I like the message, but I would have to see some polling data on how that places with certain audiences. In a July 2012 poll, 61% of Independent's stated they had an unfavorable view of the Republican Party. This translates over into other groups as well -- and I think that a large part of this is not the message that Republicans push, rather how they push it -- and in many cases the issues they push.
This same sample for example said that 64% of this audience wanted a smaller government, 69% wanted to drill offshore more, 56% said it was more important to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon than preventing another war, they opposed Obamacare by a large majority...but it flips on various issues, like abortion, taxes, climate change.
When asked the following three questions, Independents sided with Democrats and against Republicans on all three:
1) Which party do you think is better described by the phrase "is more extreme in its positions"?
2) Which party is better described by the phrase "is more willing to work with leaders of the other party"?
3) Which party is better described the the phrase "will govern in an ethical and honest way"?
There are a lot of ideas that Republicans cleary win on with moderates, independents etc, but it seems to be a perception issue in the way that we go about conveying our message, and the manner in which we govern that turns these audiences off to our ideals. We should reach out to these audiences and exploit our common ground -- but that simply won't occur if we do not change the tone of our party in my opinion.
Groups are nothing more than individuals who get together. We should target groups and exploit our shared values.
I think you fight this by bypassing the media and on the local level, in State Rep districts, county wide positions etc, you put leaders in office who get things done, and can advocate clearly and intelligently for Republican ideals. If someone reads in the newspaper that Republicans have no ideas, and are all radicals, if they have strong local Republican leaders who have clearly established otherwise, they won't believe it in my view.
