Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
The question of the hour: How can the GOP rebrand itself as the “Party of Cool”…or at the very least as a party that’s less uncool now than it has been for the past 25 years?
Never having excelled at being cool myself — and having recently scored a mere 36 on Pew’s “How Millennial Are You?” quiz (Millennials should score between 73 and 100) — I feel like a fraud proffering up any advice on the subject.
But for starters, I’ll second everything Glenn Reynolds counsels in his column today in the New York Post. His first item of advice: lower the drinking age!
Introduced by Republicans (it was spearheaded by Elizabeth Dole) in the 1980s, it was always a lousy idea. The result has been more, not less, alcohol abuse on campus, as student drinkers have moved from public venues, where there was supervision, to dorm rooms and frat houses, where there’s less.
And it’s fundamentally unfair. At 18, people can sign contracts, get married and sign up for student loans that will haunt them for decades. They can join the military and go off to die in foreign lands. But federal law presumes they’re too immature to have a beer.
Professor Reynolds goes on to recommend that Republicans ought to become advocates for revising the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) so that such things as unlocking one’s cellphone no longer land someone looking to switch mobile carriers in prison; and that the GOP should champion policies that offer solutions to the problem of skyrocketing tuition. Realistically, I think these latter suggestions are small potato issues.
The two major obstacles standing in the way of Republicans ever winning over young voters in a meaningful way are same sex marriage and marijuana. And though some liberty movement Republicans —folks like Rand Paul and Justin Amash and Tom McClintock — might individually support SSM and the legalization of marijuana, there is no way on God’s green earth that the GOP will ever embrace these things en masse. At least no time soon.
But that doesn’t mean that the Republican Party can’t pivot at all on these issues. On the matter of marijuana, why not support a decriminalization of possession so that law enforcement resources are freed up to attend to more serious crimes? And on the matter of same sex marriage, I commend Rod Dreher’s thinking to your attention. Dreher's argument boils down to this: SSM opponents would do well to abandon the fight against SSM, and instead focus on the threat SSM poses to religious liberty.
These are concessions, to be sure. But they are concessions consistent with an overall theme of liberty. Before the Republican Party writes off young voters forever, my sense is that we ought to give the robust message of liberty a fighting chance.
Image of hipsters from Shutterstock.
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Comments:
Jul '11
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Either embrace as many libertarian values as possible or perish.
May '12
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Fabian Libertarianism is already at work in the party, and I think it will be our salvation.
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Yep, I think that's exactly it though it honestly really pains me to say it as someone who's as socially conservative as I am fiscally conservative. And, on a personal level, I think many self-professed libertarians (present company excluded, of course!) are as smug and sanctimonious as liberals.
But, prevailing attitudes change. And, so must the Republican Party.
May '10
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Want to get Republicans back in with Black Americans? Declare the War on Drugs a mistake (it has been), and advocate for pardons for people convicted of non-violent drug crimes. Not just a release from prison, but a pardon: conviction gone.
I'd love to see the Democrats respond to that...
It would at least get us back in the game.
Jul '12
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Jonah Goldberg is right why Libertarianism is so popular right now. It gives college students an ability to be Libertine in drugs, sex, etc... while being serious on fiscal issues.
Conservatism requires being counter to culture and thereby ensures a tougher road.
May '10
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
BTW, I'm also socially conservative. But I think trying to legislate that everyone should comport to my notions is a loser. State control is a loser for the right or the left.
Unfortunately, most young kids hear constantly from their teachers that the only ones in favor of state control is the right...
Dec '12
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
I agree on the social issues and shifting to a liberty-based agenda, but I think the party also must address the economic issues of young people to win them over. Yes, social issues are alienating many millennials, but the poor state of the economy (and other challenges that preceded the recession) matter just as much. They clearly are at least skeptical of Democratic policies, but what has the right offered them specifically that would help decrease the financial burden of college (which I don't think is small potatoes at all; recall that Obama spoke as much or more about student debt at college campuses as he did gay marriage) or the insufficient supply of full-time entry-level work, especially for those without four-year college degrees?
Reagan won young people in 1984 by a large margin, larger than he won overall, I believe. Why? I would suggest that most of it had to do with the booming economy and increased opportunities for the young relative to the 1970s.
Oh, and I took that millennial test as well and got 73. I guess I'm just barely in touch with my own generation! What a relief!
Edited on February 25, 2013 at 11:30pmJul '11
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Diane - this is a topic after my own heart.
I read the Glenn Reynolds article, and agree with him wholeheartedly, however I see Glenn less as a Republican and more libertarian. So the article was not a surprise.
Freedom has many facets, and trying to be defensive on battles where we are behind is a losing proposition. Focusing on new battlegrounds where victories can be had easily would seem like a low hanging fruit for the Republican Party. But, the party, alas, has no defined positions on these issues. Derek Khanna, Republican Committee staffer who wrote a policy memo that all the Techie Hipsters applauded was fired!
There is more to freedom than gay marriage and abortion. There is a perception of the Republican party out there that wants to paint them as the party of controlling other people's lives.
Democrats are the real party of coercion, and are proving themselves to be so one law at a time. Republicans will have to do more to prove to the younger generation that they are not the party of coercion by supporting causes that are not at odds with their fundamental principles and yet promote freedom.
Nov '11
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Great to see you, Diane! Food for thought here, definitely...
Jun '11
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
If a recidivist March for Lifer, church elder, tattoo and piercing-free dude like me scores a 56 on this quiz, then this quiz says jack about millenials.
