Posted on 12/03/2012 1:57:15 PM PST by SeekAndFind
After the shocking loss in the November election, Republicans are once again considering whether to change leadership at the top. Reince Priebus wants a second term as RNC chair and still has considerable support for another go, but apparently some committee members have begun recruiting alternative candidates, among them former Congressman J.C. Watts. Watts tells Politico that he's not sure he'll run, but he's interested:
Watts, an African-American conservative who served in the House from 1994-2002, said the GOP defeat on Election Day demonstrates that Republicans need to broaden their appeal to minority voters, and cannot continue on their current path if the party is to be successful in presidential races.
“My concern right now, and I don’t say this necessarily as a candidate [for RNC chairman], my concern is that as a Republican, every single Republican in America ought to be concerned about what has happened in 2008 and 2012,” Watts said in an interview with POLITICO. “In this business, if you’re not growing, you’re dying.”
Watts would not identify who is lobbying him to challenge Priebus, and reiterated that he has not made a decision to definitely jump into the race.
Watts also says that he believes the RNC needs to fundamentally rethink its “ad hoc” approach to outreach:
Watts complained that Republican efforts to reach out to minority groups have not been sustained or consistent during his 20-plus years as a politician, but rather are executed on ad hoc basis – usually in election years. In Watts’ view, and that of many other Republican leaders and party operatives, if the GOP doesn’t dramatically improve its image with black and Hispanic voters, it will not be able to win back the White House.
“These old, tired, pathetic models of saying, ‘Okay, in the black [community], when there’s a presidential election, we will form an African-American Coalition for [Mitt] Romney or [Sen. John] McCain,’ I’ll never do that again. That is a joke, that is so tired,” Watts said. “It’s window dressing to say, ‘African Americans for Romney’ or ‘African-American Coalition’ or ‘African-American Advisory Council.’ That’s insulting to the people that they ask to do it when you don’t put an permanent infrastructure in place to give it credibility.”
I think Priebus did a pretty good job, considering the state of the RNC when he first took over. The organization was deeply in debt, and fundraising was in disarray. The RNC didn’t have a credible GOTV effort in 2010 in the week before Election Day in those midterms, and ended up relying out outside groups to drive their message. They were better prepared in this cycle, but just got out-organized by Team Obama and the DNC.
That said, I’m a big fan of J. C. Watts for precisely the kind of insight he has here. Republicans cannot compete with the kind of lackluster effort that has been made in urban centers. It isn’t just the infrastructure that’s the problem, though; it’s also a lack of vision and specific policies from candidates and the party to put conservative principles to work in these communities to make the lives of voters better. We need both infrastructure and policies, on an ongoing basis, and not just — as Watts says — in the last few months before an election. Republicans have to make themselves part of these communities, not just occasional tourists.
Perhaps Watts won’t run for RNC chair, or the RNC will think someone else will serve better. They’d better find a way to put Watts in position to make his insights a reality, though, if the GOP wants to compete in future elections.
J.C. Watts would be great. I love that guy.
Is this supposed to excite conservatives somehow?
Impeccable conservative voting record. Religious, solid Tea Party type guy. Originally a physician (orthopedic surgeon) who got into politics to fight socialized medicine. Great choice in my book, if we want a fighter, and not a RINO country-club lush.
There were lots of people (including some here) who thought Steele was a good idea too....
Watts is a RINO....and probably voted for Obama TWICE!!!
‘nuff said when one chooses based on skin color.'
That's exactly right. I lost all respect for him when he made that announcement. I even tried to listen to him when Hannity allowed JC to do his radio show for several days, but I couldn't get the fact JC sounded exactly like Colon Powell.
I live in OK...
He's a GOP fraud.
Seems like more than 20 years.....
You are here...but yet you don't know J.C. Watts voted for Obama..probably TWICE!!!
No wonder our country is headed down the tubes..........
I can’t believe any real conservative would even consider supporting him. How many times are WE going to play the phoney “race card” using blacks who aren’t essentially, deep-down conservative, as the “face” of the party? Besides being utterly cynical, it’s an insult to all the real conservatives who are trying to hang on to their support of the Republican side of the one-party system because “it’s all we have”. He will either want to take the party in the same direction as the rats-pandering for votes (which won’t work, the rats got there first), or if he was a true conservative, black rat voters will simply give him the “Uncle Tom” treatment, you can bet on it.
How about the Republicans try reaching out to the needs of their white base for a change-God knows no one else is doing it.
Anyway, it’s all academic to me, I’m though with the Republicans-they’ve already played their last games with me, the conservative, winding up holding the bag. Let them reach out to pygmy lesbian crossdressers for all I care, that’s where they’re headed-let them have a a man married to his goat for the head of the RNC-the identity politics potential is endless.
What they no longer have is this conservative. I’m returning to my true apolitical fundamentalist roots (not to be confused with the evangelical Moral Majority types. We were never a part of that)
If the Republican Party wants to jerk their...knees everytime a black man, no matter how shallow his conservative principles, expresses an interest in being the next “great black hope” of the GOP, that will be their clown show.
Maybe Colin Powell will throw his hat in the ring. His credentials are as “sound” as Watts’.
Oh but he’s black and he can pander to blacks, and if he demonises white conservtives enough they might even not give him the “Uncle Tom” treatment! Wait, which party committee does he want to be head of?
The GOP is a joke.
Just some days? I’ve come to the firm conclusion that there’s no hope through the political system, because the two parties are just different wings of one turkey now. The GOP has decided to pander to minorities for all it’s worth, seeing as how it’s worked so well for the rats. So now they can both promise things on the backs of white taxpayers, and infringe upon our freedom a little more everyday to do it.
I opt out of the system. I will practice separation on my own with my family, and starve the beast all I can.
And you sound like a Liberal. Period. In the posts you made up to now...
Sorry....but that's my impression.
FWIW- you sounded like you "just wanted" to see J.C. in the position because he's black!?!?!?!
What's that make you????
Exactly, just like Colin Powell was everyone’s hero and the great black hope only to turn true to form and support Obozo solely on the basis of race.
When will rank-and-file Republicans learn?
Yes to JC Watts.
And run Col. West for POTUS next time around too.
He voted for OBAMA...at least once.
You live in his district...and didn't know that????
I live in Osage County...and knew it.
Oddly, isn’t there another Tom Price from OK in the House? Would he be Watts’s successor?
We have many so-called FReeper's spouting that J.C. Watts is an awesome, great, perfect person to lead the GOP!
Yet most here have no freaking idea what J.C. has done in the past....HE VOTED FOR OBAMA..in '08...and I'd bet you he voted for OBAMA in '12..!!
Don't matter to me....one vote or two...J.C. Watts isn't what the GOP wants doing anything for them.
WAIT..........wait just a minute. Maybe that's EXACTLY what the GOP wants!?!?!?!
Interesting....how many so-called FReepers are all for this..................
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