GOP Going the Wrong Way

The Republican National Committee's "Growth and Opportunity Project" outlines future steps for the Republican Party in reflection of the 2012 election cycle. Its section on messaging and demographic partners especially stand out. The report recognizes that some people say "Republicans don't care" and tries to introduce ways to change this perception through talking about people rather than policy. It also highlights the importance of campaigning for "Hispanic, black, Asian, and gay Americans and demonstrate... [the party] cares about them."

In assessing how the Republican Party has done to meet the goals it outlined in 2013 to win the 2016 election cycle, it has done very poorly. Perhaps it has been more successful in centering its messaging on people, rather than policy, and in launching outreach initiatives for minorities. Through the rise of Donald Trump, however, the Party is at risk of not moving forward but backward. Republican strategists could not have imagined someone as unpopular and divisive as Trump to rise to the top of the Republican ticket. The problem is not necessarily Trump himself but his popularity among Republican primary voters. As discussed in class, Trump's rise in the Party has most likely led a large number of people away from the Party, especially young and minority voters.

The report warns that "If our Party is not welcoming and inclusive, young people and increasingly other voters will continue to tune us out. The Party should be proud of its conservative principles, but just because someone disagrees with us on 20 percent of the issues, that does not mean we cannot come together on the rest of the issues where we do agree."

It is hard to imagine what more Trump can do to make the GOP less welcoming and inclusive. If Trump becomes the nominee, the GOP will suffer in future years to try to get the vote of those who are potential Republican voters, those who might "disagree with us on 20 percent of the issues," because of its tainted image.
 
http://growthopp.gop.com/RNC_Growth_Opportunity_Book_2013.pdf