The Future of the GOP
The Republican Party’s loss of the White House and Senate mean much more than what originally meets the eye. It is a symbol that the GOP is in major decline with mainstream voters, and if it is to survive, major modifications must be made in the war room.
Mitt Romney’s recent remarks of “gifts” president Obama gave to minorities to win him the presidency are the very gaffes that continue to plague the party. From the 47% comment blasting the underprivileged to Todd Akin’s “legitimate rape” remark, no American feels comfortable voting for such radical views. And that’s coming from a Bill O’Reilly/Sean Hannity fan.
Governors Bobby Jindal (LA) and Chris Christie (NJ) are among the heavyweights within the party that have reprimanded Romney for his latest antics. But what they are also doing, and hopefully learning, is that their views must shift as well. Whether or not life begins at conception or gays should not be allowed to serve in the military, a political party must do what it’s principal function is: win elections. The good ole’ days of conservatives outnumbering liberals are desolate; that ship has long set sail.
Americans, especially new voting blocs such as Hispanics, young voters, and women, made their voice be heard this election by coming out in huge numbers and voting. The effects of such activity cannot be delineated more clearly than the results of polls in swing states: Florida, Virginia, Iowa, and Ohio, all key states the GOP absolutely had to win, were lost because of the Romney/Ryan ticket’s lack of appeal to said voters.
We often teach our children to “learn from our mistakes.” The GOP, with its two consecutive missed opportunities at seizing the White House and Senate, should heed this same maxim. Enough is enough. Whoever becomes the party’s nominee in 2016, whether it is the charming Marco Rubio or the straightforward, cut through the red tape Chris Christie, must take positions that appeal to the voters and refrain from contending that the body will shut itself down if the rape is illegitimate. Otherwise, the GOP will just be another political faction languishing in the pages of history.