As much as I enjoy watching the Republicans implode, I do wish that they would figure out a way to be a sane opposition party that can be trusted to run the country from time to time. Perhaps it is too hard to figure out what the GOP should do if we keep ourselves to analysis of the national party. It might be easier to see how an individual Republican can win in the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic regions of the country.
If I were a campaign adviser for a Republican running for Congress from the Northeast or Mid-Atlantic region, I would give the following advice.
First, being against environmental and energy reforms is like being against Kennedy’s space program. Rather than fight it, you should champion it. Make environmentalism and energy reform the keystones of your campaign. Don’t let your opponent get to your left on these core issues and make clear how your district can be part of the solutions and not part of the problems. In the same vein, talk about food, drug, and product safety, and make sure to promise that you’ll fight to see that the federal government does its job regarding inspections and oversight. These are the key areas where you want the federal government to be involved, and you need to let people know that you support these federal programs.
On the so-called cultural issues, regardless of where you stand, you need to make sure people know that they are of comparatively little importance to you relative to the big issues facing the country. If you are personally opposed to abortion, make sure that you communicate that you have no intention of imposing that view on others that do not share your beliefs. Don’t talk about restricting gay rights. Don’t obsess over non-white illegal immigration. Do not make your campaign about demonizing any group of human beings.
After you have established that you want to go to Washington to help Washington do a few vital things very well and not to beat up on minorities and people with different beliefs, start talking about the things Washington is not doing well. It’s okay to suggest eliminating some programs, but it is generally preferable to talk about how to make poor functioning programs work better.
This is especially true when you talk about education. There will always be opportunities to identify problems with public education. Come up with good ideas to improve education that connect with people on a gut level.
It is still acceptable to act like a traditional Republican when it comes to taxes and national defense. But it is preferable to allow for some nuance in those positions when campaigning in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast. For example, it won’t hurt to admit that sometimes taxes need to go up and sometimes they need to go down, but it is always preferable to keep taxes as low as possible, and that deficit spending should be kept to a minimum. Right now is not the best time to argue for tax cuts for the rich, so don’t. It’s okay to talk tough about maintaining the world’s best armed forces, but talk about trimming the overall budget, too.
You need to reach out to the Republican base and to attract people toward Republican ideology, but you have to define a regional ideology. Small businesses are a natural constituency for Republicans if you can identify regulations, federal mandates, and tax law that negatively impact them. Talk to them and find out all the ways the government is making their jobs harder and cutting into their bottom line. Develop a platform aimed at giving the small businesses in your district relief.
You need to distinguish yourself from the Democrats and the Democratic incumbent, but you also have to accept that the people of these regions actually prefer Democratic policies and they don’t trust the national Republican Party. You can win the election by neutralizing mistrust. You have done this by:
1) Presenting as a strong environmentalist who is interested in energy reform.
2) Making clear that you are running for office to make the government do a few things very well, including food, drug, and product safety.
3) Making clear that cultural issues are not why you are running for office and that you will not legislate your beliefs.
4) Not bashing gays or racial, ethnic, or religious minorities.
5) Showing strength, but also a degree of flexibility, on tax cuts and defense spending.
You distinguish yourself by your commitment to the concerns of the small businesses in your district and your ideas on reforming education policy. People already know you are a Republican, so they know that you are likely to be a booster of the Pentagon, of Big Business, and of cultural conservatism. Whatever benefit you get from that, use it. But don’t run too much on it, because it won’t win you an election in these regions of the country.
Now, if you follow this advice and you get elected, make sure to maintain an independent voting record on exactly the policies that you ran on. Once enough of you get elected in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic, you’ll be able to form a caucus in Congress that can defend itself and start to influence the national party.
One last piece of advice: you can go negative on Democrats for ethical shortcomings. Rough campaigning is expected around these parts.