Note that if I had marked that I had contacted a government official last year -- I debated that answer since my congressman in Indiana was a fellow parishioner -- my score would have dropped to a 39. Or if I hadn't happened to watch a full hour of CNBC this morning it would rise to a 74.
BTW, I'm 50+
Edited on February 25, 2013 at 11:56pmJul '11
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
For the record, I got a 75 on the test :-D.
45 year old Indian woman who spent the first 21 years of her life in Mumbai....
Nov '10
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Great to hear from you again!
Jun '11
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
@Barkha: Yes, the technophobia in the GOP is appalling. I guess I need to add the wireless companies to the litany of state capitalists the GOP supports (along with banks, health insurance, pharma, etc.).
BTW, did you read the NYT Magazine on the tech problems of the GOP? Very interesting that apparently Ken Mehlman got it. Reince Priebus's said the right words on the Ricochet Podcast, but can he make it happen?
Sep '12
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
For someone smack dab in the middle of Generation X, that poll has my millennial quotient rather ridculously high. How I scored that with no tattoos, a focus on work, and conservative politics, I have no idea.
May '10
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
As marriage goes, so goes the nation. It is the cornerstone of any society. This is a hill worth dying on.
The rest is good policy. But all of it together won't make Republicans cool to young voters. When parents try to be cool, how does that work out for them? It doesn't. Assuming (and I don't) that Republicans are truly interested in becoming the party of fiscal responsibility, that's an inherently uncool position. Adolescents are selfish, and Democrats will always be willing to offer more. Handouts, unlike virtues, are simple and immediate.
Even if I was mistaken about the coolness factor, do you think Democrats — obviously the more savvy political manipulators — will fail to jump on the bandwagon and claim it as their own? They stomped on Republicans with an entirely imaginary "War on Women", and you think they will let Republicans become the drug-easy hipsters?
Strength is attractive. Democrats run circles around Republicans and young people see that. If Republicans want to be cool, they should cease pandering and become stalwarts of freedom. Be the principled party. Be the honest party. Be a true alternative to big government liberalism.
Dec '12
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
One of the problems that the Republican Party is facing is that strong elements of the base do in fact want to use the power of the state to control people's lives. While I am in favor of a big tent, it seems to me that a significant part of the Republican party is at the very least unwilling to openly disagree with the socially conservative statists. While Akin's appalling rape comments were widely criticized by Republicans, the criticism was far from universal (especially among the grass roots.)
I agree that a shift on issues such as SSM and drug decriminalization is necessary. I just don't think it would be sufficient as long as the fringe elements are able to play a disproportionate role in the primary process.
One of the great moments in modern American conservatism was when William F. Buckley essentially excommunicated the Birchers from the mainstream of the movement. Unfortunately, the John Birch Society is no a co-sponsor of numerous events that are labled "tea party."
May '10
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Barkha Herman: ....
Democrats are the real party of coercion, and are proving themselves to be so one law at a time. Republicans will have to do more to prove to the younger generation that they are not the party of coercion by supporting causes that are not at odds with their fundamental principles and yet promote freedom.
I'd like to see Republicans learn from Democrats and stop pulling their punches when they criticize Democratic policies. Call liars out as liars. Point out how many blacks are killed by abortions. Draw attention to how many liberal policies hurt the poor most of all, like how emissions regulations most affect owners of used cars.
Again, strength is attractive. Republicans take politeness to the point of weakness. Pelosi is a vile witch. Treat her as such.
Jul '11
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Aaron Miller: ....
When parents try to be cool, how does that work out for them? It doesn't. Assuming (and I don't) that Republicans are truly interested in becoming the party of fiscal responsibility, that's an inherently uncool position. Adolescents are selfish, and Democrats will always be willing to offer more. Handouts, unlike virtues, are simple and immediate.
Aaron - My experience are completely the opposite I happen to be the coolest parent in town. And my kids are far more socially conservative than I've ever been. Go figure!
The so called social conservative parents are the one's whose children are getting in trouble for alcohol abuse, underage pregnancies, drugs use etc. (speaking from personal experience).
My kids on the other hand refused to date all through high school - because, what was the point? My daughter did not approve of her first college roommate because she had a fake ID.
Adolescents like to think of themselves as profound. The young disenfranchised voters need a place to go. We could just all cede to Democrats and go home now, or we could do something.
I am saddened to see a young person such as you being so negative :-(.
Aug '10
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Diane,
As someone who scored a 78 on the "how millenial are you" quiz -- and who is outside the demographic (It was the lack of tattoos and piercings that brought down my score btw) -- I think you mourning the decline of social conservative issues in the political sphere is misguided.
One can be extremely socially conservative, say a devout Roman Catholic, and believe that using the coercive power of government to advance social mores is damaging to society. Government should be minimal because empowering the government to enforce moral issues allows those you disagree with to use the force of law against you -- case in point is the Contraception mandate.
Argue strongly for your socially conservative positions. They are valid and beneficial and if followed would lead to a better society. Don't seek to use government to advance those positions, it will do so poorly and will empower those you disagree with in two ways. First, to accuse you of being a tyrant. Second, by utilizing the power you have granted to government towards ill ends.
Aug '10
Re: Not Your Grandma's Republican Party
Did you find it interesting that Millenial was a 34 year generation? I think they need to come up with a name for the next generation...the one that is 10 and younger. That's even accepting that young people of my sister's cohort are anything like the kids I work with today, which they are not.