Posted on 07/31/2009 8:42:23 AM PDT by DanZanRyu
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty on Thursday urged fellow Republicans to welcome outsiders into the party ranks, not scorn them, as the GOP rebuilds from defeats that left the White House and Congress in Democratic hands.
The potential 2012 presidential candidate, addressing a meeting of the Republican National Committee, appealed to members to build bridges to independents and conservative-leaning Democrats that would win converts and, in turn, elections.
To move forward at a time when Republican numbers are shrinking in many states, the party should show "respect of those who don't agree with us," Pawlenty said. "Let's make sure that we welcome others who are not yet Republicans."
The speech came in the midst of an organizational meeting in which party leaders are discussing ways to repair their dented brand, lure back big-dollar contributors and identify and train a new generation of Republican candidates.
The meeting follows a difficult stretch for the GOP. Sen. John Ensign of Nevada and South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, once seen as rising stars, have been damaged by extramarital affairs; Democrat Al Franken ousted Republican Norm Coleman in Minnesota's Senate race; and moderate Pennsylvania Sen. Arlen Specter became a Democrat.
Echoing Pawlenty, Republican Chairman Michael Steele said the GOP needs to get back in touch with average Americans by stressing the party's traditional values, from tightfisted spending to strong national security.
(Excerpt) Read more at google.com ...
Minnesotans has no business giving advice for anything to anyone.
You twits elected a hack comedian for pete’s sake.
It’s AP - so of course the story starts with the loaded and biased premise “GOP does NOT welcome outsiders” (whatever that means) and proceeds from there.
You twits elected a hack comedian for pete’s sake.
So well said, it's worth repeating.
The Republican Party must:
1- Articulate a sound, conservative set of values and beliefs
2- Articulate a clear picture of their vision for America
3- Identify the leftist sympathizing RINOs and throw their a$$es OUT OF THE PARTY!!
Weakness begets more weakness.
^^^
AMEN!
Could you elaborate, Governor? Who are these outsiders who want into the party, but are being scorned instead of welcomed?
That's the problem with this sort of very general criticism. They never give us the specifics. I'm afraid this is just a veiled way of saying we must find different ways to pander to different groups, the stupid policy that was pursued from 2004 through 2008. The Governor seems to be suggesting even more of the same.
BlueNgold to Minn Gov:
You, Sir, are sadly lost in the world of elective politics and you no longer understand the people of this great nation. What the GOP needs most is to do a better job of messaging. The trick is not to try to be more ‘popular’ with the ‘cool kids’. The winning strategy is to be consistent, clear, and conservative. People need to hear from US what we think and what we would like to do. We wont accomplish anything by trying to compromise with as many people as possible - but we can accomplish great things if we take on the task of getting out in front of the people and convincing them to join us based on message and clear goals. And then we need to follow through! Our elected leaders in D.C. have largely lost their way, and become convinced that what people talk about at D.C. dinner parties is what people discuss on Main Street. The group-think liberal elite have tainted conservatism horribly.
Another suggestion the Gov: This should be mandatory reading for any GOP elected official at any level, and it is clear you haven’t read it in a while (if ever).
Ronald Reagan, March 1, 1975, CPAC.
“Let Them Go Their Way”
http://reagan2020.us/speeches/Let_Them_Go_Their_Way.asp
???
I don't understand... obviously the GOP should welcome EVERYBODY who believes in smaller government, lower taxes, controlled borders, and adherence to the US Constitution. What on earth is this pantload Pawlenty talking about? Is he saying that the GOP does NOT welcome everybody with those basic principles?
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty should clean up his own house before lecturing the GOP on how to clean theirs. With Senators Amy Klobuchar and (the very fraudulently elected fraud) Al Franken, I don’t think he has any room from which to speak!
I wouldn’t vote for anybody from Minnesota. Just remember, you let Coleman sink and let Franken swim. Any state that supports Al Franken doesn’t have their heads screwed on right.
Nothing wrong with inviting new folks in, as long as it’s made clear that the principles of the Republican party will not change to suit them.
All others, go over to the Democrats where you belong.
Now, in one sense, I agree with Romney. He was hammered by some over being a Mormon. I would have a lot of trouble voting for Romney, but that's mostly because of his chameleon type ability to adopt any position at the time it becomes convenient. However, on the Mormonism, a lot of that was ginned up by the press to fan what they knew would be concern by conservative Christians and Catholics. The thing is though, that the concern was there. There IS a difference between conservatives and liberals, in that conservatives will throw people overboard very quickly, while liberals will vote for Satan himself if he'll vote the way they want.
William Jefferson and Ted Kennedy are examples. If either of them had been Republicans, they'd have been hounded out of office the next round of elections after their scandals. Kennedy killed a girl and Jefferson had $90,000 in bribe money in his freezer. Larry Craig got bounced from Congress for moving his foot too far in a restroom stall.
TPaw is moving to the Center. The Center the Left has concertedly been moving ever Leftward.
We need someone to push us back to the Right. Palin is one, Jindal apparently another.
translation: RINOs in trouble.
Only way for RINOs to survive is to homogenize the parties even more.
McCain is proof positive that beltway culture is a serious delusion and a formula for dead end candidates.
no more dole
no more mccain
Epic fail from Tim “I shrunk the MN GOP” Pawlenty.
Yep, the Republican party should open it’s tent to all. Become more & more like the Democrat party. Darn I thought that is what they have been doing for the past 15 years or so. I’ll bet they could get more votes if they just changed their name. They could become the Democrat-Lite party. They sure as hell ain’t the Republican party I was a member of for 30+ years. (key word there is WAS)
these are FAILED republicans.
They do not teach conservative principles.
they only surrender.
OBAMA IS A FAILURE
DEMOCRATS ARE A FAILURE
THIS IS A TEACHABLE FACT
the rinos only dream of grabbing their ankles in surrender.
Ha! Ha! Ha!.
Pawlenty just outed himself as the Moderate he is.
That's right.
"Tolerance" in the Democratic Party is for anyone who faithfully repeats all the Articles of Faith-- beginning with Article One:a sworn allegiance to killing babies.
"Tolerance" has a place in liberalism like "peace" does in Islam: It's a useful weapon to make inroads on your enemies, but is discarded as soon as power is at hand. Then only a monopoly is acceptable, even with their enemies--who must appease them as demanded or be stamped out.
It doesn't matter who you are or what you do, as long as you're committed to the liberal ideology.
Why should Republicans not be allowed to have some identifying beliefs as well?
Anyone who is committed to Conservative principles is welcome.
Anyone who isn't committed to conservatism is a Democrat by default, though some like Colin Powell, John McCain and Pawlenty insist upon calling themselves Republicans.
In their desperation to be popular with the liberal media THEY are the ones causing confusion.
Rather than insist they be given free reign to make the Republican Party the "Blue Dog" Democrat Party, they should just take the "big tent" obsession to the place where anything goes.
Now that the Democrat Party is dominated by what was not long ago considered treasonous radical left ideology, posers like Pawlenty and McCain could provide some sanity and make "big tent" mean something more than just skin color and lifestyles.
The Pawlenty's should grow some testes and admit they're Democrats in sheep's clothing already and stop whining about the need to make the Republican Party the Democrat Party Lite.
We don't need a party whose reason for being is to be appeasers to the Left so they can feel good about themselves for "tolerating" the facade of a 2 party system.
Let there be 2 real alternatives in principles and policies for voters to choose between-- popularity with the liberal media be damned.
Then let's see who is "fundamentally reshaping America" because "I won".
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.