You laugh at it, deny you’re racist, and stop watching them.
What can the Republicans do? Don’t think there is or must be something the Republicans can do. The country is going down the tubes. G.W. Bush spent his administration on the War on Terror. Maybe he had to. Maybe not. But, burdened by the war, the Republicans lost their majority in 2006, and the presidency in 2008. Just as Bush bought in to the neo-con approach to the Greater Middle East, he bought in to the Keynesian approach to the economy. That didn’t work either.
Assuming the Republicans win, they should reform the tax and welfare system so as to encourage and/or force as many people as possible to have to work for a living. Also, cut off the city governments and state governments from the redistribution system. Again, encourage/force these levels of government to get real with their policies. We can’t turn any more of the country into Detroit.
Now as to the general election, do not rely on Romney. He and his circle of establishment Republicans aren’t as smart as they think they are (which would be impossible for them to be, they are so very impressed with themselves). During the primaries, Romney was dragged over the finish line by state governors, both locally and from elsewhere in the country. Yes, he carpet-bombed the place, but his opponents didn’t have the money to respond. So, give him credit for fundraising. At least he won’t be outspent by Obama like McCain was. But, more than that, we, at the grass-roots level, are going to have to carry him across the finish line.