Republican National Committee Deputy Chairman Frank Donatelli
talked to CBS in the wake of the GOP's defeat in that special election down in Mississippi, and explained what he feels the Republicans must do to repair their chances in November. Some quotes:
Quote:Frank Donatelli: [W]hat I think these elections tell us is that it's a real wake up call for members of our party that they're going to have to build their own coalitions. They're going to have to reach out to voters beyond just the Republican base.
Quote:Frank Donatelli: I just think it goes to show that Republican candidates need to use the entire electoral season. And we've got about six months left now. To talk to their people. To build coalitions. To reach out beyond the Republican base. And to have their own narrative as to their accomplishments and why people should elect them.
Quote:Frank Donatelli: [..] it's fair to say that, in 2008, we start off, just on a generic basis, behind by five or ten points. And so that means we have to run five or ten points better than the other guys.
That's difficult but it's not impossible, by any means. And I like our odds because we have a candidate that's [..] very comfortable running a non- traditional campaign where he puts really interesting coalitions together and wins votes that aren't Republican votes.
Quote:Frank Donatelli: [W]hat I would say is that the successful Republicans this time are going to maybe take the basic brand and add their own mix to it. [..] I mean, I don't think the generic brand will do it this time.
Sometimes the generic brand does it for Republicans or Democrats, based on the circumstances. But this time it's a very challenging environment and it's not enough just to kind of go down the litany of issues. I think you've got to be more creative. You've got to reach out. [..]
So, you know, it's kind of like we're a basic black dress. Sometimes it works. But sometimes you've gotta, you know, you've gotta have the accessories to go with it. And we need accessories this time.
CBSNews.com: This is the year to accessorize for Republicans.
Frank Donatelli: First time I've ever talked about shoes in an interview like this.
Quote:Frank Donatelli: I think we have to talk maybe more in specifics and not generalities. Try to connect how our policies will make things better for the average American. You know, why we need additional sources of energy. And why we need more energy supply which, in turn, will bring down the price of gas.
Quote:Frank Donatelli: But, look, if you're asking me are we going to win large numbers of seats by just connecting the local Democrat to Senator Obama? The answer is no. We have to do more than that.
And there's this very amusing, to a leftwing reader, full
five paragraphs worth of Donatelli basically saying "John McCain IS NOT BUSH. HE IS NOT BUSH. HE IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM BUSH. LOOK HOW DIFFERENT HE IS FROM BUSH. FED UP WITH BUSH? DONT WORRY, SOON AS HE'S OUT WE WON'T BE ANYTHING LIKE HIM ANYMORE. BECAUSE MCCAIN IS DIFFERENT. DIFFERENT FROM BUSH. VERY DIFFERENT FROM BUSH. DID I MENTION HOW DIFFERENT FROM BUSH HE IS?"
I mean, ok - maybe in a little more tactful wording. But considering this is the #2 of the RNC, he might as well have said the above - the intended message is pretty clear:
Quote:Frank Donatelli: John McCain is his own man. He has his own style. He has his own way of doing things. He will have his own appointees that will be different in all respects. In terms of policy, he's much tougher, I think, on domestic spending. And would make a much more aggressive effort to rein in federal spending and keep our budget balanced.
He's, I think, a little more aggressive in terms of the environment, favors legislation to rein in greenhouse gases. I think, fighting the war on terror, he favors the current course in Iraq.
Though he lobbied hard for the administration to change a couple of years ago when he thought they were on a different strategy. He has a whole new approach when it comes to marrying community colleges and unemployment insurance and retraining of workers. He has a slightly different approach on health care. He has his own health care plan.
So, you know, he really appreciates what the president has done for our country. And especially in keeping the country safe for six years after so many people felt that we were going to be attacked again after 9/11. I think the president deserves enormous credit for making certain that that didn't happen.
But, nevertheless, Senator McCain is his own man with his own policies. And would bring a distinctly different style, I think, to the Oval Office. It's really not a question of change versus no change. But rather a question about change that works and change that doesn't work.
