Jindal: Liking people is key to expanding GOP tent

November 18, 2012 @ 12:29 pm


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Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal says the Republican Party needs to go back to basics to attract the broad coalition of voters credited with putting President Barack Obama back in the White House.

Kindergarten basics.

"If we want people to like us, we have to like them first," Jindal said on Fox News Sunday.

Former Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez has a more nuts-and-bolts approach to bringing in some of the largest and fastest growing groups of Americans: He's forming a super PAC to support Republican candidates who back comprehensive immigration reform, including legalizing the status of an estimated 11 million immigrants in the U.S. without authorization.

The 2012 elections drove home trends that have been embedded for years in the fine print of birth and death rates, immigration statistics and census charts. Nonwhites made up 28 percent of the electorate this year, compared with 20 percent in 2000, with Hispanics comprising much of that growth. Obama captured a commanding 80 percent of the growing ranks of nonwhite voters in 2012, just as he did in 2008. Republican Mitt Romney won 59 percent of non-Hispanic whites, and although he dominated among white men _ outperforming 2008 nominee John McCain among that group _ he couldn't win.

Republicans have spent much of the time since the election wrestling with ways to appeal beyond their base of white men and married women. Nonetheless, in a conference call to big donors last week, Romney credited Obama's win to "extraordinary financial gifts from government" he said the president gave groups in his base coalition: Latinos, African-Americans and young people.

Both Jindal and Gutierrez backed Romney's bid for the White House, but distanced themselves from his post-election comments.

Jindal, the incoming chair of the Republican Governors Association and a potential presidential candidate in 2016, on Sunday said slighting people simply isn't good politics.

"You don't start to like people by insulting them and saying their votes were bought. We are an aspirational party," he said.

Jindal said the Republican Party needs to convince voters it is the party of the middle class and upward mobility. Its conservative principles "are good for every single voter" and it "has to campaign for every single vote," he added.

"We also don't need to be saying stupid things," Jindal said, referring to GOP Senate candidates in Missouri and Indiana who lost their races after comments about rape that were widely criticized.

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, the GOP group's incoming vice chair, said also on Fox News Sunday that governors are key to bringing a diversity of voters to the GOP. Thirty states have elected Republican governors, an indication that "the trust factor is there."

"We've got a message that works for young people, that works for people who come to our country from other countries, and, basically for anyone who wants to live their piece of the American dream," Walker said. "I think that starts with our governors as great messengers."

Gutierrez, who served under President George W. Bush, said the country cannot grow without immigrants and the Republican Party is a natural home for them.

"We are the party of prosperity, of growth, of tolerance," Gutierrez said in remarks taped Friday for CNN's "State of the Union." `'These immigrants who come across, and what they do wrong is risk their lives, and they come here and they work because they want to be part of the American dream. That is what the GOP is."

Gutierrez said he is working with Charlie Spies, who created the largest super PAC supporting Mitt Romney, Restore Our Future, on a super PAC to back candidates that support "a path, a process for legalization of workers who are here undocumented."

"First they have to be legalized," Gutierrez said. "Then you have to find a way to get into a line for the green card. ... There will be requirements. And we'll have to negotiate some sort of requirements."

Gutierrez said Republicans for Immigration Reform is about people from all over the world, including Hispanics, Asians, West Africans and Ethiopians.

"If we get this right... the 21st century is ours," Gutierrez said, referring to the GOP. "If we get it wrong, shame on us."


(Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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Comments (41)


