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(Image source: The New York Times)
BY ZACH TOOMBS
You know that Republican road map to revamp the party you've heard so much about? Well,
it's here, and it is pretty comprehensive.
As in, 100-pages-long comprehensive — a list of 219 proposals to change both messaging
and policy. Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus discussed the document
Monday morning.
"There's no one solution. There's a long list of them … Our message was weak. Our ground
game was insufficient. We weren't inclusive." (Via C-SPAN)
Priebus says last November's elections were a wake-up call for the GOP. In the time since,
he's led the effort to shake up the party — what he calls the most public and comprehensive
post-election review of any political party. (Via The New York Times)
Those proposed reforms focus heavily on connecting with minority voters — creating new party
political directors for Hispanics, Asians and African Americans. The plans for outreach
are backed up by $10 million the RNC has already dedicated to the cause. (Via Al Jazeera)
The report also touches on policy — especially on social issues. Former Bush spokesman Ari
Fleischer, who helped write the document, says it's all part of making sure the GOP
is a "big tent" party.
Those policy reforms include softening the party line on immigration and gay rights.
And although there was nothing specific said about how Republicans might reshape stances
on those issues, Priebus did say Ohio Senator Rob Portman made "pretty big inroads" last
week by announcing his support for gay marriage. (Via France 24, CNN)
Other reforms focus mainly on how the party picks its presidential candidates. Priebus
says Mitt Romney was roughed up by a primary process too long and too divisive. (Via C-SPAN)
He spoke to CBS' Face the Nation about changing that process Sunday.
“I think our debate calendar needs to be shrunk. I think we had way too many debates
… I’m calling for a convention in June or July, and we’re going to set up a commission
that’s going to make that decision.”
While Priebus and the RNC will have considerable power to change the primary process, following
through on other reforms proposed Monday will be more tricky.
One needs only to look to the Republican House and the critical party divisions that have
plagued Speaker John Boehner for an example of just how difficult it might getting all
of the GOP on the same page. (Via NBC)