2009 Survey of the Republican Party from Michael Steele

Republican National Committee ^ | 03/13/2009 | Michael Steele

[BuckeyeTexan]

PART I: DOMESTIC & SOCIAL ISSUES

1. A recent national poll reported that nearly 25% of Americans want the government to pass more socialism. Do you agree or disagree?

• Agree
• Disagree
• Undecided

2. Which do you believe creates more jobs for the American economy: Government Programs and Spending or the American Free Enterprise System?

• Government Programs & Spending
• American Free Enterprise System

3. The Obama Administration has proposed spending as much as $1.5 trillion to bail out the banking industry. Do you agree or disagree with this proposal?

• Agree
• Disagree
• Undecided

4. Do you oppose so-called “card-check” legislation, which eliminates secret ballot elections during unionization drives and puts workers at risk of intimidation by labor bosses?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

5. Should Republicans unite to block new federal government bureaucracy and red tape that will crush future economic growth?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

6. Should Republicans in Congress oppose the new wasteful government spending programs passed in the recent “stimulus” bill by the Pelosi-Reid Democrats designed to “spread the wealth?”

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

7. Do you agree that we must secure our borders to stop illegal immigration?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

8. Should we do everything we can to block Democrats who are trying to shut down conservative radio with the so-called “fairness doctrine?”

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

9. Should we resist Barack Obama’s proposal to spend billions of federal taxpayer dollars to pay “volunteers” who perform his chosen tasks?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

10. Should Republicans unite in opposition to judicial nominees who bring a personal, left-wing agenda on social issues to their jobs as judges?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

11. Do you want Republicans to vigorously defend the recently passed partial-birth abortion ban from attacks by the Democrat majority?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

12. Should bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. be in charge of making your healthcare choices instead of you and your doctor?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

PART II: HOMELAND SECURITY & DEFENSE ISSUES

1. If Barack Obama tries to gut the USA PATRIOT Act and other important laws that promote the safety and security of all Americans, should Republicans in Congress fight back?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

2. Should we stop Democrat leaders from cutting funding from our intelligence agencies or bringing back Clinton-era restrictions on inter-agency communications?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

3. Do you support the use of air strikes against any country that offers safe harbor or aid to individuals or organizations committed to further attacks on America?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

4. Should Republicans unite in support of full funding for border and port security when Barack Obama, Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid try to make cuts in these areas?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

5. Do you think U.S. troops should have to serve under United Nations’ commanders?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

6. Do you agree that our top military priority should be fighting terrorists?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

7. Should we fight military-cutting efforts in Congress, such as the proposal from liberal Barney Frank to slash the Pentagon budget by 25%?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

8. Even though Barack Obama pledged to meet personally with the likes of Raul Castro, Hugo Chaves and Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, should Republicans continue to focus on supporting democratic movements in oppressive states like Cuba, Venezuela and Iran?

• Yes
• No
• Undecided

PART III: THE REPUBLICAN PARTY

(Please mark all that apply.)
1. Why did Republicans lose the White House and Congressional seats in the 2008 elections?

• Iraq War
• Poor Economy
• Government Response to Katrina
• Republican Scandals
• Republicans acted like Democrats
• President Bush’s Policies
• Liberal Media
• Other

2. What are the key strengths and beliefs of the Republican Party that we can build on?

• Social Issues
• Family Values
• Ethics
• Free Markets
• National Security
• Fiscal Discipline
• Limited Government
• Personal Responsibility
• Pro-Life
• Other

3. What are the weaknesses of the Republican Party?

• Bad Messaging
• Poor Response to Democrats
• Republicans Who Don’t Vote Like Republicans
• Standing Up For Principles
• Need to Lead in Congress

4. What is the best way to encourage and register new voters in your community?

• Door-to-Door Visits
• Online Advertising
• E-mail
• Personal Appearances by Republican Leaders in Your Area
• Radio Advertising
• Interaction at Community Events
• Other

5. What technological innovations should the RNC employ to grow our Pary?

• More Aggressive E-mail Campaigns
• Text Messages
• Revamp GOP.com
• Social Networking Sites like Facebook
• Twitter
• Other

6. What can the Republican Party do to earn your trust? (Please attach a separate sheet of paper if you do not have enough space.)

7. Will you help the Republican National Committee implement your ideas and help keep our party-building programs for the 2009-2010 elections moving forward by making a contribution today?

Michael Steele, RNC Chairman

[BuckeyeTexan]

Well, if he has to ask, then he's obviously not the man for the job. This is a ridiculous survey. Why ask me if I'm conservative and against big government? Duh.

A comment from the attached letter from Michael Steele: I want you to be honest and candid in your answers - there's no need to sugar-coat your responses after our Party's performances in the last two elections.

[FlyingEagle]

Quiz written by Captain Obvious.

[darkangel82]

I’ll answer #6 and #7. #6: Go back to the right, move away from McCainism, stop worrying about what Democrats think.

