Prove it. What a stupid thing to say.
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.
Far as I can see.
“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.”
Managing debt is not a good reason for choosing the next RNC director. Although he seems to be a good debt manager, Priebus still lost the presidency at a critical time in history. Time for someone new. Maybe that job is too big for one person.
The party should have been going after conservative hispanics and blacks. yes, they are out there. And to be perfectly honest, Romney had missteps too that didn’t help.
We need to find the next George Washington. Former military guy or gal, who has a business, and goes home after serving, and believes in the states role, with guidance at a national level.
“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.”
Managing debt is not a good reason for choosing the next RNC director. Although he seems to be a good debt manager, Priebus still lost the presidency at a critical time in history. Time for someone new. Maybe that job is too big for one person.
The party should have been going after conservative hispanics and blacks. yes, they are out there. And to be perfectly honest, Romney had missteps too that didn’t help.
We need to find the next George Washington. Former military guy or gal, who has a business, and goes home after serving, and believes in the states role, with guidance at a national level.
Palin for RNC Chair.
Yep. J.C. Watts: Dead to me since 2008.
Do you never think to look these things up?
Watts said that he considered voting for Obama because of the lack of Republican outreach to Blacks.
He never said he voted for Obama. In fact, he gave money to McCain's campaign.
“I am sick of this phony-baloney guy.”
I’ve never felt he was phony-baloney, but my impression has always been that he’s not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I expect he’s very nice, and a decent person, but probably doesn’t have what it takes to fight that big fight — RNC vs DNC.
Tom Price (Ga.) took over Newt’s old district, Region 6. Good solid conservative district......verry Suthun’.
Ask him.
I did.
I love how some here will call others “liberal”. Typical insecure RINO. See I can do it too. I’ll match my conservative views and voting records against anyone.
You are right I don’t know him personally but think he is heads above some of the other jugheads some others put up. Like: Christie, Guiliani, Rubio, Huckabee et. al. When someome who is really comservative runs I will run to vote for them until then I prefer the likes of Palin, Watts, Duncan Hunter, Ted Cruz and such. I’ll take what I can get to defeat a democrat even a McCain type if need be.
I think McCain said the same thing about Obama.
To be fair almost to a man before last election the GOP were saying he is a good man, just in over his head a little.
As noted in a post above J.C. turned a little wussy in his later service. Great Quarterback only a fair politician.
Further I will take any idiot over the ones there now. If we can get a good comservative to run anywhere that won’t be outed for something then drop out then we will have something.
Prove it. What a stupid thing to say.
FWIW-...my posts stand.
Double check “what you think you know”,Catfish. :-)
As a conservative Canuck, it was a bonus to find out years ago, that JC was also a conservative Congressman. FWIW, I hoped that he would have been the first black President of the US, rather than your current Pres__ent.
As a conservative Canuck, who obviously does not have a say in any of this, I think that JC Watts would be an excellent choice. According to Wikipedia, "He had a lifetime 94 percent rating from the American Conservative Union and a lifetime "liberal quotient" of 1 percent from Americans for Democratic Action..."
And, as a conservative Okie who has no say in it either, I'll add that J.C. Watts is just flat a helluva good guy.
Don't know him personally, but know folks who do. And they think the world of J.C. -- as a man.
Please, yes!!
BUMP!
>> J.C. Watts endorsed and voted for BO in 08! Unacceptable!
Prior to the fact, J.C. Watts was reliably on the Right, but not the tenacious type. His inevitable support of Obama was not surprising. Besides that, he wouldn’t have the political buy-in for such a position. If identity politics is driving the enthusiasm, Watts is no Allen West.
I would like to see Palin running the GOP.
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