Mitt Romney's Advice to the GOP: Focus on Minority Voters

[mystery-ak]

http://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press/mitt-romneys-advice-gop-focus-minority-voters-n375136


Mitt Romney's Advice to the GOP: Focus on Minority Voters

by Ed Demaria

 Former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney listed some of his favorite contenders for the party's 2016 nomination Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press," but notably left off a few big names.

Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, and John Kasich were all name-checked by the former Massachusetts governor — but notably Rand Paul, Ted Cruz and Chris Christie were not.

This past weekend Romney hosted a summit in Utah that attracted some potential Republican nominees. Friday night, Romney said while there are more than a handful in the Republican field, he has his eye on a select few.

"I think there are probably six or seven or eight who I would look at and say, 'That is someone where they and I agree on major issues and they could be an effective president of the United States,'" said Romney.

Romney highlighted the Republican field's "different types of experience" to moderator Chuck Todd, by pointing to the accomplishments of Bush, Walker, and Kasich.

"Jeb Bush, of course, was a superb governor, did a great job," Romney said. "Scott Walker has taken on tough issues in Wisconsin ... John Kasich, governor of Ohio, you see extraordinary job growth there."

Romney also singled out Rubio's time as speaker of the Florida House as significant leadership experience.

 Speaking as the party's former nominee, Romney had a piece of advice for the field: Don't lose focus on minority voters.

"I think the biggest mistake I made was not focusing very early on minority voters," said Romney. "Our policies, as a conservative group of people, our policies are designed to help people get out of poverty and to see rising incomes."

[DCPatriot]

It's exactly what I said here just the other day.

The flood of immigrants coming across our borders is not going to stop.  In fact, it's increasing.

We have no choice but to market ourselves (GOP) to them.  No different that any auto company or home product, or fast food burger.

If we don't, we're only making it too easy for the Socialists who run the opposition.

Said it before, we must use the African-American's plight under Democrat rule as an example of how damaging it is to focus on group vs. individual.

if we don't do that, not only is the GOP toast...so is our Republic and our individual freedoms.

[Longiron]

Luv when the losers give advice???? That is what conservatives need more of, advice from the LOSERS. Maybe Dole or McCain has some words of advice . Never follow anything Reagan offered but only the RINOS who again will get their butt kicked with JEB or the back up plan of a WALKER /RUBIO team. Lets try talking to AMERICANS that are LEGAL in 2016 and how their lives can get better if the constitution is followed  and most of Obamacare is vetoed??? for starters

[Dexter]

It's exactly what I said here just the other day.

The flood of immigrants coming across our borders is not going to stop.  In fact, it's increasing.

We have no choice but to market ourselves (GOP) to them.  No different that any auto company or home product, or fast food burger.

If we don't, we're only making it too easy for the Socialists who run the opposition.

Said it before, we must use the African-American's plight under Democrat rule as an example of how damaging it is to focus on group vs. individual.

if we don't do that, not only is the GOP toast...so is our Republic and our individual freedoms.

There are also a lot of gay people that would vote Republican if people could get over the gay marriage thing.

[LottieDah]

Conservatives and Republicans get a bad rap because they are perceived as uncaring and callous.  We are not.  Mitt Romeny did  is correct on this one,.  If we want to win, we have to reach out.

[DCPatriot]

Conservatives and Republicans get a bad rap because they are perceived as uncaring and callous. We are not.  Mitt Romeny did  is correct on this one,.  If we want to win, we have to reach out.

That is the base strategy of the Democratic Party.  And the vehicle they use are the social issues.

They continue to push the envelope, insulting our sensibilities and pissing on our culture, because the ultimate goal here is to portray Republicans are freaks and out-of-step with 'normal' Americans.

Whether it's homosexuality or transgender issues...or 'hatred' of new minority Americans, aka illegal immigrants, as soon as somebody says "ENOUGH", they paint us as hateful and uncaring.

Problem is, when somebody has been bombarded by this 'new' thinking in grade school...hell, Montessori school, it's hard to combat said strategy.

[jmyrlefuller]

Why bother when they won't listen?

Are we interested in saving the country or are we just trying to survive under a party banner? If it's the latter, sure, go ahead and try reaching out to Democrat demographics. Hand them everything they want.

If it's the former, and I've said this before (only to get mocked for supposedly being "obsessive," even on this supposedly conservative board) and I'll say it again, it will take much more than a political approach to fix things. We have no moral compass anymore. Envy, hedonism and unrealistic expectations dominate the political discourse, and progressive Democrats are playing these sins like a fiddle, since it plays right into their hands. That needs to be cut off at the pass before conservatism can be revived in this country, and before it can be saved from its impending doom.

