The leadership of the Republican Party is meeting in Boston this week. The purpose of the gabfest is to rebrand the party…to change the public’s perception that Grand Old Party is not the negative party of “no” “nope” and “nu uh” but rather the party of “hope” armed with a positive message of thoughtful ideas for “a better tomorrow.”
One of the main speakers on the program is the bombastic Newt Gingrich. Gingrich, certainly no stranger to negative political commentary, challenged his party to offer a more positive message.”
“I would bet for most of you, you go home in the next two weeks while your members of Congress are home and you look them in the eye and you say: ‘What is your positive replacement for Obamacare?” and they will have zero answer. We are caught up right now in a culture, and you see it every day, where as long as we are negative, as long as we are vicious, as long as we can tear down our opponent, we don’t have to worry, so we don’t.
He went on to explain that they were able to defeat “Hillarycare” in the early 90’s because they had a positive alternative plan. “We need to build a new model of Republican answers that starts with the health system we need…and then say that’s why I’m against Obamacare.”
We are no fan of the “Newtster”…but he makes a valid point.
The Republican Party of Paul, Cruz and King is great for sound bites and headlines, and will certainly prevail in their gerrymandered districts. But that party has no chance in a national election where blacks, Hispanics, Asians, gays, women and students are allowed to vote.
We need a good, healthy substantive debate about the important issues of our time. A strong, viable two party system facilitates that debate.
As much as we hate to admit it…the GOP should listen to Newt.
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