#7: Only if the party is consisently conservative. If you’re going to be RAT-lite, forget it.

[lgjhn23]

I responded to it...couldn’t resist.
On #6 asking; “what they could do to earn my trust”
I responded kick Spector, Snowe and Collins out of the GOP!!
Once you do that, I’ll think about contributing again. In the meantime, NOTHING!

[max americana]

With all the doubts surrounding the new inept GOP leader, they should be having Steele fill in this questionnaire HIMSELF.

[beaversmom]

Didn’t have time to read the survey? Did they ask anything about hip hop in there? That’s going to be so important in the coming elections.

[50mm]

They won’t pay attention to your responses to the survey. All they want is your money.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Bingo!

[beaversmom]

LOL :) Good point!

[TheConservativeParty]

Well, I have just opened my little “survey” and plan to use the return postage paid envelope to send a little message, not the “survey”. I’ll send a picture of teabags from
http://resistnet.com/events/nationwide-tea-partiestrouble that has anti-tax messages on the tags, along with a nifty picture of 3 rusty old pitchfork ends, that were on Ebay.

See if they get it. Tea and Pitchforks. Nah, they won’t get it.

I already wrote to Steele after he insulted one of my heros, Rush Limbaugh. Steele is gonna have to really impress the hell out of me (fat chance) before the RNC gets another cent out of me.

40 percent of the pork in Porkulus was republican pork.

He’s almost as good a gaffe machine as Biden. Did Steele come out as pro-death the other day? Not sure. But he did say unkind and untrue things about Rush after Rush’s great American speech at CPAC. Heck, Rush should be running for pres, not the likes of McCain. I know,,,Rush will not run if nominated, will not serve if elected....Too big a pay cut for the MahaRushie.

[Col Freeper]

If the RNC was serious about this survey, they would NOT have asked for money.

Of course, they should already know the answers to this survey, which makes it even more silly.

Mr. Steele really needs to retire “to spend more time with his family” or some such excuse.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Do you think the RNC is really wondering if Obama beat them with trendy technology like Facebook and Twitter?

I’ve noticed that, after the election, Fox News has also really gotten into Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. I know, I know it’s quick and easy and takes less effort than a written letter or phone call ... but it’s anonymous. Aren’t they risking being duped by posers?

[Col Freeper]

Yes, from all indications, the RNC believes that.

I believe that the RNC needs to stop messing around, and either:

1. Republish the Republican Party's Reagan era platform, clearly state that it is the roadmap back to political power, get on with explaining how it applies to today's world, while calling for everyone who wants to participate, to “come on down”.

2. Publish instead a moderate/left platform and clearly state that it, instead, is the roadmap back to political power (conservatives already know such ideas failed in the last two elections), then watch to see what the conservative wing of the party does about it.

Regardless of their choice, the RNC needs to “p##$ or get off the pot” NOW. Daylight is burning, and if there is to be a battle for the party (and there is one already), let it rage.

Since conservatives won't (I believe) go for the moderate/left approach, they will have to decide on whether to continue to fight (within the party) or choose flight (to another party).

The fight for the Republican party is just a micro-battle in the war against the marxists/leftists who want to destroy America. But I hope that this micro-battle will raise the alarm about the grave dangers of failing to win the war for America.

Conservatives may not win the internal battle for the Republican party, but they absolutely can't afford to lose the war.

[calex59]

I’ll answer no 1. The question should have started out that 75 percent of the people DON’T want socialism. Why would 25 percent of the population wanting socialism be of significance to a conservative party?

[calex59]

Ok, one more comment, or actually question of my own. Why does the head of the conservative party, or what is supposed to be the party of the conservatives, have to ask questions about what we prefer? We are conservatives, just because he is dem lite posing as a Republican doesn't mean the members are.

My honest opinion of this survey is that he is trying to justify moving the party more to the left with his socialistic policies. I think that letters and emails he has been getting should show him where we stand. Some people never learn.

[Skenderbej]

I just completed the survey, which was sent to my inbox last night at midnight. I let them know that it was a poor survey, written to manipulate the participant into giving pre-determined answers. If they were really concerned about getting honest feedback, they would write a survey that was not manipulative nor leading. But, since when did politicians truly care about your opinion?

[Skenderbej]

And I won’t donate until they change their ways. Guess we’ll all lose again in the next election.

[Charles Henrickson]

Here's the answer I wrote to this question:

6. What can the Republican Party do to earn and maintain your trust?

Take a clear and consistent stand, in word and action, for true conservatism:

1) Constitutional conservatism: Federalism; Tenth Amendment; cutting the size, scope, and spending of the federal government
2) National security: strong defense--and diplomacy
3) Social conservatism: uphold traditional values and morality, oppose abortion and homosexuality

We cannot just be "Democrat Lite"! We need candidates and leaders who know and understand and can articulate conservative principles! Persuade with ideas! Reagan did this. The Republican Revolution of 1994 did this. But we have lost our way--and our courage.