The problem:
"We have left as a party our conservative roots based in fiscal responsibility and limited government," said Kevin DeWine. "We have exchanged it for large government expansion, arguably the largest government expansion in the history of our nation.
"If you add to that the growing frustration over a five-year war, the unpopularity of a Republican president, the distracting fixation on social issues, and never-ending ethics concerns both in Ohio and nationally … the electorate said it had enough, and I can't say that I blame them," he said.
The good:
Mr. DeWine said Republicans must engage middle-class, suburban, women, African-American, and young voters and adopt a "zero tolerance" for misconduct.
"We have to do a better job connecting on campuses," he said. "It's my belief that our party has lost a generation of young voters. The number of voters between the ages of 18 and 29 who look at the Republican Party as a party of choice for them is gone."
...
"What the party needs is a new set of faces and a new set of ideas," he said. "It's what the party needs to do not just here in Ohio, but what the party needs to do nationally."
The bad:
Mr. DeWine threw out a series of names that he considers to represent the party's future, among them U.S. Sen. George Voinovich, Speaker of the House Jon Husted, Auditor Mary Taylor, and state Sen. Mark Wagoner (R., Ottawa Hills).No objection to Taylor. I don't know enough about Wagoner to make a comment. But Voinovich and Husted aren't the "future" of anything.
You couldn't find George Voinovich with a search warrant in this last cycle. I can remember when Voinovich was talking about "reasserting" himself in to party politics. If one rally -- in Cleveland, no less -- is all he can be bothered reasserting himself in when the state could have used some "leadership" then Voinovich is clearly not the man for the job.
Husted has been a disgrace. You want to know why Republicans lost control of the Ohio House? Speaker Jon Husted. His literal and figurative embracing of Governor "T-Shirt" Ted Strickland made sure that there was no real choice between Republicans and Democrats. And how about all of that money in his war chest that he could have used to help out other candidates? If that's the kind of future Mr. DeWine has in mind, no thanks...
What we need are candidates and leaders who understand the vision of freedom, opportunity, security, individual liberty, ethical leadership, and fiscal responsibility not only in Washington and Columbus, but in local government as well.
Before I get hit by the Lori Viars crowd...let me say that I don't think social issues are "distracting" as Kevin DeWine put it and I'm sure if he had that to say over again, he'd re-phrase it himself. But I do think we place entirely too much emphasis on social issues at the cost of focus on fiscal concerns. We can fight off the liberal agenda and tackle the economic troubles that the state is facing, but we need candidates who are capable of doing both.
More than anything else, the ethics issues are what got the Ohio GOP in to this mess and while I do believe significant progress has been made on that front there is still an awful lot of work to do. I believe that the zero-tolerance policy ought to be enforced throughout the party, including the county parties. This is the type of nonsense that will not be acceptable to the electorate and that cancer must be exterminated. Violators must be sanctioned with extreme prejudice and statements of condemnation must be delivered swiftly. Sweeping these vile creatures under the rug is not the answer.
I'll be writing on all of these topics in the days, weeks, months, and years to come; but I welcome your input in the comments...
UPDATE: As expected, I've ruffled a few feathers...
[REDACTED]Here is where I tell the story...again...about what George Voinovich really thinks about Rob Portman. When asked about a possible challenge by Portman, Voinovich is known to say: "Portman is not good above 270 (in Columbus)." Well, Team Voinovich, pay close particular attention to what I am about to tell you and maybe you'll get this message: George Voinovich is not good BELOW 270...
