Beware of false GOP rebranding efforts

[DonViejo]

When Bobby Jindal says Republicans must change their ways, he doesn't mean change their policies or anything

BY ALEX PAREENE

Conservatives with an eye on the future are rolling out their post-election loss “we must remake the party to save it” pitches. In Politico, Louisiana governor and perennial fantasy presidential candidate Bobby Jindal weighs in, getting some positive press for saying, “We’ve got to make sure that we are not the party of big business, big banks, big Wall Street bailouts, big corporate loopholes, big anything.” One would think some major policy changes would be required to make the Republican Party cease being the party of big business. One would be wrong.

There are two separate conservative narratives emerging since Obama’s shocking-to-them reelection. Everyone in one camp is basically saying, don’t overreact to this loss, because a couple thousand extra white votes in Ohio would’ve won it. The other camp is basically competing to win Andrew Sullivan “Yglesias Awards.” (Congrats, Erick and Gov. Jindal! And Bill Kristol, too!) They are sounding, suddenly, very reasonable. They are recognizing the flaws of their side and demanding changes. Just not actually any significant changes.

When you hear Republicans and conservatives soberly intone that Big Changes Will Have to Be Made if they want to Remain Competitive, listen closely for any actual suggested Big Changes. Go through the Politico story on its Jindal interview and you’ll see that he is actually not saying anything at all. Jindal is clearly pursuing the same agenda as he was before the election. His point is that this agenda should be branded slightly differently.

This is his prescription: The Republican Party should stop saying stupid things.

“It’s not going to be the last time anyone says something stupid within our party, but it can’t be tolerated within our party. We’ve also had enough of this dumbed-down conservatism. We need to stop being simplistic, we need to trust the intelligence of the American people and we need to stop insulting the intelligence of the voters.”

-snip-

read more:
http://www.salon.com/2012/11/14/beware_of_false_gop_rebranding_efforts/

[Myrina]

1. Exactly.

They're not going to have a naval-gazing conference where they revisit their core beliefs and realize they're basically wrong on everything, they're just going to go all 'new coke' on us & change the MESSAGE of their bs to make it seem like they're "kinder and gentler".

A pirate in a party hat is still a pirate, eh?

[DCKit]

5. Yep, it's all about the brand.

But honestly, I don't think they can help themselves. They're not (as a group) very smart and they anger easily. Not that they spend much time being interviewed by any competent journalists (are there any left?), but when they're asked a question that's not on their script, they lose their shit and blurt out some truths.

We need to let the advertisers on the MSM nooz shows know we don't feel that we're being well served by the current crop of stenographers and talking heads, their corporate overlords be damned.

[Flashmann]

2. Whatever lies these sons of bitches want to tell.....

What I hear,every time,is:We have to change how we tell minorities,women,gay community,libs,any body outside of OUR country club,that we still hate them....Still wish to inflict severe miseries upon them and will screw them sideways EVERY chance we get.....

That is their message......

[old guy]

3. That's all it is; a new cover for the same book.

If they were to change policy on minorities, women, gays, the poor etc they would lose their base because they would be Liberals.

[RussBLib]

4. They'll just change the words they use

I actually heard one GOP strategist recently say that the GOP doesn't need to change its principles, just the words they use to describe them. (Sounds like they have caught the Romney disease. Lie your fucking ass off and hope nobody catches you, and if they do, fuck 'em.)

Can't recall who it was the said that.

RussBLib