Eric Cantor took a step in the right direction with the creation of the National Council for a New America a few weeks ago. The newly formed group is extending an invite for an open conversation about the direction America should be going, and how best Republicans can help get us there. When Rush verbally assaulted the effort as an attempt to compromise what he sees as core Republican values, it seemed as though this new group would have a chance to change the party. However, the lineup of panel experts is dubiously filled faces of the staunch establishment. Jeb Bush, no matter his personal accolades and through no fault of his own, taints the panel with his family name. The last thing any new party image needs is a Bush at the forefront. John McCain, while perfect for adding to a conversation about party reform, came to represent the same ole' GOP during the national election, although I didn't believe for a second he was just another far right Republican. Sarah Palin, his running mate, was embraced warmly by the far right, and lampooned by everyone else. Mitt Romney and Bobby Jindel, with past and future oval office hopes, fail to bring anything new to the discussion, sticking to many of the same talking points from the last year. Haley Barbour, governor of Mississippi provides a good face for fiscal conservatism, but is that enough? So will this group that pledges to have town-hall discussions be able to reshape the party by any measurable degree? My hunch is no.
Any progress in ideas and policy are being blocked by social conservatives that are uncompromising in a changing American society. If the Republican Party wants a resurgence, it needs to get back to basics, which, believe it or not, are not moral issues. Smaller government, lower taxes, less discretionary spending, protecting individual rights, protecting state sovereignty are all tenets of conservatism. Those interests are vastly more attractive to Reagan Democrats, independents and moderates than the subliminal intolerance social conservatism has come to represent. To attract the minorities, women, and younger voters that the party sorely needs, it will have to adapt to become more Libertarian. Many in the GOP have an unyielding pro-life stance that is irresponsible to affected families, and is a leading cause for their lack of female supporters. Harsh rhetoric on immigrants drives many minorities to the Democrats. Anti-gay agendas keep the young, who are far more tolerant of homosexuality than preceding generations, disinterested in the GOP. As the party of protecting individual rights and liberties from the abuses of government (thus the reasoning behind keeping it smaller), the GOP should be progressive in incorporating immigrants legally into our society, protecting women's rights, and championing the civil rights issue that is homosexual rights.
One of the GOP's last remaining vestiges of hope in rebuilding a positive image that the American people will clamor for is McCain. Not John, but Meghan. Providing a voice for moderate conservatives, she has made it her personal mission to attempt to free up her party from its extremist power base.
In this short clip of an interview with Larry King, McCain demonstrates what a positive future for the GOP could look like. A young, smart, independent-minded woman acting as a voice for Republicans that touts support for gay marriage among other social issues. She remains pro-life on a personal level, but does not begrudge those who are pro-choice, nor does she see such issues as core policy agendas. Although many social conservatives may disagree with her on many accounts, to disparage her and suggest she leave the party only shows the public that the GOP isn't ready to change and likely won't anytime soon. If Republicans hope to be an attractive alternative to President Obama and the Democratic majorities in Congress in 2010 and 2012, they had best bring more attractive policies to the table.
