Right-Wing Notes

There has been a lot of political commentary about Republican "soul searching" over the past week, most of it constructive, but will the party take heed?

From Alex Koppelman at The New Yorker:

Conservatives have constructed a myth that says certain groups—blacks, Hispanics, women, young people—vote Democratic because they're stupid, because they're lazy, and because they can be purchased with trinkets and baubles. It'd be one thing if they kept that myth a secret, but instead they shout it from the rooftops. Then, when it's over, they wonder why those people voted Democratic again.

In order to remain a viable party with whom people from all groups can identify with, the right-wing needs to change their inherently disdainful view of the electorate in general. Sounds logical, no?

Not so fast. Apart from a few surprising comments by Bobby Jindal, Haley Barbour and Kelly Ayotte – and one might doubt their overall sincerity in the scheme of things – an entire political party cannot change their collective views overnight and expect people to find them credible. Republicans are likely hoping the American populace will forget the nasty sling-fests of 2012 by the time the next election rolls around, thus confirming their opinion of the public as a horde of idiots with no memory retention. However, it's doubtful that today's media will let them forget.

From Jindal:

The Republican Party is going to fight for every single vote. That means the 47 percent and the 53 percent…We've got to make sure that we are not the party of big business, big banks, big Wall Street bailouts, big corporate loopholes, big anything. We cannot be, we must not be, the party that simply protects the rich so they get to keep their toys.

Maybe there is optimism for the party if they can make good on some sort of change over the next four years, but I have my doubts they will take the opportunity to really connect with the American people in general. It's just not part of their identity makeup.

And lastly, from Eugene Robinson:

I know it's early, but I have a sinking feeling the Republican Party is taking all the wrong lessons from last week's election. Step out of the echo chamber, Republicans. There's a big country out there, and it's trying to tell you something. For the sake of party and nation, try listening.

Let's hope they do.