Elections, Perceptions and Reality

Election Day, a time when perceptions become reality. And onNovember 6, 2012, did we ever see perceptions change into the stark reality of electorate demographics and choices. The Romney, Ryan team and the Republican Party were trounced in the swing states, contrary to post election conventional and possibly delusional thinking, of Party leadership and many conservative pendants. The gender gap never closed and 55% went for the President, down only 1% point from 2008. Hispanics moved up from 67% in 08 to 71% in 2012. The white population favoring the President went down to 39% from 43% in 08, but that is a declining base. The youth, 18-29, while down from 66% in 08, remaing at a commanding 60% for the President. The most troubling result of 2012 election was the Republican enthusiasm gap; the Romney Ryan team collected 2.1million less votes than the McCain ticket in 08. The independents were less enthusiastic in support of Obama, down to 45% from 52% in 08. What we can learn from this, Independents lean liberal more than centerest or conservative. A good case for the drubbing could be made that Romney did not fully or timely respond to the brutal character assignation from the Obama Campaign, and he did not adequately defend a sterling career filled with significant accomplishments. Perhaps he should have been more forceful on the Benghazi debacle, but, the bigger picture is demographics. The Republicans are not connecting with the voters they need in order to win. Obviously, theCatholics and the Evangelicals who are so sensitive to the Obama assault on Religious Freedom are not demography monolithic and failed to overcome the other demographic ballot shortfalls. Frankly the current makeup of the Republican Party, especially party leadership, simply has not and does not appeal to a majorityof the American Electorate. The party is perceived as stodgy, aging, angry white men who cannot relate to the plight of the Hispanic, female, and youth vote. It is therefore, no mystery why the Republicans have lost the last two Presidential elections. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan are possibly two of thefinest quality humans any party has nominated for the Presidency and V. P positions, and that was not enough. That tells us something. As Thomas Freidman just said,the Republican Party now needs to have a conversation with itself. Freidman further opines that the conversation should beabout going left to at least the center. On that note, I disagree. It was not that conservative values were rejected; it was that the people speaking on behalf of conservative values did not relate to the people to whom they were conversing. And, it is not the Tea Party itself that is the issue; it is some out of touch artifacts that just say dumb, unbelievable things that turn away reasonable voters. The premise that female reproductive system shuts down during rape is not credible and it is patently offensive. The country is tolerant of Pro Life positions but not so with radical ideas that do not exclude abortion in the case of rape and incest. Extreme positions on Immigration Reform that continue to call for deportation of all illegals are both unrealistic and odious to Hispanics.  Again, realism is the appropriate approach, including a path to citizenship for responsible people is good policy and appealing to the Hispanic base. The legals do not want a flood of illegals and will support conservative Republicans who show a moderate approach to the matter. Fundamentally, Latino populations share conservative values, family,religion, work ethic, education, the same is true for a growing Asian population 75% of whom who do not align themselves with Republicans. What has been missing for the past eight or more years are Republicans in leadership positions who look and act like our diverse population and those who vote. The old guard in the congress are part of the problem; McConnell in the Senate, Boehner in the House look and feel like the relics o fthe past. Rubio, Ryan, Jindal, some Hispanic leaders in state leadership rolls, Governor of New Mexico, Susana Martinez and a broad base of Hispanic political leaders from Texas, Nikki R. Haley, Governor of South Carolina, and a hos tmore, are more attractive than the current leadership, and they have succeeded without compromising conservative values. They have not acted like Santa Clause and the tooth fairy, but have governed responsibly and made the case for fiscal and social moderation and conservative principles. Republicans, in order to have relevance in future national elections, must overhaul the national leadership of the Party, to look, act, and govern in ways that do not offend, but appeal to those whose votes were lost but now needed. There is a strong bench of Republican potential leaders, now they must assert themselves or forever be relegated to the back benches and wilderness.  

Al Boese                                                                                                                                                                                                          LakeBluff, IL 11/8/2012