The Denver Post prints this excellent op-ed from Paul Hsieh, the blogger at GeekPress:
After a resounding electoral defeat, in which voters in this once-red state rejected Republicans McCain, Schaffer, and Musgrave, the Colorado Republican Party will undoubtedly be asking themselves, “Why did we lose?”
I want to let them know that they lost the vote of many former supporters (including myself) because they have chosen to embrace the Religious Right.
I voted Republican in 1996, 2000, and 2004. I believe in limited government, individual rights, free market capitalism, a strong national defense, and the right to keep and bear arms - positions that one normally associates with Republicans.
But I didn’t vote for a single Republican in 2008. I’ve become increasingly alienated by the Republicans” embrace of the religious “social conservative” agenda, including attempts to ban abortion, embryonic stem cell research, and gay marriage.
Hsieh is just the kind of voter the GOP needs, in the place it needs him. He’s one of the “upscale” voters Charlie Cook writes about here, that the GOP has alienated.
How does the GOP win him back? Couldn’t tell you yet. But it doesn’t involve Sarah Palin.
I actually think part of the problem may be related to factions in the GOP being further divided over the media’s portrayal of themselves.
Before the Republican Party can move forward, there needs to be some honest assessment of others in the party before worthwhile partnerships can be made.
For instance: despite her personal choices (to ignore an abortion option, for instance, or go to an un-mainline church), many of Gov. Palin’s actual political policies jive well with libertarian principles.
Also, in a recent interview, she reached out to feminists, and, as a conservationist, praised the new administration’s potential for addressing environmental problems. She’s not exactly a right-wing whacko.
But the mainstream media talking heads don’t mention that, they only replay footage of her interview in front of some guy prepping Thanksgiving turkeys. The leftist illuminati do not have the GOP’s best interests at heart: their portrayal of all caucuses within the Republican Party will be aimed to further divide GOP constituents, not find creative ways of bringing us together.