Washington – The Republican Party needs to stop insulting voters and broaden its appeal after Democratic President Barack Obama won re-election this month over Mitt Romney with overwhelming support from Hispanics, blacks and single women, top Republicans said on Sunday.
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Comments made by two leading Republican governors and an influential U.S. senator on Sunday reflected the soul-searching taking place in the party after Obama’s victory over Republican challenger Romney on Nov. 6.
“If we want people to like us, we have to like them first. And you don’t start to like people by insulting them and saying their votes were bought,” Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, chairman of the Republican Governors Association, told the “Fox News Sunday” program.
Jindal and some other Republicans rejected Romney’s remarks last week blaming his election loss on what he called an Obama strategy of giving “gifts” to blacks, Hispanics and young voters – groups instrumental to his re-election victory.
These “gifts” cited by Romney included passage of Obama’s signature healthcare law, support for contraceptive coverage in medical insurance, and a policy change relaxing U.S. deportation rules so that many young illegal immigrants who came to the United States as children can stay in the country and work.
Romney’s remarks were made in a telephone call to supporters that news organizations heard.
“We are in a big hole,” Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told NBC’s “Meet the Press” program. “We are not getting out of it by comments like that (by Romney). When you’re in a hole, stop digging. He keeps digging.”
‘DEATH SPIRAL’
Graham, who has taken part in a bipartisan effort to fashion immigration reform legislation, said the Republican Party is “in a death spiral with Hispanic voters.”
Republicans in recent years have taken a hard line against the estimated 12 million illegal immigrants living in the United States, most of whom are Hispanic. During the campaign, Romney called for “self-deportation” of illegal immigrants.
Obama also was able to score points during the campaign by criticizing congressional Republican refusal to support higher taxes on the wealthiest Americans as part of a deficit-cutting plan. During the campaign, Romney was caught on videotape saying that 47 percent of Americans are “victims” who depend on government and do not pay federal income taxes.
Graham said that most Americans who receive public assistance do not have a character flaw but may have a tough life. He said the focus should be on how to create more jobs, not demonize people who find themselves having hard times.
Jindal said: “We need to make it very clear – we’re not the party trying to protect the rich. They can protect themselves. We are the party that wants growth, pro-growth policies.”
Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker, vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association, also called for a more inclusive message from Republicans.
“We’ve got a message that works for young people, that works for people who come to our country from other countries, and basically for anyone who wants to live their piece of the American dream,” Walker told “Fox News Sunday.”
“We have to show that we are serious about reaching out and helping everyone, not just a group here, not just a group there,” Walker added.
Asked about why about two-thirds of unmarried women voters flocked to Obama, Jindal alluded to comments by Republican senate candidates in Indiana and Missouri who called pregnancy from rape something God intended and that women’s bodies can ward off pregnancy after “legitimate rape.”
Jindal, who opposes abortion, said: “I’m pro-life. I follow the teachings of my church and my faith.” But he said Republicans should respect people who disagree on abortion.
“We don’t need to demonize – and we also don’t need to be saying stupid things,” Jindal added.
Should have listened to Ron Paul!
You need Jon Huntsman and if he is the man I think he is, we will see him again very soon and for a while.
so change your party’s policies to conform to the popular view just to be able to win the election then turn around and realize that you’ve changed into your opposing party. all for what? just to say that you won? is this a ball game? if the party is obsolete, disband it. i dislike the democrats more than the republicans but they all just sound like babies in a contest to be the homecoming queen.
Jindal is one of those establishment losers who won’t face reality that those republicrats who don’t know for which issue they are or which they are not will never ever win an election!! People don’t like twilights who don’t have firm solid views on the issues! GTH with all you guys its time for you to let some solid smart people to lead the party!!!
You’d THINK Republicans would be doing some serious soul-searching, but doesn’t look like it 2me when you watch the soundbites from the fools over at Fox News, et. al.!!!
You know…the SAME corrupt people who sold a big bill of goods to their viewers that Romney would “win in a landslide!”?! Yeah, THOSE miscreants!
All they’ve done since November 7th (day after election) is complain & whine & act like poor sportmen, blaming the VOTERS for why his campaign sunk like a stone!
Even *after* Romney’s infamous “47% video” … he now can be heard on a phone conversation w\his big doners, saying it’s all OUR fault he lost. Nevermind that the Republican’s foreign policies are from the 1980’s, or their social policies which are from the 1950’s, and their fiscal policies being from the 1920’s! Nah! NONE OF THAT STUFF has anything to do with why he lost!
And the poor attitude of “every man for himself” & threats from rich bosses telling their employees there would be cuts if Obama won & all the dirty money used to finance Republican policy, not to mention all the underlined (sometimes not so subtle) sexism & racism that could be found throughout the party! Wow!
But will those on the Right accepts they have a LOT to work on? Probably not! They’d built this alternative reality for themselves, where everything that is *actually* true, is portrayed as being directly opposite in their world. How can you even have a dialogue w\folks about the health care issue for example, when they’re screaming the President is from Kenya?
It’s sad what’s happened to the party. But SCARY to think of them being back in power of the White House again. No way. To the REST OF US WHO LIVE IN REALITY… we all know they’ve got waaaay too much to work on in their party before they could be trusted in the White House again!
The real reason Romney lost is because he did not come out strong enough FOR Israel.
In the last debate, which was focused on foreign policy, Obama came out with boxing gloves against Romney. Romney chose a strategy of saying “he agrees with Obama (mostly) on foreign policy”.
Romney was too fearful of engaging Obama in an all out confrontation to say point blank that Obama threw Israel under the buss.
Romney is also guilty of being too fearful to say that he is all out in favor of Netanyahu’s plan that Iran must be attacked militarily with US help ASAP.
Instead, Romney chose a policy to pretend he is a moderate, who is in agreement with Obama to NOT agree with Netanyahu’s plan that the US and Israel must be united to attack Iran * NOW *, without any further endless delays.
Romney is also guilty in his failure to come out point blank to criticize Obama for not agreeing to Netnyahu’s demand for a “red line” and clear timeline when the US agrees to attack Iran, when it’s clear that all other useless negations is accomplishing zero progress.
In conclusion:
Romney lost because he failed to be much less of a Rasha than Obama and he chose to agree with Obama’s Rishus.