Though the Republican Party enjoys a stranglehold on Tennessee politics, it has been interesting to watch the national GOP come to the collective realization that a growing number of Americans are entirely disinterested in making the party their political home.
Since the 2012 elections the question, “How do we stay relevant?” has been one that right-wing thinkers have grappled with. Most have offered suggestions about ways to “rebrand” or “restructure messaging” to help spur Republican wins in upcoming elections. The Republican Party can do all the repackaging it wants — but without good policy, there is no amount of image-polishing the party can do to make today’s GOP more palatable.
Historians may one day look back at 2013 as a legislative watershed year in the United States. From the halls of Congress to the Supreme Court bench, decisions have been made that will set the precedent for how we live — and what rights are enjoyed by which people — for generations to come.
This is also a monumental time for the Party of Lincoln, for in the midst of such incredible national decision-making, the Republican Party is simultaneously being forced to look inward and wrestle with questions of self-identity. Less pertinent, then, are questions about relevance, and more important are questions addressing inconsistencies between present-day party platform and core philosophical party principles.
The historical underpinnings of the Republican Party are, in my opinion, an extremely attractive set of political beliefs. Low taxes, limited government, and a fierce protection and celebration of individual rights have an appeal that transcends generational, racial, and socioeconomic boundaries. So, the image problem the Republican Party is experiencing today is not so much about marketing as it is about the misguided pursuit of flawed policy by party leaders.