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  • CH wrote...
    * Republicans: GOP needs to get with the times . . . .
    November 17, 2012 4:26 am
    this will never happen. Why do you think we call them RightWingNutJobs(RWNJ)?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    what are you so angry about all the time?
    November 17, 2012 7:41 am
    you got your beloved Obama .... have fun paying all those new taxes. I know i wont because i can not afford them. I also wont except a free handout from the govt because i am not a loser and i can provide for myself and my family with out mommy and daddy govt.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Sick
    November 17, 2012 9:26 am
    So you're not going to call the fire dept if you have a fire, you're not going to drive on Gov't roads, you're not going to send your kids to public schools and you're not going to pay your taxes? -got it. You have obviously been drinking the right wing kool-aid.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Yo cigar fan
    November 17, 2012 6:21 pm
    That is a really stupid argument. That is what government is here for in the first place moron. It's not there to pay for losers and illegals. And it's definitely not there to spend $1. 8 TRILLION more a year than it takes in in taxes. If you are too stupid to understand that, well,then you are part of the problem.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    Word Maplefish
    November 17, 2012 7:01 pm
    SickofSeattle said she won't pay all those new taxes. SickofSeattle said he/she can provide for her family without mommy and daddy gov't. I'm wondering if you even read what Sick posted -since what I wrote was a response to it. (you can skip the insults, you're better than that.)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cigarillo wrote...
    @Ciglet
    November 19, 2012 5:22 pm
    You go overboard in dramatizing your point. Few begrudge taxes to cover the services that we agree upon. The concern is about overstepping their bounds and extracting too much (wealth and freedom) from the citizenry. I know that it's the natural evolution of a government to bloat like Mr. Creosote until the unsustainable liabilities gurggle and explode all over everyone else in the restaraunt (you and I). Although S.O.S oversimplifies the sentiment, his concerns have a base in reality - we want to skimp on Mr. Creosote's patte'.
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  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @sickofSeattleite....
    November 21, 2012 11:25 am
    And that comment is exactly what Jindal is talking about. Unless the Republican party loses that attitude, it is destined for third party, 'former glory' status in this country. In exit polls a significant majority of Americans who voted want this kind of Bull____ stopped and for both sides to actually work together to solve America's problems instead of seeking only to belittle the other side.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • SickofSeattleite wrote...
    Gop needs to get with the times?
    November 17, 2012 7:41 am
    LIKE SPENDING MONEY WE DON'T HAVE???? IS THAT WHAT YOU MEAN? Total economical collapse is in our future. THE MONEY WE DON'T HAVE WILL RUN OUT!!!!
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  • cigarfan wrote...
    @Sick
    November 17, 2012 9:26 am
    Let's cancel the BLOATED pentagon budget then! You can't have it both ways.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • calapete wrote...
    it's not the budget
    November 17, 2012 8:25 am
    its that Obama is spending our money on healing the nation and preserving the ever shrinking middle class.

    you prefer the tax dollars be spent on nation building, genocide, torture and protecting the 1% from paying their fair share.

    America spoke. Old white rich guys do not define us. We are a nation of many diverse backgrounds.

