RNC Memo Warns GOPers Not To Distance Themselves From Bush

The Hotline (National Journal) ^ | March 28, 2006

[Karl Rand]

Republican pollster Jan van Lohuizen, in a memo written for RNC chairman Ken Mehlman, warns that if members of Congress try to drive a wedge between themselves and Pres. Bush, it'd be akin to adding weight to an anchor. GOpers are "W Brand Republicans" whether they like it or not. And van Louhizen, who has polled (often secretly) for the Bush White House under the RNC aegis for years, is worried about low turnout.

Time Magazine first reported on the memo this weekend, but the full text is below.

[Mini-14]

If my comments don't make sense, it is probably because there is no good short-term strategy to deal with the problems of RINOs and Democrats. In all honesty, I think the country is ****** regardless of which party is in control.

At this point I can't tell which party is doing the most damage -- they seem to be in a competition to outdo each other.

[pop-gun]

I agree with you mostly, but why isn't GWB's fault?

As I mentioned, GWB has his warts and God knows he has made some horrible mistakes.....like the immigration decision. This country needs to get as tough as it was in the WWII era.....Bus the illegals to the Mexican side and build the 50 ft wall...Bring this country back to the Ellis Island mentality and put an end to these A.H. decisions in the Senate.

In my opinion, most Joe 6 packs (and I do not mean to demean them) decide from emotion and not from reason....that is why the MSM is so evil and treasonous....If they would just convey the factual news and not their socialistic agenda the Joe 6 Packs of the world would vote and do the right thing...But our country has lost the free press which is essential for a democracy to work.

And thank God at least we have the internet!

Bush is far from perfect ( who is) but the essential thing to remember is that he has to give to the hands that are out to some extent.

I voted for Bush because he was the best man for the country...warts and all. But God knows he has done some awful things.

Have a great day.

[pop-gun]

I forgot to mention McCain-Feingold....We are in total agreement there....But I don't think they and Bush are the singular reason we have such poor choices at the voting booth.....Certainly McCain Feingold have lost their compass....if they ever had one. As an ex-military, I really had high hopes for McCain when he entered politics...I thought with that military record and the courage he exemplified, all he had to do was be a square shooter and not drop to the cess-pool of Washington politics......I was wrong. I guess I just don't have an answer for why we have such poor choices.

[pollyannaish]

I'm sorry to hear that.

I think this is a phenomenally great country...who has survived worse problems, fights and threats than those we are facing now. You, are taking all that you have been given...and throwing it away with your attitude.

I challenge you to tell me a single place on earth that is better. Where can you have more choices, more sunshine, more land and property ownership, more variety in the way we entertain ourselves, or eat, or play? AND I challenge you to learn to be grateful for the many blessings, and unbelievable opportunity America affords ungrateful citizens like yourself. No matter who the government is controlled by.

Learn to count your blessings. Then come back and talk to me. You can be part of a solution...or you can be part of the problem. You have a choice.

I for one intend to do all I can while I am here to make it better and that includes finding solutions to problems that work, not being a whining, sniveling "how come the government isn't doing exactly what I want to address my every little discomfort" citizen.

I wish you the best.

[janetgreen]

My family (and everyone else I know) "distanced" ourselves from Bush back on 9/12/01 when he did absolutely nothing to secure our borders. He still hasn't.

He claims to be "protecting America". His actions via the still open borders prove otherwise.

His bumbling in the White House has distanced everyone I've talked to from the GOP. We are lifelong Republicans, and we have quit in embarassment, thanks to GWBush and his cronies.

[Hat-Trick]

From now on, when I receive fund-raising letters/requests from the RNC and my republican congress-critters, I'm going to follow my father's lead and send them back a donation - in pesos.

[Mini-14]

sniveling "how come the government isn't doing exactly what I want to address my every little discomfort" citizen

You call an invasion of tens of millions of Mexicans a "little discomfort"? I think you have a problem with reality and seeing the scope of the disaster. Maybe when the locusts move into your neighborhood you might have a little bit of a panic.

I for one have personally seen the hords of locusts in California, Texas, and Illinois, and the only rational to describe this is as an unmitigated disaster. No, it is not 1860, but we are getting close and you seem to have your head buried in the sand.

[chris1]

I literally was thinking that right after 9/11 that finally we would tackle the problem. However, as time went on and nothing was done, and even worse we go tthe "vigilante" speech, it became obvious who his real loyalties were to.

Certainly not the middle class of this country.

[pollyannaish]

The "locusts" are very much in my neighborhood.

Ironically, I call them neighbors...and the vast majority are an asset to my community. They are also AMERICANS because most are here legally. They are good, decent, hard working family people who have the same struggles as many first generation immigrants.

There children are upwardly mobile, well educated, hard working professionals in many cases.

Call them what you like, but they do not cause me panic.

[RHINO369]

"The "locusts" are very much in my neighborhood.

Ironically, I call them neighbors...and the vast majority are an asset to my community. They are also AMERICANS because most are here legally. They are good, decent, hard working family people who have the same struggles as many first generation immigrants.

There children are upwardly mobile, well educated, hard working professionals in many cases.

