Republican Party Should Go Upscale

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ashwynolsz of AZ 12:28PM July 05, 2009

Michael,
As long as the Republican Party keeps their head up their....whatever, they will continue to lose members. The Republican party is seen as uncaring, arrogant, unethical, greedy and a part of the culture of the Wall Street Robber Barons. They don't care who they screw as long as they make money, they don't care who loses as long as they don't. Many times the local Republican Committeeman has tried to lure me away but since Bush took office I don't him, "as long as Republcians continue to act with such indifference and arrogance I don't think I would ever vote Republican. I am an Independent who will not vote for party but for a man of conscience and decency. It has been a long time since I have seen one of those in the Republican Party since all the RNC thinks about is MONEY--that is your mantra, the all-consuming thought of the RNC. Proof of that is how the RNC allowed Bush to run this country into the ground. The RNC just stood there and never said a word or attempted to stop what Bush was doing. We all believe in party loyalty but not at the expense of the nation. I think the RNC has to grow some real balls, conscience, compassion, and learn some decency and loyalty to the nation and not only to the party. I would dump any party before I betrayed the nation.

Ann M of IA 12:23PM February 04, 2009

Michael: The voters whom the Republicans lost in the suburbs are not coming back, and the Republicans should not want them. They only believe in the public school system because they live in jurisdictions where the NEA's monopoly on education is tempered by the local district's enjoyment of the special funds contributed by the parents. Those parents will never support freedom of choice in education, whether it is by charter school, vocational education, home schooling, vouchers or the abolition of compulsory education itself. They favor restrictive environmental regulation because they are its primary beneficiaries; they make their livings in "clean" jobs in offices, not "dirty" ones in restaurants, garages, farms, factories and construction sites. The Republican Party has to decide whether it wants to represent waitresses or unionized school teachers, truck drivers or DMV employees. The Democrats already have the loyalty of the groups in our country who are insistent on being paid higher than market wages, never being laid off, and never, ever being fired for being bad at their jobs. There is no way that the Republicans can ever compete successfully for the votes of the people who confuse diplomas with wisdom and talk with work. When the Republicans as a party finally have the courage to embrace their origins as the party of hard money, limited taxes, and reduced government, they will recover the majority they enjoyed when genuinely humble men like Grant, Coolidge and Reagan were their leaders.

LetUsHavePeace of CA 11:43PM February 03, 2009

"Going upscale also means downplaying the cultural issues that were an important reason for Republican victories from 1980 to 2004."
- They said the same thing about William Jennings Bryan 100 years ago. The irony is that he was a "the small guy" Democrat. What we will have is a permanent third party presence, like the Dixiecrats to the Democrats. A lot of Republicans will feel that they were misled and/or taken advantage of. I don't see them remaining within the party. They party tried this back in the 60s and it actually produced greater losses. Also, a substantial portion of the Catholic vote may sit out the elections. McCain lost the Catholic vote, which swung many of the midwestern states to Obama. We have yet to understand why they went for Obama, but than worsening economic conditions in those regions. However, they might not go back to the Republican Party if there really is no party represenative of their interests and viewpoints in the future.

Mr. Funfsinn of IL 3:33PM February 03, 2009

I hate to tell you but I think you and the Republicans you are quoting are really missing the answer. McCAIN LOST BECAUSE THE COUNTRY WAS PUNISHING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY FOR IT'S RECENT BEHAVIOR. Upscale, Downscale, what the hell is the difference. It's the Country-Stupid. The party doesn't matter anymore.

Frank of CA 3:25PM February 03, 2009

see my friend below

Chris Petty of GA 2:58PM February 03, 2009

By income I'm upscale and my primary residence is upscale suburbs and my secondary residence is downscale rural. I find the most honest, hard working, patriotic people are downscale rural, most of which are Republicans. It would be foolish to partially ignore them.
I feel self reliance, entrepreneurialism and independence is what connects and should continue to be the platform for the Republican Party. The Republicans need someone with the talent of communication.
If self reliance, entrepreneurialism and independence cannot win elections then this country is gone.

Rick of PA 7:39PM February 02, 2009

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Republican Party Should Go Upscale

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Michael Barone

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