After a disastrous 2012 presidential campaign for the GOP, Reince Priebus was just handed another two-year term as head of the Republican National Committee.
During his remarks at the 2013 RNC Winter meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina, Priebus outlined his hopes for the future of the party–a re-branding of sorts as their “Renew. Grow. Win.” theme suggests.
Here’s how Priebus plans on making with 180 degree turn, and stop–as Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal put it–“being the stupid party.”
Priebus said, “We have to build better relationships in minority communities, urban centers, and college towns. We need a permanent, growing presence.”
“Simple ‘outreach’ a few months before an election will not suffice. In fact, let’s stop talking about ‘reaching out’–and start working on welcoming in…we have to go places we haven’t been, and we have to invite new people to join us,” he added.
In a final stage of grief moment, Priebus admitted that the key to a Republican revival would come down simply to numbers (just don’t ask Karl Rove to do the math). And he’s right; there just aren’t enough old, white guys to carry an election anymore.
But the big question is how does the party plan on keeping voters in the pocket after making contact?
According to the RNC chairman, it’s all about selling the “timeless principles” of the party, and articulating them “in ways that are modern…relevant to our time and relatable to the majority of voters.”
But how do you articulate and sell the idea of criminalizing a rape victim who aborts the fetus of her attacker, because she “tampered with evidence”? How do you articulate and sell the idea of draconian budget cuts that affect minorities and the disadvantaged?
Preibus closed out with a warning for President Obama.
“Two years from now, your party is going to be up against Republicans that offer something better: more from this economy. More opportunity for everybody.”
But if Priebus intends on transforming the GOP into “a party for everyone, everywhere,” he should start, not by doubling down on so-called “sound Republican principles,” but by actually understanding the modern world we now live in.
Michelle Brown