At a time when a fierce debate has begun within the Republican party about what Republicanism is and what it should be as the party heads into the 21st century seriously downsized after last week’s elections, the RNC has launched a new website called “Republicans For A Reason.”
You can go to the website here.
And here’s the RNC email on the website:
WASHINGTON – The Republican National Committee (RNC) today launched a new Web site, “RepublicanForAReason.com.” The site offers users the opportunity to discuss their reasons for being a member of the Grand Old Party and what being a Republican means to them. The format is similar to that of the RNC’s ground-breaking Platform Web site, which was launched in the run-up to the 2008 Republican National Convention as a way for every Party member to offer their ideas and insight toward our Platform. In the same vein, Party members can offer their opinion of where the Party is headed and how we can be better prepared for the future.
“We are a party of principles and must regain our voice,” said RNC Chairman Robert M. “Mike” Duncan. “We need to hear what our volunteers, activists, elected leaders, and party members think about the Republican Party as we rebuild, re-focus, and renew our bond with the American people.”
It’s a smart move….if party bigwigs use it to help adapt the GOP to the new political circumstances. The “traditionalists” (whose highest profile members include Sean Hannity and Rush Limbaugh) insist the party shouldn’t change or adapt but remain wedded to the same approaches in terms of content (far right) and campaign practices (the use of characterization and demonization instead of positive arguments to convince voters they have the best and most practical policies). Some would argue that’s a recipe for continued electoral disaster.
No one expects any party to totally reshape itself based on opinions left on a website. But the GOP’s long range future can’t rely on waiting for the Democrats and Barack Obama to overreach. This will give the party some feedback on how to — at the very least — regain Republicans who either stayed home on election day or voted for Obama. And what it’ll take to start offering a more affirmative message.
Joe Gandelman is a former fulltime journalist who freelanced in India, Spain, Bangladesh and Cypress writing for publications such as the Christian Science Monitor and Newsweek. He also did radio reports from Madrid for NPR’s All Things Considered. He has worked on two U.S. newspapers and quit the news biz in 1990 to go into entertainment. He also has written for The Week and several online publications, did a column for Cagle Cartoons Syndicate and has appeared on CNN.