The RoanokeSlant
This file is a US personal journal of commentary of examples of the Roanoke Times and Liberal Media Slant...... lbhagen@aol.comThursday, December 05, 2013
Bill Bolling's View of: “Getting the Republican Party back on track”
Va Lt Gov Bill Bolling's View of:
“Getting the Republican Party back on track”
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Richmond Times-Dispatch| Posted: Wednesday, December 4, 2013
http://www.timesdispatch.com/opinion/their-opinion/columnists-blogs/guest-columnists/bill-bolling-getting-the-republican-party-back-on-track/article_578ac83e-3c31-5843-8b5c-047c4901ba97.html
This weekend, Virginia Republicans will gather at the Homestead resort for their annual Advance. In light of the adverse results in the 2013 statewide elections, the focus should be on revitalizing the Republican Party and making it more competitive on a statewide level.
While there are many issues that must be confronted by Virginia Republicans, there are, in my judgment, five key things the GOP must do to regain its footing in Virginia.
First, we must recognize that we have a problem, and that the 2013 campaigns did a great deal to damage our party and its appeal to a changing Virginia electorate.
If the results of the attorney general’s race hold up on recount, this will be the first time in 24 years that Democrats have swept all three statewide offices, and the first time in 44 years that Republicans have not held any statewide elected offices, including our state’s two seats in the United States Senate.
More alarming is the fact that Democrats have won seven of the past eight top statewide political campaigns in Virginia. The only such campaign Republicans have won since 2005 was Bob McDonnell’s campaign for governor in 2009.
We often debate whether Virginia is a red state or a blue state. We conveniently conclude that Virginia is a purple state. However, an objective assessment of recent election results would indicate that Virginia is more blue than red, and this trend will continue unless our party charts a different course.
Second, we must recognize that Virginia is changing, and our party must change with Virginia.
We cannot win statewide political campaigns just by appealing to conservative voters in the rural parts of our state. We must also be able to connect with more moderate and independent voters in Northern Virginia and rapidly changing suburbs in Richmond and Hampton Roads.
These voters will not be attracted to the Republican Party or candidates who are seen as being too ideologically driven, too focused on the most controversial or divisive issues of the day, or too combative and confrontational in their leadership style and demeanor.
This is not to suggest that our party should stop being a conservative party. To the contrary, we must learn to do a better job relating our conservative values to the issues Virginians care most about — jobs, education, transportation and health care. I believe a responsible conservative approach to these issues can still excite Virginia voters, just like it did in 2009 when Governor McDonnell was elected by a wide margin.
Third, we must recognize that the “changing face of Virginia” is rapidly moving away from our party, and in some cases being driven away from our party. An objective analysis of exit polls from recent elections shows that we are losing favor with three key demographic groups: women, young people and rapidly growing populations of Hispanic, Asian and Indian voters. We must change these trends.
With women and young people we have to more effectively communicate our views on important issues like abortion and gay rights, and with growing immigrant populations we must be open to responsible immigration reforms that show these new Virginians that we value the enormous contributions they make to our state.
While overcoming these challenges may seem impossible without compromising our values, I don’t believe that is the case at all — but it will require a willingness to listen and learn from those who hold dissenting views.
Fourth, we should never again nominate our candidates in closed party conventions. While such conventions might empower a few thousand of the most strident voices within our party, they effectively lock out other voices that should be heard. They too often result in the nomination of candidates who simply can’t get elected when judged by a broader Virginia electorate.
Instead, we should nominate our candidates in open statewide primaries, where hundreds of thousands of people with differing viewpoints can participate. Instead of being viewed as an exclusive party, we would then be viewed as an inclusive party that is focused on nominating candidates who reflect the diverse views of a changing Virginia.
And finally, we must recognize that our party comprises many different voices, all of All have value.
If we allow our party to be consumed by an internal civil war, we will all lose. Instead, we must learn to work together for the good of our commonwealth. We must learn how to stand up for the values we believe in while being respectful of dissenting viewpoints and, above all, seeking common ground.
Getting the Republican Party back on track won’t be easy, but it can be done, and it is important that we do so. I believe in a viable two-party system. It helps produce a more informed electorate and it results in a more moderate approach to public policy. That’s what Virginians want, expect and deserve.
Lieutenant Governor Bill Bolling
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The following is my response to a reader who is very upset over Bolling's positions and actions this year:
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And our Values and Country are at high risk
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One faction feels we’re not conservative enough
The other thinks we’ve become too conservative
Some think there’s too much focus on “social” issues
Not clear who is correct
However
What is clear is that “we” are loosing one election after another!
Not beating Harry Reid was almost criminal
Not beating Obama’s second election is criminal
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Many folks I talk to are still livid over the change this year from a primary to a convention and the manner in which the convention was conducted and the way many good Republicans were treated there.
It’s not clear how much damage that did – but it appears to be significant and perhaps lasting
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Somehow we must select candidates who appeal to
Most Republicans
Many Independents
Some Reagan-Democrats
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I also will Not be voting for Bolling in whatever future position he may run, but it’s difficult to totally dismiss some of the points he makes in his letter.
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Hopefully we can find leaders who deserve our support, who can win and who will make us proud.
I think Robert Hurt is such a leader and I’m hopeful he will continue to be a significant force in our 5th Dist and in RPV.
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