[NavyCanDo]

The Hispanic voter bloc is the fastest growing voting bloc in the nation and there is no stopping that, and no turning back. Make that Hispanics along with several other fast growing minority groups that come from around the globe.  But I think it’s a mistake to “Focus on Minority Voters” – but instead we need to present a candidate and a platform that these minority voters and the other vital voting bloc (the swing voters) will focus on.   And that will not take a shift to the Left to do that, but give the same message heard by our great great grandfathers , that American is a place of opportunity, freedom, and growth from one generation to the next – not the progressive vision of big Government enslavement.

[Fishrrman]

[[ Mitt Romney's Advice to the GOP: Focus on Minority Voters ]]

No. No. No. No. No.

This is a certain pathway to defeat in 2016.

Forget about black votes.
FORGET about them.
The two obama elections have defined how blacks will vote for the next 50 years, or longer.
I doubt Republicans in ANY state will win more than 5-8% of the black vote again. Ever.

Forget **somewhat** about Hispanic votes.
Hispanics are going to vote 3-to-1 for the democrats in 2016.
The more Hispanics that vote, the greater the margin of victory the democrats will enjoy.
It should also be mentioned that much of "the Hispanic vote" is concentrated in blue states where Republicans are going to lose anyway.

Don't completely forget about "the Asian vote", but don't expect to win too much of it.
If I recall, the percentage of Asians who voted for obama in 2012 was actually HIGHER than the percentage of Hispanics who did so!
I also recall that Asians voted in greater numbers for Republicans in 2014, but as of now, their vote is volatile.
Republicans should not ignore Asians, but "the Republican message" should not be twisted to pander to them.

I've posted this here for years, gotten razzed for it, but I'll post it again:
The key to Republican victories is to go for the WHITE vote in the "purple" battleground states.
All it will take is to increase the percentage of white votes won by Republicans by 2-3% in these states, and victory is within reach.

[truth_seeker]

Forget blacks, but not Hispanics. GW Bush got around 40% of the Texas Hispanic vote.

Walker plus Martinez, Rubio, Cruz, Sandoval could well get a surprisingly big percent of Hispanics.

[DCPatriot]

The Hispanic voter bloc is the fastest growing voting bloc in the nation and there is no stopping that, and no turning back. Make that Hispanics along with several other fast growing minority groups that come from around the globe.  But I think it’s a mistake to “Focus on Minority Voters” – but instead we need to present a candidate and a platform that these minority voters and the other vital voting bloc (the swing voters) will focus on.   And that will not take a shift to the Left to do that, but give the same message heard by our great great grandfathers , that American is a place of opportunity, freedom, and growth from one generation to the next – not the progressive vision of big Government enslavement.

As I said, right from the start we need to work on not scaring the sh*t out of them.  It's bad enough that "Republicans are bad" meme is prevalent in TV and Hollywood.  That covers a lot of ground.

But you seen to have an issue with any appearance of pandering.  Just one question? 

Why is that wrong?

I'd love to have commercials that mirror the Budweiser Clydesdale/ Puppy.  Ones that'll break your heart and run out and kiss one.

Just be careful she doesn't look like Salma Hayek.   

[Formerly Once-Ler]

Marco Rubio, Jeb Bush, Scott Walker, and John Kasich were all name-checked by the former Massachusetts governor — but notably Rand Paul

That is regrettable.  Few Republicans have done more to reach out to minorities than Senator Paul.

[libertybele]

Why bother when they won't listen?

Are we interested in saving the country or are we just trying to survive under a party banner? If it's the latter, sure, go ahead and try reaching out to Democrat demographics. Hand them everything they want.

If it's the former, and I've said this before (only to get mocked for supposedly being "obsessive," even on this supposedly conservative board) and I'll say it again, it will take much more than a political approach to fix things. We have no moral compass anymore. Envy, hedonism and unrealistic expectations dominate the political discourse, and progressive Democrats are playing these sins like a fiddle, since it plays right into their hands. That needs to be cut off at the pass before conservatism can be revived in this country, and before it can be saved from its impending doom.

   Either we can continue under a "political umbrella" maintaining the same course of destruction that has gone on for decades OR we can work towards the RESTORATION of America.

[libertybele]

[[ Mitt Romney's Advice to the GOP: Focus on Minority Voters ]]

No. No. No. No. No.

This is a certain pathway to defeat in 2016.