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  • maplefish wrote...
    Healing the nation?
    November 17, 2012 6:25 pm
    You are an absolute idiot. And if you had any brains at all you would understand that the Rich and 1% pay 70% of ALL the TAX in this country. You really are stupid.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Maple - you are an idiot
    November 19, 2012 8:03 am
    The wealthy pay that much because they pay a % of income to taxes, just like you and i do, now if they want to institute a flat tax, that's fine with me, i don't care if i pay the same percentage as a rich person, but as you may have noticed from Mr. Romney's tax returns, the wealthy often find ways of paying less than Middle Class Americans in taxes because they have lawyers figuring out loopholes to get around paying their fair share of taxes... stop defending the wealthy by saying they pay more, they pay pretty much the same percentage as we do, they might pay 1 million while i pay 20k but that 1 million to them is no more important than that 20k is to me. Stop defending the same people that have decided to sell American jobs overseas, they are the least patriotic people in this country, they are sending their work to China so they can save a few bucks when one of the most educated workforces in the world are sitting at their doorstep, they just want to create the largest profit margin possible and do NOT CARE about the Nation.
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  • Frogsplash wrote...
    Maplefish, your numbers, where exactly did you get them, cause they are hideously wrong
    November 21, 2012 3:29 pm
    Since Obama took office in 2008, the top 1% percentage of all personal income tax paid has dropped from about 40% to about 37%. If you take in to account ALL federal taxes paid by individuals, they pay approximately 28% of all federal taxes. Federal taxes are personal income tax, corporate income tax (indirectly through stock ownership), social security and medicare taxes, and federal excise taxes ( gas, alcohol, tobacco, and phones) You aren't even in the same galaxy numbers wise. (These numbers are directly from the CBO btw.) They earn about 18% of all annual income, meanwhile thier total wealth percentage of ALL wealth in the US keeps rising. It's up to about 38% as of today. So they own 38% of all of the total wealth in the US but pay 28% of the total federal taxes in the US. Go figure.
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  • CH wrote...
    what are you so angry about all the time? . . . .
    November 17, 2012 8:40 am
    I'm thinking because your Circus Clowns lost. Both of them State and Federal. Try happy smoke.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HPD 5-0 wrote...
    Yes. Re-tool.
    November 17, 2012 8:59 am
    Buy votes by giving everything to everyone "for free". To hell w/ paying for it. It's all about power. Works for Dimshits.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @HPD 5-0
    November 17, 2012 9:29 am
    "Giving everything to everyone for free"? What did I get? what did you get? Are you really thinking clearly?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • HikerACE wrote...
    I have changed my mind
    November 17, 2012 9:24 am
    I used to believe in working hard and supporting myself. Now it seems the American way is to let government support me. So, I have decided to leave the working/middle class and join the welfare class. Thanks to all of you who voted for our current leaders. They will happily take from you to give to me so I no longer have to work.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • cigarfan wrote...
    @HikerACE
    November 17, 2012 10:25 am
    OR...you have been consuming ONLY right wing corporate media that has taught you to think that way.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Greed has destroyed the Republican party.
    November 17, 2012 9:59 am
    When will enough be enough?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    How about NEVER
    November 17, 2012 6:29 pm
    The pursuit of happiness is our way of life. You can never be too rich. Capitalism is wonderful thing. You have the same chance as anybody else. That's why everybody wants to come to his country. Grow up and get over it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Saltchucker wrote...
    Historical pendulum
    November 17, 2012 12:25 pm
    The GOP in 2012 sounds just like the democrats after 1994,1988,1972.....or the GOP in 1976, 1992, post FDR...... It'll keep swingin' back and forth.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • CH wrote...
    Greed has destroyed the Republican party . . . .
    November 17, 2012 12:46 pm
    no they went to bed with the tea party. Yes they had a baby. We call it teapublican.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    Yeah,
    November 17, 2012 6:33 pm
    Try info make our government quit spending $1.8 TRILLION more a year than it takes in in taxes is such an evil thing. You stupid Democrats seem to think that demanding accountability from our elected government "Leaders" is a bad thing...but that make sense as most of you don't have any of you own money anyway....
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Forrest wrote...
    Republicans are responsible for 80% of the deficit.
    November 18, 2012 6:48 am
    Clinton left a surplus. Republicans reduced revenue. Republicans started two unfunded wars. Republicans started an unfunded medicare prescription drug giveaway for big pharma. Republicans started the Wall Street bailouts. Fiscal conservatives my arse.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @maplefish....
    November 21, 2012 11:31 am
    "You stupid Democrats seem to think that demanding accountability from our elected government "Leaders" is a bad thing..." ----------- You really miss the issue completely. The right wing wants to insure that the rich pay as little as possible (and get as much in the way of free 'entitlements' as possible when you discuss business dealings) and demand that everyone else NOT be able to get entitlements of any kind - EXCEPT for the ones that 'I (a right winger) want to get from the government. "everyone else can go screw themselves". MOST Democrats want a balance between the concepts of entitlements and taxes. The days of the 'free and careless spending democrat are so long gone that it's ridiculous, yet the right wing focuses on that out of date concept as if it were still valid... Just as much as they depend on the 'white male' dominance to win them the elections - and we can see how well that went this time around.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • longwayhome wrote...
    mapledummy
    November 17, 2012 6:55 pm
    Your last post left me with the impression that you think of yourself as "entightled". Why is that? Are you white? Anglo-saxon Protestant? I can tell you fit the republican profile to the nuts. Homophobic, racist, and unwilling to admit that things have changed and you are unwilling to do the same. I hope that you can sit back and reflect on the MAJORITY of the voters who re-elected President Obama, and tell yourself that you are in the minority and it's only going to get better for the Democrats as time goes on. Common sense and justice always prevail, unless you voted republican. Your loss, live with it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • maplefish wrote...
    I have no problem with change
    November 17, 2012 8:56 pm
    I am neither homophobic or racist. I am successfully retired at 50 years old. I've raised 4 children, 3 of which are in college, which I pay for, with ZERO help from the government. I pay more in taxes every year than you will probably make in your entire lifetime. I am socially liberal, but I am fercly fiscally conservative. I am the guy you hate. I achieved the American dream and am tired of being demonized by a bunch of idiots because I have wealth. So, go ahead call me names. I'll be fine for the next 100 years no matter who or which party is in charge. I' m sick of the divisive, class warfare created by the left simply because most of them are lazy, whining losers who blame their Failure in life on those of us who have worked hard, made smart choices and succeed in life. It is not a crime to be successful. I have won no matter what. I live very well with that. So call me names and hate away. I have the last laugh.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Cbrew wrote...
    Maple, that's funny
    November 19, 2012 8:09 am
    You call Liberals lazy when the most liberal states in the Union are the wealthiest, You ever look at an election map? Ever pay attention to where the money is in America? I'll help you out, the wealthiest places in America are in the NE Upper MW and west coast... All Blue states. Red states are poor, impoverished and undereducated states... They are where welfare is used more than anywhere else... Funny, you never stop and think do you maple? nope, because you're too fracking stupid for words.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FrapFreak wrote...
    I'll make this argument...
    November 19, 2012 9:05 am
    ...lazy liberals go to the rich states because that's where the most free handouts are. ;)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • FormerMarineSgt wrote...
    @FrapFreak....
    November 21, 2012 11:33 am
    "...lazy liberals go to the rich states because that's where the most free handouts are." BZZZZZZZZ - WRONG ANSWER. Fact is that most federal money goes to states that are nearly perpetually RED. So, that blows that whole arguement out of the water.
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