Tear Down That Wall?

Tear Down That Wall?
by Linda A. Prussen-Razzano

For far too long, the Republican Party has suffered from "image fatigue." Instead of being viewed as a relatively dynamic portion of the population, held together through common principles and often-intertwined faith-based beliefs, it was defined solely by the faces presented to the public: a distinctly white, older male group. Individuals inside the party recognized this was not the case, but because the majority of its public representatives reflected only one demographic, public perception, nurtured by the opposition and the media, remained stagnant.

It comes as no surprise that the typical talking heads would constantly underscore this misconception during the Convention, taking great pains to point out the disproportionate amount of whites acting as delegates. What they failed to point out is the openness of the delegate process; those who wish to become involved are freely encouraged to do so. They also failed to point out that the average voter, no matter their color, will never even attend their local platform planning Convention, let alone make the effort to attend the Regional, State, or National Convention.

But I digress.

Another significant contributing factor to the Republican Party's image fatigue stems directly from the Party faithful. The logic, rightness, and Constitutionality of their positions are obvious to them; shouldn't they be obvious to everyone? They believe so strongly in the various Conservative messages, they sometimes expect the messages to be self-promoting, not dissimilar to inherent truths.

What they fail to realize is that a majority of voters are not well versed in politics. An astoundingly high portion of Americans know very little about the outside world, or history, in general. A recent study revealed that nearly a third of all young people have no understanding of World War II and the Holocaust, the most highly documented and far-reaching event of the 20th century. Certainly, if young people aren't aware of this, something that occurred in the relatively recent past, then our Constitution will seem like a completely foreign and antiquated document altogether. Without a solid foundation of knowledge upon which to build, arguing from a Constitutional standpoint will sound like so much crusty banter.

What they also fail to realize is that a majority of people outside the Party feel disillusioned and disjoined from the political process in total. They know America has its ailments, but when the Democrats emote and the Republicans denote, they follow their hearts instead of cold logic. Everyday Americans are literally bombarded on a daily basis by any number of requests for their time, their attention, and their money. To combat this, many sort their mail, flip their channels, turn the dial, or survive their day by addressing only those requests and issues personally relevant to them. The Party faithful may see the bigger picture, with its myriad of ramifications, but the wide-ranging roaring ripples or quietly alarming intricacies of politics are lost on the average voter until they directly impact the voter's life.

Unfortunate, but nonetheless true.

The core messages of the Republican Party were never the problem. The problem was their delivery, lack thereof, or sometimes, yes, the messenger. Instead of inspiring, they sounded like orders. Instead of supporting, they sounded like criticisms. Instead of gentle guidance, they sounded like harsh discipline.

On Thursday, Governor Bush stood before the podium and addressed the American people. When he was done, two important things happened: it was the first time since the Great Communicator that several Republican Party messages were delivered to a national audience (making them relevant to all Americans), and the Party officially extended an undeniable public welcome to anyone who liked what they heard. Instead of bemoaning how the voting public should be, Governor recognized how they are and spoke to them accordingly, candidly.

Whether one agrees with Governor Bush on the issues or not, whether they still question his intellect or his connections, he deserves high awards for his political acumen. He refused to be defined by his political opponents and showed how Party associations shatter all stereotypes. He recognized the image fatigue and actively combated it, while at the same time staying true to Party principles. His first real national "moment in the sun" was filled with humor, conviction, and unabashed gusto.

How effective was it? Don't watch the polls; watch the pundits and talking heads. When they start playing the race card on a daily basis, when they start the mouth foaming and name-calling, it will signal the beginning of the end for the politics of fear and class warfare. If and when this happens, George W. will have done something unimaginable, unforgettable, and radically Presidential: he will have torn their carefully constructed walls down.