Message to Republican Leaders: Get a Clue!

by Bobby Eberle
October 26, 2009 at 9:09 am

There are certain times in the cycle of politics when the party in power is so bad that the opposition doesn't need to do much to win. In 1994, the approval ratings for Congress were terrible. Republicans, led by Newt Gingrich, put together the Contract with America, and presented a strong, conservative message to the voters. In that election year, not a single Republican incumbent lost, and the Republican Revolution began.

Now, Republicans face similar opportunities. Led by Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid, these ultra left-wing radical want to transform the country (Obama's words) into a socialist nation, complete with government control over health care, banks, the auto industry, and more. So... how are Republican leaders responding? A recent Rasmussen poll shows that Republican voters don't like what they are seeing, and recent actions by the Republican Party show that they don't have a clue on how to turn this country around.

In a new Rassmussen Reports poll, a staggering 73% of GOP voters say that Congressional Republicans "have lost touch with their base." Whenever a poll shows a majority rather than a plurality on a particular question, one should take notice. But 73%? Republican leaders shouldn't just "take notice," they should stop what they are doing, listen, and get their act together!

Just 15% of Republicans who plan to vote in 2012 state primaries say the party's representatives in Congress have done a good job of representing Republican values.

A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 73% think Republicans in Congress have lost touch with GOP voters from throughout the nation. Twelve percent (12%) are undecided.

This is absolutely pathetic, and it comes at a time when the Democrats are overreaching in their plans for socialism and Americans are ready to get rid of them. As noted in another Rasmussen poll:

The GOP advantage over Democrats increased from two points to five in the latest edition of the Generic Congressional Ballot. Forty-two percent (42%) would vote for their district's Republican congressional candidate while 37% would opt for his or her Democratic opponent.

The "generic ballot" question is a great indicator of the trend and attitude of the country. It is not specific to any particular candidate. Democrats had a sizable lead over Republicans on the generic ballot going into last year's elections, and now Republicans have gained the upper hand. Again, this is due to the terrible job that the Democrats have done.

How is the Republican Party establishment responding to all of this? Well... first we have speech after speech by Republican leaders saying how we need to "broaden our message" to "reach more people." I have heard a number of these speeches, and they never touch on the fact that we simply need to do a better job of sticking to our conservative positions and education Americans on what those positions are.

Just look at what is happening in the special election for New York's 23rd Congressional District. The candidate supported by the Republican Party is Dede Scozzafava. As the blog New Majority notes:

Across the country, Republicans are scratching their heads and wondering, "How in the world did we end up with Scozzafava?" How did the GOP pick someone who is in favor of card check and had been approached by the Democrats to be their nominee? How did the Republicans in upstate New York choose a candidate who, according to one rating system, is more liberal than 43% of New York State Assembly Democrats?

Scozzafava is supported by the National Republican Congressional Committee. They are still planning to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race. A race in which there is a solid conservative running. New York's Conservative Party is supporting Doug Hoffman. Hoffman has garnered the support of former House Majority Leader Dick Armey. He has recently just received the endorsement of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. Hoffman is also being supported by former presidential candidate Fred Thompson and Rep. Michelle Bachman of Minnesota.

The Republican Party needs to get a clue. The backlash that is hitting the Democrats right now is because they have overstepped. They mistook a nation that was frustrated with big spending and corruption for one that wanted to embrace a hard turn to the left and socialism. This nation is a conservative nation. What can't Republican Party leaders see that?

http://www.gopusa.com/theloft/?p=36