Treatise on the New Republican Party

Does Michael Steel, 8 years of diversity in the cabinet under George Bush, and GOP members rushing onto facebook, myspace, twitter and linkedin really mean the republican party is coming into the 21st century?

Anyone who has ever done business with the republican party or has worked in their ranks knows otherwise. I will point by point go through, point out a flaw and then propose a solution to bring this party up to date.

1. Youth is bad = Suppression of younger members.
This includes a lack of recruitment of young people and not letting them into top positions in the party or not letting them run for office. If you look at the republican members of congress it looks like a geriatrics ward. I have no problem with getting everyone involved but consistently finding qualified young candidates in areas where they will run well and do good for the party is an excellent idea. Finding, recruiting, and training more Governor Jindals and Palins will be key to future success. A young GOP candidate should be the standard not an exception. Groups like the Young Republicans which are a huge national organization should be employed at every level and for every purpose from precint walking on up.

2. Culture of no change = Learning to change internally
While President Obama may be the president of change and hope the republican party needs to not be afraid of change within itself and it starts with candidates. Marilyn Musgrave in Colorado and Senator John McCain are classic examples of candidates that have simply held on too long to office and where there is time for change. Also, learning to look at the issues realize that the country may have changed opinions and working that change. Just because it may have been on the platform for the last 140 years does not mean that we need to have it on there for the next 140 years.

3. Evangelicals = Time to part the ways
Evangelical christians represent 20 million votes and ever since Reagon 1980 the GOP was relied upon those 20 million votes to carry many an election from the top of the ticket down. However, those votes come at an extreme cost. Publicity flaps from James Dobson, Anti-Gay comments from Jerry Falwell all make the party look bad. Minus the fact anti-abortion rhetoric usually causes a backlash in most of the country and on both coasts. How long the republican party will be able to hang onto this voting block and win elections in an increasingly socially liberal society remains to be scene but I think its time for evangelicals and republicans to part the ways.

4. Not paying attention to the base = Listening to their own polling data
The 2008 election should have taught upper GOP management that putting up a candidate that did not meet internal polling requirements just isn't going to work. Everyone in the inner-circles of the GOP knows the John McCain came out of nowhere and was the candidate the party leadership wanted and not necessarily the party favorite. Actually listenting to the party and going along with your base is crucial to success.

5. Lack of base mobilization = Mobilize the base every election
Straight from the Dems playbook they keep their base energized and working for their candidate from the top of the ticket all the way down. Keeping the base enthused about their party's ticket will help get moderate and undecided voters on board more quickly and turn elections in your favor.

6. Dated campaign methods = Web 2.0, Its about time!
GOP may mean Grand Old Party but the methods to reach out to especailly younger voters does not mean that has to be old and dated too. Grassroots campaigning is now called viral campaigning and while knocking door to door, townhall meetings, and such are absolutely necessary and help get the candidate in front of the people keeping candidates in the news in local websites, blogs and other such internet devices is absolutely necessary for people who get their news and information from online sources increasingly. At events bloggers and online/citizen journalists should be courted and given a place right next to the regular media. The more places you get a name especially in congressional and senate races the better. Also, the GOP should help state and county parties get their websites up-to-date and should be willing to spend money on that. Websites should be kept updated, informative, and accurate at all times. Every GOP should be linked around and ancillary groups should do the same.

7. Dated Platform = Complete overhaul of the Platform
Enough said! I mentioned it briefly before but the fact of the matter is that despite the people who write the platform and bless their little hearts but it is out of date and needs up to date wording and up-to-date issues. Stances on immigration need to be modernized, trade, genocide, humanitarian rights all need to be included and most importantly make sure every issue on the lips of America is addressed from a conservative stand-point.

8. Exclusion of groups = More inclusion
The Democratic party is very inclusive of people and the republicans should do the same there are conservatives in every group and voting block in this nation and they all need one battle standard to rally around and the republican party should be that battle standard regardless of color, sexuality or gender.

9. Alienation of extremist candidates = Include them at the table
This flaw is with Ron Paul supporters in mind and it comes from something that happened at the Colorado State Convention in 2008. Congressman Paul was in the state and was prepared to speak and was not allowed to. There were several Ron Paul supporters in the room that were simply outraged that they were snubbed even some of them cried. That cannot happen! Bringing these people into the fold, finding areas of compromise, and making them apart of the party process and get them voting in the election is crucial to success in the future.

10. Leaving conservative principles = Holding to your values
The most important thing that the Republican party can do is be Republican and stick to their values. People are attracted to the party for specific reasons and when those reasons are left behind them people tend to leave the party. Being conservative should become the new order of the day. Trying to do Democrat things

With these 10 points, these guidelines, the party should be able to right itself in time for next year's elections and should be able to have success in those elections. This treatise is not only a guidebook but a wake-up call for the Republican party to take stock of what is going on and take the luxury of the present to fix itself and get its house in order. Please comment on this article or email me with your comments or improvements.