The Republican National Committee sent a clear message to political operatives and activists around the country today when they issued the RNC Growth and Opportunity Guide, outlining a path to a new, successful Republican Party. The guide outlines new messaging strategies, the inclusion of demographic partners, campaign mechanics, fundraising and campaign finance strategy, and an extensive list of third party allies.
Immigration reform and ‘message control’ are clearly the two most demanding changes that the RNC would like to see transform the GOP. With sections in the guide titled “Some People Say ‘Republicans Don’t Care’”, “America Looks Different”, and “The Way Forward”, the RNC Guide lays out a platform not only to change their image but they have also opened given a decisive way to curry favor with certain demographic groups that the party will need in order to be successful in future elections.
The Guide, in a nutshell, outlines why the Republicans were unsuccessful in 2012 and how they are going to transform for the next election cycle. Recommendations include cutting the number of debates in half, hiring more minority outreach directors, making sure the “guiding principle of legislative change should be to work toward fully restoring the free speech rights” — i.e., unwinding campaign finance reforms, something that would allow larger donations to parties.
Some Republicans have taken the suggestions as a slap in the face, there are obviously members of the party who feel that they have found the way out of the hole they have dug themselves in. Whether this guide is the answer or not - the world will find out soon enough.
