Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (S.C.). "We’re not generating enough angry white guys"

Lately, finding Republicans to pit is like shooting fish in a barrel.

I suppose you have to admire his candor.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/as-republican-convention-emphasizes-diversity-racial-incidents-intrude/2012/08/29/b9023a52-f1ec-11e1-892d-bc92fee603a7_story.html

He’s correct, and a lot of people have made this observation. He’s not saying angry white guys are a good thing and he’s saying the party needs to broaden it’s appeal, so I’m not sure why you are Pitting him. Would you rather this go in Elections?

I’m not sure what the big reveal here is. Has anyone been suggesting that the core support of the Republican party is *not *composed mainly disaffected white males?

Whatever you think’s best. And I actually do see your point. It struck me as racist but he could be saying that trying to generate angry white men is a losing strategy. In fact, that probably is the most likely interpretation.

Maybe you should just delete this.

That is exactly what he was saying. I think there’s the basis for a good discussion here, so I’ll move it to Elections rather than close it.

He’s saying they’re a good thing (or at least an indispensible thing) for the GOP.

How do you generate angry white guys? Raise them in cages?

[QUOTE=Washington Post]
Not all of the race talk has been of the party’s own making. Many Republicans argue that Democrats’ obsession with the issue has forced it to the forefront. They say Democrats have used overtly racial appeals to fire up their base, citing Vice President Biden’s recent charge at a Virginia campaign event attended by hundreds of black voters that the GOP’s approach to financial regulation would“put y’all back in chains.”
[/QUOTE]
Hahahaha. Yeah, that’s the ticket. It’s the Democrats’ fault for shoving integration down White America’s throat for the last half-century.

Who are these “many” Republicans? Do they have names? And how long are we going to have to fight against these loons?

He’s saying the party needs to broaden its appeal because it can’t continue to win elections as the party of angry old white men. You don’t have to be a fan of the Republicans to agree with that because it’s obviously true.

I’m an angry white guy, and they generated me, but I’m angry at the GOP.

Sucks to be them, I guess.

They’d better rethink their strategy of undoing the money that Obama shifted around to close the prescription doughnut hole… they might need those old ones to hand on for another four years.

And poke them with a stick every now and then.

And keep promising them beer, but when you finally give it to them, it’s O’Doul’s

So, supposing he really was suggesting that they need to broaden their base beyond “angry white guys”.

Can they do so while still remaining “Republican” in anything but name?

Certainly. Just dump the Tea Party and the religious troglodytes, and present a rational, sane and conservative agenda. Nothing to it. Accept the status of loyal opposition with grace, and spiral down into political irrelevance as an ethical and temperate conscience and counterpoint to a dominant progressive governance.

They would be worthy of my respect and attention, and I would not hesitate to offer either.

I’m not sure that spiraling down into political irrelevance is consistent with “broadening the base”.

If Romney came out now and said, “the government needs to be cut, taxes raised on the rich, Medicare protected incl. closing the doughnut hole, but screw gay marriage and we might outlaw abortion except for rape & incest.” He’d probably be ahead in the polls and win come election day. Americans in general are progressive when it’s convenient. When things are bad, they just want to make sure someone else is getting screwed worse than they are.

Why yes, I did have a bad day and am feeling particularly cynical and depressed. Why do you ask?

This argument rests upon the faulty assumption that it would not be a positive GOOD for the Republican Party to STOP surviving.

A cup of chamomile tea. P.G. Wodehouse, a comfy chair. A loving and wholesome family busily being elsewhere.

Trick mellow white guys into watching too much Fox News?

Heh. Hate tea (but do have beer), Wodehouse is not my cup of tea (get it? hahaha I crack myself up). I do have the comfy chair and wholesome family, I’m reading the Aubrey/Maturin series for the 19th time, I had my little girl snuggled up next to me sleepily watching iCarly earlier tonight - after dinner with my best friend and his family (son is 2 weeks younger than my daughter and they’ve grown up together - watching them gives me hope for the future), the Noles play tomorrow, and I’ve got (free) tickets. Life is good overall. I just sometimes wish I could be one of the uninformed masses, you know?

But hey seriously, thanks for the virtual hug, man. It does actually mean something.