Forget about black votes.
FORGET about them.
The two obama elections have defined how blacks will vote for the next 50 years, or longer.
I doubt Republicans in ANY state will win more than 5-8% of the black vote again. Ever.

Forget **somewhat** about Hispanic votes.
Hispanics are going to vote 3-to-1 for the democrats in 2016.
The more Hispanics that vote, the greater the margin of victory the democrats will enjoy.
It should also be mentioned that much of "the Hispanic vote" is concentrated in blue states where Republicans are going to lose anyway.

Don't completely forget about "the Asian vote", but don't expect to win too much of it.
If I recall, the percentage of Asians who voted for obama in 2012 was actually HIGHER than the percentage of Hispanics who did so!
I also recall that Asians voted in greater numbers for Republicans in 2014, but as of now, their vote is volatile.
Republicans should not ignore Asians, but "the Republican message" should not be twisted to pander to them.

I've posted this here for years, gotten razzed for it, but I'll post it again:
The key to Republican victories is to go for the WHITE vote in the "purple" battleground states.
All it will take is to increase the percentage of white votes won by Republicans by 2-3% in these states, and victory is within reach.

Why are we fixated on the "minority" when we should be fixated on the majority?  Build upon the "conservative base"; with a TRUE conservative message that outlines WHY conservative principles and adherence to the Constitution works and WHY liberalism hasn't worked in the past, isn't working today and won't work in the future. 

[NavyCanDo]

[[ Mitt Romney's Advice to the GOP: Focus on Minority Voters ]]

No. No. No. No. No.

This is a certain pathway to defeat in 2016.


Forget **somewhat** about Hispanic votes.
Hispanics are going to vote 3-to-1 for the democrats in 2016.
The more Hispanics that vote, the greater the margin of victory the democrats will enjoy.
It should also be mentioned that much of "the Hispanic vote" is concentrated in blue states where Republicans are going to lose anyway.

I've posted this here for years, gotten razzed for it, but I'll post it again:
The key to Republican victories is to go for the WHITE vote in the "purple" battleground states.
All it will take is to increase the percentage of white votes won by Republicans by 2-3% in these states, and victory is within reach.

And you will get razzed again. Respectively disagreeing.

• The white vote continues to be a smaller and smaller share of the electorate. It will be smaller yet again in 2016, and each year beyond.
• There are currently 24 million Hispanics eligible to vote. That number will soar to 40 million by 2030 as the 17 million Latinos under age 18 get older. (More than 90 percent of Hispanics under age 18 are born in America and therefore eligible to vote.)
• Hispanics continue to identify more and more with the Democratic party.
• Latinos don't think Republicans care about them -- and that empathy gap is getting wider not narrower.
• George W. Bush in 2004 when he won 44 percent of the Latino vote. In 2012, Mitt Romney won just 27 percent of Hispanics. In 2016 Republicans MUST win 40% of the Hispanic vote, or they will lose to Hilary.

Ignoring or even lowering the importance of the Hispanic vote is a disaster. In the same way the Republicans lost the Black Vote (Yes Blacks use to vote in  huge majority for Republicans), we will lose Latino greater numbers if we want to pretend they will not make the difference in the election.

[Fishrrman]

NavyCanDo wrote:
[[ In 2016 Republicans MUST win 40% of the Hispanic vote, or they will lose to Hilary. ]]

Frankly, that is nonsense.
The Hispanic vote IS NOT "evenly distributed" everywhere, and in many states, it will make next-to-no difference at all in the outcome.

For the Pubbies to win in 2016, what they need to do is hold their own in the red states (most of which have relatively few Hispanics with the exceptions of Arizona and Texas) and increase their share of the white vote by 3-4% in the purple "battleground" states. Most of the purple states have relatively low Hispanic populations, as well.

In addition, the Republicans should concentrate on stemming vote fraud in those states.

It doesn't matter WHAT the Republicans do in the blue states, they're going to lose them anyway. Pandering to Hispanic votes in these states may cause enough conservatives to just "sit it out" that it will impact state and local races where a -few- Republicans -might- have a chance at winning.

In 2016, the democrats will have nearly 240 electoral votes in their pocket from the moment the candidates leave the conventions. The remaining 30-50 votes will be in (again) the purple states, and it is in them that winning more of the white vote will absolutely make the difference between victory and defeat.

In the purple and red states, far more votes will be won by the anti-amnesty meme, than by the "pathway to citizenship" approach.

Tell me, what ELSE can the Pubbies "offer" Hispanics, other than that?