Call them what you like, but they do not cause me panic. "

They turned my local elementary school into an English as a Second language school. 1/9 the elementary schools in the district are 100% nonenglish speaking, with pockets of nonenglish in every school. This is in the Illinois 10th Congressional District, what used to be one of the most conservative districts in America, and now we can barely get a moderate republican elected. In 10 years it will be solid democrat.

Letting millions upon millions of people who don't speak our language and are loyal to a foreign nation into our country not only hurts America but its turning red states into blue states. Once they realize that voting democratic gets them special rights, it wont be 70-30 democratic, itll be 90-10.

[Rebelbase]

"Ironically, I call them neighbors...and the vast majority are an asset to my community. They are also AMERICANS because most are here legally"

I applaud those people and welcome them. I condem their illegal relatives and friends.

[pollyannaish]

They turned my local elementary school into an English as a Second language school

No. they did not. Liberal do gooders did. Most LEGAL immigrants want to become part of this society...even some who entered illegally do (which doesn't excuse it, btw, but speaks to motivation)

My point is this, if we want to win this and hold America to its original charter, Republicans need to offer them something. What we need to offer them is full participation in our society as individuals able and willing to enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Democrats pander to what exists and is counting on them staying a disadvantaged underclass who will continue to give them power. Republicans should offer opportunity to what can be, to the middle class and to upward mobility.

Unfortunately, right now what they (legal immigrants) are hearing is that the Dems are offering them something and we are offering them nothing. If we do not change that paradigm right here, right now you are correct. It will be solid blue. But if we offer opportunity, we hold our values, we share our values and we solidify our values.

What is good for legal Hispanic immigrants and guest workers is not only good for them, it is good for America. We MUST understand who our opponents really are, and that is the liberal establishment who are forcing these people into eternal poverty in exchange for power...and we must offer the Hispanic community a welcoming better way, the American way, with better results. We do, and we ALL win.

[pollyannaish]

I agree about illegal immigrants. The border needs to be taken care of in a realistic way. I am speaking of the guest worker program and it's ramifications.

Legally speaking, these people have only committed a misdemeanor. At this time, they can not be held to more than that. Stem the tide, offer a market based solution and don't let Liberals use these people to further their "diversity" goals regarding language and culture. I think we do that and we are well on our way to making a significant difference.

[maine-iac7]

no need to shout - altho I have noticed that when one isn't secure in their position, they do tend to shout - Watch the libs, you'll see what I mean

[RHINO369]

I don't hate illegal immigrants, because honestly I'd try to be getting in here if I were them too, but they are ruining our nation. They are changing our culture because there are WAY too many of them. They have no need to assimilate into our culture.

I have nothing against Mexicans, but any group of millions upon millions of any race, or ethnicity pouring into our country with no skills is bad for America. You go live in a mexican area in America, its poor, it has crime, and its dirty. Surprise surprise thats how Mexico is.

[Badray]

(Getting angry and abandoning power to the Democrats is not a choice.)

Neither is bending over and taking it from RINOs.

[Badray]

Whoa!

When I said something like that or attacked a few RINOs you had a fit. Why the change of heart?

[pollyannaish]

Most first generation immigrant communities feel that way, dirty, odd, poor, crime-ridden. The reason is that they are simply living the way they know how...of course in this case, it is going to be like Mexico. They are vulnerable to those seeking to exploit them, via crime or politics. They don't know any different.

YET.

So...the trick in my opinion is for conservatives to work on assimilating them as quickly and efficiently as possible and send them on the path of upward mobility. Teach them what we stand for. Help them understand their new surroundings. Don't underestimate their ability to learn our language. Help them become loyal to what America stands for. We offer them the tools it takes for them to BE AMERICAN in lifestyle and the way they seek opportunity, we have a whole new group of loyal Americans, and most likely, American Conservatives.

The fact they have no need to assimilate, is not their fault. It is the fault of liberals who gain power by disenfranchising (to use their word) them. Being naive, they are told "this is the way America works." Why wouldn't they believe it? If we don't do that, but instead go into their immigrant communities and educate them on our culture and offer them opportunity in a different way, not only do we win as conservatives, the immigrants win as successful Americans.

Case in point. When was the last time you heard someone even know the difference between a person of Irish heritage and a person of Italian heritage? Well...people used to be able to tell. They were dirty, and poor, and uneducated and took over parts of cities. But something weird happened and they became just plain old Americans.

We are a country of mutts. There are very few, if any, true pure breds here. Like any "pound" the mutts resent the badly mannered, loudly barking, strange looking, stinkin' "newbies." But soon enough the newbies learn to negotiate the "culture" and the next thing you know, they are all standing there together irritated by the next batch of newbies.

I am proud to be an American Mutt. I am proud that we stand for something greater and more important than our genes. I welcome all kinds of genes to mix in this pool. And frankly I don't know what is more American than that.

[Badray]

What part of "Congress shall make no law...." don't you and the others not understand.

NO LAWS. NONE. ZIP. NADA. ZERO.

Bush vowed to veto it and reneged on his word. He did what the Dems haven't been able to do.

[Killborn]

I can't change your minds and you can't change mine.

Let's end it at that.