Posted on 06/03/2013 1:00:02 PM PDT by rightwingintelligentsia
A new postmortem on the November elections from the nation’s leading voice for college Republicans offers a searing indictment of the GOP “brand” and the major challenges the party faces in wooing young voters, according to a copy given exclusively to POLITICO on Sunday.
The College Republican National Committee on Monday made public a detailed report — the result of extensive polling and focus groups — dissecting what went wrong for Republicans with young voters in the 2012 elections and how the party can improve its showing with that key demographic in the future.
It’s not a pretty picture. In fact, it’s a “dismal present situation,” the report says.
The 95-page study, which looked at the party’s views on social and economic issues, as well as its messaging and outreach, echoes a March report on the election debacle issued by Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus, which presented a devastating assessment of the party’s current state of affairs.
But in some ways the new report from inside the GOP tent is even more scathing and ominous — since it comes from the party’s next generation.
(Excerpt) Read more at politico.com ...
No problem. When the economy crashes under Barry, many of these kids will just kill themselves.
When they start fighting like Mao's young revolutionaries, I'll laugh.
We need to legalize heroin.
Most of the young voters I've seen are morons and really have no idea what is going on, or have the knowledge of basic civics to understand the political process. Many vote for a candidate because left wing organizations like MTV's Rock the Vote told them "it is cool to do so". IN hindsight, lowering the voting age to 18 was a mistake.
Immaturity is central to the modern liberal-leftist identity, so over time a good portion of young people will drift rightward.
If they aren’t given the luxury to drift, then it is likely that the shift will be a sudden shove. Maybe economically very painful.
But in the end, you can’t avoid the consequences of avoiding reality.
Forward those suggestions (100% correct, BTW) to the RNC and see if you get anything beyond possibly being called a “nativist.” We’re at the point where the GOP needs to either grow a set or be sent off to the glue factory.
1. Smarter use of new media and social networking. We need more Breitbart and less snail mail
More John Stewart types, less Hannity/Rush. Humor and sarcasm rule the day. It also doesn't help that almost zero celebrities are conservative.
2. Greater emphasis on economic and personal freedoms, less emphasis on social conservatism. The social conservatism should not be abandoned, but it should be properly articulated and targeted at regions of the country where the people are more receptive to it. Young people in Utah are more socially conservative than say young people in New Hampshire. In general, we would need more Von Mises Institute and less PTL Club.
Social conservatism will take care of itself if the kids come from a socially conservative home (hint, hint--they aren't. How do you sell the personal freedoms angle if gay marriage and pot aren't validated? Likewise, how do you present economic freedom if those seeking it with vigor (i.e. immigrants) aren't allowed to take part?
Economic uncertainty/need for job growth/economic growth
agree. this is a good issue. Romney tried but it didn't work. Unsure why it didn't get more traction.
Personal freedom/constitutional rights
Agree. 4th amendment is a good start.
Concern about high taxes
This one's a flop. Kids don't make enough to care, and don't have to worry about taxes too much.
Need to improve/reform educational system
Tricky, this one. "More teachers, more money" has proven to be the most successful formula. How can you argue against that? Vouchers were DOA--too abstract.
Gun rights
Honestly, guns are losing issue. Most kids do not grow up around real guns, and hunting/shooting sports are regional niche sports. These kids grew up with crazies shooting up their schools and want no part of that.
The foreign policy needs to looked at. Big commitments like Iraq/Afghanistan are now linked to George Bush, the Big Bad Republican for who knows how long. Ron Paul was able to have his isolationist message resonate.
"Womens' Health" 800 lb. gorilla. If we can't win this, forget it!
In other words, become flippant, pro-drug, pro-immigration, pro-gay marriage, sarcastic, give up the guns liberals.
I’m only interested in advancing conservatism, not fighting against conservatism.
I think you are starting to see 40 on the horizon aren't you?
He'd be fine if he really did that. There's no question that the size of government is directly proportional to its eventual immorality. Lots of conservatives here fail to realize that moral principles are easily trumped by money. For example Planned Parenthood spent millions of their tax dollars in anti-Romney ads here in Virginia. Ron Paul would ban funding PP but refuses to cut his own pet projects, not really walking the walk.
In fact it was. Your tax money (stolen from you) made the difference here in Virginia and got throngs of stupid women out to vote against Romney. The biggest ad spending was on country music stations by Planned Parenthood.
Agree completely except, as you know, far too many of them aren’t working at all and many have no prospect of same!
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!
Especially when we conservatives finance our own kids “College Indoctrination” (ie: ignorance, paranoiac and PC nonsense) with our money and a few strays with our contributed tax dollars....
Say whay??!!??
Newbie troll!
Adults back up their opinions with facts.
F
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I’m starting to think Issa’s real name is Lucy...and he gets to hold the football for us....
Exactly!!!....I just had a talk with a smart young college graduate at a bar that was having trouble finding a job...He spoke all the liberal talking points...each time id agree and would say...if u think that way...you don't have any problem buying me a drink...he bought me 2 before he became a conservative!...lol
Front row; third from left.
Yep, the ‘safe’ choices all lost, too. Akin did cost us an easy win. He should have gotten out of the race. MO was a clear Romney win, but we lost against a weak incumbent.
I will be the first to talk about our poor candidates in FL, VA, and WI. All party choices. All ran lackadaisical campaigns. That doesn’t excuse the errors by Akin and Murdoch. Still think Murdoch’s comments were overrated, but follow Akin’s blunder, he shouldn’t have been that stupid.
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