[mrsmel]

Even if they don’t know the details of the party platforms, no one except an utter ignoramus doesn’t roughly know already what each of the parties, at least ostensibly, stand for. The Republican party, at least on paper, is for smaller government, pro-life, pro-self responsibility, etc.

Other than pandering and becoming the “me too” party, what kind of outreach do you suggest?

I have heard for years about how blacks and hispanics are culturally conservative. There is no way that they don’t already know that the GOP is pro-life and pro- traditional marriage , amongst other things. But they still vote rat. Why? Because their desire for the “gimmees” outweighs their supposed cultural conservatism.

The Republicans have already been infiltrated by such groups as the “Log Cabin Republicans”. How much of our platform do we dismantle in order to gain the votes of these supposed “socially conservative” groups who nonetheless vote for the gimmees? All of it? Since this election, they’ve already lost voters like me who say “no more”. They’re not going to make large inroads on the “gimmee” voters without outpandering the rats, and in the process, they have lost voters like me. How many like me do they lose while stilll being behind the rats in the pandering race?

[cripplecreek]

How much of our platform do we dismantle in order to gain the votes of these supposed “socially conservative” groups who nonetheless vote for the gimmees? All of it? Since this election, they’ve already lost voters like me who say “no more”. They’re not going to make large inroads on the “gimmee” voters without outpandering the rats, and in the process, they have lost voters like me. How many like me do they lose while stilll being behind the rats in the pandering race?

Just last night (Right here at FR) I had some clown tell me that the GOP needs to stop shoving religion down everyone's throat with traditional marriage and anti abortion talk and be more inclusive of atheists.

Looks to me like the GOP moderates thought they saw their chance to crush the conservatives and are figuring out that it ain't happening.

[Mr Fuji]

I think you are missing my point, since I didn't say anything about pandering to anyone. Outreach doesn't equal pandering, IMHO. I don't how to outreach to other folks. Somebody else will have to figure it out but whatever Conservatives are doing right now isn't getting to them. I'm also not saying that the core principles have to change or sell out to “gimmes”, although plenty on the Conservative side don't seem to have a problem with “gimmes” either.

I'm saying that even if the folks in the groups mentioned before have a similar outlook, etc. that matches conservatism, they aren't going to join a party that is perceived to be for WASPs only and looks down upon them since they aren't White Christians. We can say we don't think or do that but I see this mindset from too many people on this board day in and day out that supports their perception of Conservatives/Republicans.