born in the United States. Most have ancestors that can be traced through state birth records as USA citizens for four or more generatiions. Yes, our current President is truely an African-American as well as being racially identified as black.
mike
November 3rd, 2009
6:10 pm
I guess pale faces will always have their idea about what state and status black folks should be in this country. Since they have been in charge they have just about run it into the ground. This country is not really liked internationally. So pale faces will continue to blame others for their own issues. Hispanics should learn quick. It is not the black man trying to boot you out of this country.
David Axelfraud
November 3rd, 2009
11:05 pm
mike brings the word stupid to a whole new level.
dewstarpath
November 4th, 2009
7:49 am
- Axeldoofus – Sheesh! EAT SIT IN YOUR MOM’S BASEMENT ?
Talk about “mike” bringing the word stupid to a whole new level.
Is that all you can do is throw meaningless insults over the web ?
Most posters discuss the issue of the forum. You have something
else going on with you. Off topic doesn’t even begin to describe you.