Thread: Republicans ponder plan to freshen party's image

Republicans ponder plan to freshen party's image
By embracing McCain, GOP can 'rebrand' itself, some leaders argue


By TOM HAMBURGER and PETER WALLSTEN
Los Angeles Times


WASHINGTON — The bad news has come from Illinois, Louisiana and Mississippi: A string of unexpected Republican defeats in congressional elections have prompted GOP leaders to say that the party is facing an outright catastrophe this November.

Increasingly, top Republicans are calling on their party to reinvent itself or risk driving away more voters. The GOP image is so stale, said Rep. Thomas M. Davis III, R-Va., in a memo to colleagues last week, that "if we were a dog food, they would take us off the shelf" because nobody is buying it.

But even while facing crisis, the GOP is finding that change will not come easily.

Brainstorming session

The difficulty of a swift reinvention was on display last week as the central players in Washington's conservative community gathered for their regular strategy session.

A senior adviser to the GOP's presumptive presidential nominee, John McCain, was on hand along with the Republican Party's national chairman to make the case for McCain's brand of Republicanism.

McCain's approach — tough on taxes but receptive to immigrants and committed to easing global warming — could help paint the GOP in new colors, more attractive to independent voters, Hispanics and women.

Some GOP leaders now say that by embracing McCain and his policy platform, Republicans would instantly "rebrand" and reinvigorate their party.

Some knotty topics

Global warming is one of several knotty topics causing Republicans to skirmish among themselves. And those who want a tough line on immigration and border security have also been at odds with McCain.

U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo of Colorado wrote on the Web site Townhall.com that McCain and the Republican National Committee were hurling "obstructions" at members of Congress who want to run on the "winning issue" of tough border and immigration enforcement.

Budgeting and earmark reform also prompted squabbling among Republicans in the past week. McCain and his allies say the GOP can rebrand itself as the party of reform by fighting pork-barrel spending and ending congressional earmarks.

But as the White House and McCain disparaged the $300 billion farm bill under consideration last week as one example, some key farm-state Republicans up for re-election this year voted for the bill.

Like President Bush, McCain has split from the party base in backing more liberal immigration laws.

As a result, McCain aides say that the Arizona senator has the potential to do well among Hispanic voters, perhaps winning more than the 40 percent that Bush did in 2004.

In recent speeches, McCain promised conservative judicial appointments and affirmed his commitment to gun rights. And, despite his past opposition to some of Bush's tax cuts, he now pledges to keep them in place.

His efforts show signs of paying off. Republican strategists who once sought to annihilate McCain for his independence are now enthusiastically backing his candidacy.

Where to draw the line?

Grover Norquist, of Americans for Tax Reform, acknowledges that McCain's approach to capping global warming emissions has inflamed some conservatives, calling it the most significant issue dividing the party now.

More important than angering conservatives, Norquist says, is that McCain's position means "he won't be able to draw a sharp contrast" with his Democratic opponent.

McCain strategists say their candidate's global warming position is substantively correct and provides a clear way to distinguish McCain from the unpopular current president.

McCain's chief economic adviser, Douglas Holtz-Eakin, said taking on the problem of global warming could prove beneficial for the party.

"We are looking at an electoral environment which is extremely difficult for Republicans," he said. "In those circumstances, everyone should rethink existing positions carefully."

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5789193.html

AS Ive said,they are moving farther to the left.I will not vote republican again.

Note to the Republican Elitists> MAKE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION A HOT BUTTON ISSUE! Oh never mind look who you made the Republican nominee.