What the GOP can learn from Chris Christie
Published November 5, 2013
by Jennifer Rubin, The Washington Post, November 4, 2013.
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, R, will likely win big in his re-election contest Tuesday. His campaign is quick to point out that Democrats outnumber Republicans by 700,000 in a state President Obama won by 17 points last year. If he clears 50 percent, it will be the first time in 28 years a Republican will have done that.
Naturally, then, the purity crowd’s ire is raised. All that support. See, he’s not a real Republican! Well, that’s not much of an exaggeration. The ability to project to a wide, diverse electorate means that Christie, almost certain to run for the Republican nomination for president in 2016, brings with him a broader electorate not accessible to the right wing. Rather than bellyache about his diverse base of support, Republicans might learn a thing or two, or eight:
1. Don’t show up in minority communities only at election time. For four years Christie has been going to minority communities, focusing on improving inner-city schools, strengthening neighborhood safety and building alliances. Republicans have to show up and represent minority communities even when those voters don’t support them. It’s a long-term proposition that takes sincere and sustained effort.
2. Make the emotional connection with voters. Hurricane Sandy was a once-in-a-lifetime event, even for New Jersey, the way 9/11 was for New York. Like Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Christie literally embraces voters.
3. Don’t be a phony. Christie’s favorite phrase, “I am who I am,” should be every candidate’s mantra.
4. Do something. Christie has an actual record to which he can point. He knows they want elected leaders to do things for them, whether it is cut taxes or get the beach cleaned up.
5. Humor helps. A candidate doesn’t have to be a stand-up comic, but he or she can relate via humor. Self-deprecating humor is the best way of showing humility and good cheer.
6. Take the jargon and the process-talk out of campaigning.
7. Don’t talk political philosophy. If you have to tell voters how conservative you are or justify policies on ideological grounds, you are in trouble.
8. Be an optimist.
That so many GOP officials and candidates don’t get these basics explains, in part, why the GOP brand is so damaged.
November 5, 2013 at 8:54 am
Norm Kelly says:
This editorial ignores recent NATIONAL history. Wishy-washy Republicans are able to succeed on a local level, and sometimes on a state level. John McCain is a wishy-washy Republican but he is able to attract enough voters in his home state to continue in office. Mitt Romney is a wishy-washy Republican. He was able to attract enough voters in his home state to be elected Governor. Bob Dole was a wishy-washy Republican. He attracted enough voters in his home state to stay in Washington for a good long time.
Wishy-washy Republicans have run for President. Except for Goerge Bush 1 they've all lost. At the national level wishy-washy Republicans do not succeed. Since Christie is a wishy-washy Republican, his chances of succeeding on a national level are quite dismal. If a strong, die-hard, socialist, grow-the-government Democrat like Hillary is the Demoncrat nominee, wishy-washy Christie wouldn't stand a chance. Too many Republican voters, like me, would simply choose not to vote. Too many Democrats would vote for the fist time, just like happened when the almost-black Obama ran for office. Democrats came out of the woodwork to be able to propel him into the history books. Not because they thought he would be a good president, but because they wanted to be a part of history and to show they were not racists. (everyone knows that the only reason to vote against, and oppose, Obama is because we are a racist at heart. being opposed to his socialist plan is not really a reason. it's simply justification for our racism.) Republicans won't see enough of a difference between Hildabeast & wishy-washy Republican candidate, so will choose not to vote. Die hard, and just sorta, Democrats will vote like we haven't seen since Obama's first run. Demoncrats will want to be able to claim a dynasty for Clintons just like they think Republicans claim a dynasty for the Bushs.
Show me when a wishy-washy Republican was able to garner major support, get majority of voters fired up, and I'll start to believe that wishy-washy could possibly win the White House.
'Do something'. Works sorta well for Demoncrats. Demoncrats don't actually have to show that they've done something in order to get praise from media talking-heads. All a Demoncrat has to do is claim that their intent was good, and all the talking-heads shower praise upon them. Even when a Republican does something good, can positively show that it has a good outcome, the talking-heads still dismiss it as cronyism for their rich friends, or pandering to minorities, or in any other way will dismiss the Republican candidate. Reducing taxes for everyone is somehow pandering to their rich buddies. Attempting to get the budget in line is somehow hating poor people and minorities. Implementing new government regulations that hurts business, makes it harder for a business to make a profit and therefore employ people (at a living wage!) isn't demonized by the talking-heads, isn't prevented by Demoncrats, isn't even mentioned in the light it deserves. Making it harder for business is seen as a good thing to Demoncrats, and talking-heads go out of their way to attempt to prove the stupidity is valid.
So, claim that a wishy-washy should run on the Republican ticket for President all you want. But take an honest look at history before you expect me to suck down this kool-aid also.
