Bookeristas, both prominent and rank-and-file, weigh in on the issue:
"It Sent Out Mixed Messages"
Argues Condoleezza Rice. From Politico, about the moderate-conservative Republican and former U.S. diplomat: "Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said Friday that the
Republican Party sent 'mixed messages' on issues like women and
immigration that contributed to Mitt Romney’s loss to President Barack
Obama. 'Let’s remember, it was still a close election in the
popular vote and the electoral college has a tendency to make the
victory larger in the electoral college than in the popular vote. But I
think on the immigration issue — which I think turned out to be very
important — and probably some issues about women too, some mixed
messages were sent,' said Rice, a Republican, in an interview with CBS’s 'This Morning.'"
"It Failed To Diversify Its Ranks"
Perry Drake, a conservative writer in Illinois, opines about the election results: "The GOP has allowed itself to be seen as too white, too old, too rich, and too suburban. Sadly, there's a lot of truth in that perception. It's not a winning formula in a nation that's becoming rapidly of color and full of people who are taught unchecked that someone else is responsible for paying for their housing, health care, groceries, ObamaPhone, and other bills."
He adds: "The real tragedy of it all is that in the light of all that, Romney and the Republicans didn't even try to make an effort to woo minority voters -- and I'm not talking about pandering to anyone. Sure, they showcased a few prominent Republican minorities at the Convention -- Condoleezza Rice, Nikki Haley, Marco Rubio, and Susana Martinez, to name a few -- but that was about it. The truth is, Republicans conceded the minority vote, thinking they could pile up enough white votes to offset it. Wake up, GOP: this isn't the 1950s, '60s, or even the 1970s anymore. Times have changed, and the party and its message have to change also to reflect that reality."
Shawn Okpebholo, a center-rightist in Illinois, writes on Facebook: "As with blacks, the party needs to be intentional and not afraid to show that we also share many of the same values that community. We need to be intentional in showing how conservative ideals are what actually made the black elite like Jackson, West (Cornel and, I guess Kanye), the Obama's, etc. successful (more on that in my essay entitled, 'Trickle Down Ebonics'). We need to not have this 'damned if you do, damned if you don't,' scared attitude when trying to reach out to blacks. There is a reason why [R]epublicans like Mike Huckabee got a lot of black votes. He talked to people of color. He showed interest. He provided a contrast. He was successful. He didn't let threatened people get away with calling him racist as he continued to show interest in people of color. We can show the black community that the ideology of dependence actually paralyzes success. We are the party of social justice, compassion, personal responsibility, upward mobility, hard work and reward. We need to articulate that message!"
Calvin Tucker, a Republican in Pennsylvania, states about the election results: "'What we have to do is engage the African-American community in a
broader discussion about the issues they’re confronting,' Tucker said. 'We’ve got to not be seen as the party who is not receptive to the big
tent. If we do, we’ll have some success in the future.'"
"It Elected Yet Another Faux Conservative As Its Nominee"
Alan Keyes, a conservative activist, writes: "The GOP's elitist faction leaders conned and misled people into pinning their hopes on a GOP Presidential candidate who has proven himself to be, in his own way, as deeply committed as Obama to the elitist faction's liberty-destroying socialist agenda. Thus misled, many people devoted to restoring and preserving the Constitutional Republic may greet Obama's victory with despair. But this emotional and spiritual reaction exactly suits the purposes of the elitist faction manipulators who orchestrated this year's Presidential election scam."
What Did The Republican Party Do Wrong In The Election? Bookerista Roundup
