Posted on 05/17/2008 11:47:33 AM PDT by calcowgirl
...This week, as the Democratic contest winds down, CBS News' Brian Goldsmith talked with Republican National Committee Deputy Chairman Frank Donatelli about his party’s prospects for November’s elections.
(snip)
CBSNews.com: Getting back to the environment, the highest wrong track number ever recorded in opinion polls, the highest disapproval rating ever recorded for a sitting president. How big is the magnitude of the problem?
Frank Donatelli: Well, the political environment represents the starting point is what I would say. And it's fair to say that, in 2008, we start off, just on a generic basis, behind by five or ten points. And so that means we have to run five or ten points better than the other guys.
That's difficult but it's not impossible, by any means. And I like our odds because we have a candidate that's lapped the field a couple of times already. And he is very comfortable running a non- traditional campaign where he puts really interesting coalitions together and wins votes that aren't Republican votes.
So would it be better if this was 1984, and it was morning in
America, and everybody was in fine feathers? Of course it would.
But the current circumstances are challenging. But given Senator McCain and our strong campaign team, I have every expectation that we can win this race.
CBSNews.com: Tom Cole, the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, went beyond what you've said. He thinks it's more than the problem in the environment. He asked aloud whether something was wrong with the product after three special election losses in Republican seats. Do you think there's something wrong with the product as well as the environment?
Frank Donatelli: Well, I guess what I would say is that the successful Republicans this time are going to maybe take the basic brand and add their own mix to it. So I guess I would say yes. I mean, I don't think the generic brand will do it this time.
Sometimes the generic brand does it for Republicans or Democrats, based on the circumstances. But this time it's a very challenging environment and it's not enough just to kind of go down the litany of issues. I think you've got to be more creative. You've got to reach out. You've got to have some really strong issues, talking points of your own.
So, you know, it's kind of like we're a basic black dress. Sometimes it works. But sometimes you've gotta, you know, you’ve gotta have the accessories to go with it. And we need accessories this time.
CBSNews.com: This is the year to accessorize for Republicans.
Frank Donatelli: First time I've ever talked about shoes in an interview like this.
CBSNews.com: Tom Cole also said "there's a deficiency in our message." So if you agree with that, if there's a deficiency in the message, what do you think the new message can be or should be to attract a lot of these voters who voted Republican in 2000 and 2002 and 2004 but are defecting this time?
Frank Donatelli: Well, I think we have to be true to our own principles. And I think we have to talk maybe more in specifics and not generalities. Try to connect how our policies will make things better for the average American. You know, why we need additional sources of energy. And why we need more energy supply which, in turn, will bring down the price of gas. I think we need to give more vivid examples of things like that.
I like the basics that our party stands for. But a lot of times we have to retool the message based on what the current circumstances are. And, you know, the crisis we face. And so, if we're going to get serious and say that we really need to restrain federal spending, we really need to do it.
If we're going to get serious about fighting the war on terror then we have to convince people that we're serious about it. So I guess just being a little more vivid in our examples. And try to connect our policies up a little more with what Americans are thinking.
(snip)
<...I think we have to be true to our own principles...>
He THINKS? What happened to “I believe in being true to our conservative principles...”, huh?
Somewhere on this post it was said that the 527s are the groups to donate money towards. Yep. We’ve repeatedly, for three years now, told the RNC that illegal aliens invading our homeland was a major problem and we must lock the borders. And we’ve refused to donate money.
We even quit a 30-year long subscription to WSJ over their editorial board’s position supporting scoffing at the Federal Statutes concerning Immigration. (They believe that illegal aliens boost our economy, the dummies!)
A thought on why the Bushies have been hesitant to lock down tighter on the border - Mexico supplies us with a great deal of petroleum, in fact, I believe they are our #2 supplier behind Canada. Mexico may have threatened us with a cut off if we reasserted stringent border controls.
Any opinions on these suppositions?
OH my goodness! No wonder the GOP is in such big trouble. Where do they get these people?
A clown like this is speaking for the republican party and people wonder why we are in trouble?? Accessorize!! Unbelievable. I think I would have Jap-slapped him.
Country clubbers have taken over the GOP again.
Then he follows up with generality after generality after generality after generality...
I had to Google to find out who this joker is and all I can say is OMFG.
Small wonder the GOP is in decline.
I looked up country clubber bank owner with no idea how to play hardball and street fight against a domestic socialist insurgency and this guys picture came up.
Dark days ahead.
RNCC/RNSC
I figured the third letter stood for communist and socialist. ;-)
Pity that the only people this guy knows how to shaft are the people who should be part of his base. But, then I guess that's always been the coward's way: screw over the people who don't deserve it, your friends, and cower before the people you should be standing up to.
People like him remind me of the Scottish nobility in Braveheart: They're perfectly willing to sell out their friends for titles and thirty pieces of silver instead of acting like men and standing beside them. (Viagra, anyone?)
Yep, the GOP needs more lipstick over substance. Reagan is rolling over in his grave.
... had a REAL Chairman?
And you kind of sound like a cross-dressing freak.
The Republican Party is doomed.
Oh, and I forgot Kevin Brady (R-TX) and New York Rep. Fossella (sp) and all the other drunk driving congressmen in the past two years.
I am afraid that the comments here are terribly uninformed as to Frank Donatelli's background, not that I think much of this interview. Let's see what TOWNHALL.COM says
'Donatelli is a long-time movement conservative who was a YAFer (Young Americans for Freedom -- not to be confused with another top-notch organization -- Young America's Foundation).
He organized the first several CPAC's, and also worked in three Reagan campaigns -- as well as in the Reagan Administration. In short, Donatelli is a bona fide movement conservative. The fact that John McCain elevated him to this important position is a very good sign that McCain realizes that personnel is policy. The RNC will serve a vital purpose for the McCain campaign, including coordinating party efforts on voter contact and get-out-the-vote programs.'
I knew Frank back in my YAF days, well enough that he purged me personally! It appears that Frank is the highest level hard right McCain staffer, who would be our main connection into a future McCain administration should there be one. He has to talk like this because he could hardly say what his positions are on the issues, he is a party staffer, and his job is to advance the party. We can hardly attack McCain for not working with conservatives, then condemn conservatives he DOES work with BECAUSE they are working with him.
5-10 points behind? ROTFLMCO. Guy would be counting his lucky star if it's only 5-10 points.
Guess again, sucker.
Oh wait a sec----this "brilliant team" has yet to call on major McC backer, Rooty Giuliani, to campaign alongside McCain. (Giuli is still recuperating after choking on a Communion host when the Pope was here---sniffle.)
Maybe Giuli will share with McCain his own "brilliant" campaign strategy........how he "brilliantly" kicked conservatives to the curb, and that "brilliant move" to religiously cleanse the Repub party.
5-10 points down.......my Aunt Tilly. Without conservatives, McC is in Nowheresville, with Giuliani by his side.
ROTFLMCO.
“soCialist”
Is that anything like Cialis? I wondered what these guys were using to keep it up. It’s Really hard when you don’t have the goods.
They were always comfortable being in the minority just so long as they could make money.
They are embarrassed by those of us in the GOP that are actually Reagan Republicans and by our positions on the issues.
I fear my party is dying and beyond the point of saving.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.