While I think that Republicans should continue to reach out to minorities, we need to do it in two ways. First and foremost, we can not take positions alien to our core philosophy "just to" get minorities to vote for us. They won't. We need to reach out to minorities using our basic philosophies of lower taxes (more money for you and your family); better educational choices (you should have a bigger voice in your child's education); more opportunities and jobs (eliminate regulations that are barriers to employment); etc.
Second, don't talk down to minorities. Minorities are Americans (otherwise they shouldn't be voting). Don't single them out or make them feel different. We are AMERICANS FIRST, and hispanic or black or Irish or Italian SECOND. If they want us to talk about race, they are never going to vote for us. For example, children need a good education. Not black children or white children, but ALL children.
Blacks do not vote for Republicans. Maybe someday they will realize that the Democrats are USING THEM TO STAY IN POWER, but right now, overwhelmingly, they hate Republicans and they will not change anytime soon. We DO need to reach out to Hispanics and Asians, but in the manner described above. (Of course, I'm here in California where politics is a little different than the rest of the free world.)
Finally, I wholeheartedly agree: do not neglect your base. Think of the definition of "base": it implies a foundation on which to build. If the base is not in place, the building will crumble. When we talk to minorities or those who disagree with us on abortion or guns or any other issue that is part of our CORE, we talk to them with respect and strength. We do not equivocate, we do not bend, but we are always respectful -- and we should always be better prepared than our opponent. We do ourselves a disservice when we only talk with like-minded people. We need to know the arguments against us so we have an intelligent, thoughtful -- AND SHORT -- answer when confronted.
When conservatives realize this, we will start winning.
Bret had other problems too. Sep't 11 hurt him. He was competing for news attention. He didn't have the money to spend on getting his name out. But he energized the right people. The fact that he beat Franks should tell ya something. He worked hard for the primary and he had a lot against him. Including party leadership. But he pulled it off. But the fences were never mended within the Party leadership.
As far as his message. I think he did ok. Most understood he is pro-life, limited gun laws, vouchers and so on. I think the voucher issue hurt him the most. At least in Bergen county, which is very republican.
The Lesson...you need money (lots of it) and party unity. To get the money, you need party unity. To have party unity, you need money (or the likelyhood to be able to raise big money).
I just cann't why the Schundler Campaign did not hire Rick? It doesn't make any sense.
That's the reason the rest of the Republican establishment didn't support Schundler. Not only did NJ voters decide that Schundler didn't represent them, the Republicans didn't even see him as one of their own. The Republican establishment is made up of the suburban voters that are almost embarrassed of Jersey City and wouldn't dare let their kids go there.
Whitman ran as a moderate "compassionate" conservative in NJ and won. Why? Not only because of Florio's unpopularity, but also because Whitman was seen as "one of our own" by most suburban NJ voters. People took a look at McGreevey and thought, "he's like us," but they couldn't say that about Schundler.
I think we need candidates who are not only conservative but who can clearly communicate why they believe what they do.