mckenna3el2012.jpg
Republicans were confident they had a winner in Rob McKenna, but Jay Inslee leads in the ballot count. (AP Photo/file)

Initiatives block GOP path to governor's mansion

BY Tim Haeck  on November 9, 2012 @ 7:11 am (Updated: 11:34 am - 11/9/12 )

The re-election of the president has Republicans across the country re-examining their philosophy and strategy. The GOP in Washington state has a special challenge that could help explain its failure to break through in the race for governor.

Republicans were confident they had a winner in Rob McKenna. They did a good job getting out the vote, claiming staffers and volunteers made 1.5 million phone calls between August and Election Day.

"I know they've done a great job of turning out Republicans, but there aren't enough Republicans," argued former state GOP chair Chris Vance.

He contends Republicans in Washington have an image problem in that they're victims of the party's national brand on policies that make it hard for Republicans in some states to swim against the blue tide.

"This has now got to be about messaging, beginning with having a sane immigration policy," said Vance. "We've got to be able to talk to Latino voters and you can't even talk to them if they're convinced that your policy is to round up their relatives and deport them."

Vance said Republicans in blue states must work to move the party on key issues.

"It doesn't mean the Republican Party has to sell its soul and all of a sudden start advocating for socialism and higher taxes [...] but on some of these issues, there is room, I think, for the party to move and change its image."

But image change, alone, might not be enough.

"The Republicans have what I call an initiative problem," said Paul Guppy, Vice President for Research at the non-partisan Washington Policy Center. He said Tim Eyman and others promote initiatives that steal the Republicans thunder and bleed support on such issues as tax limits.

"People vote for Eyman initiatives and it gives them less reason to vote for the Republicans," said Guppy.

In other states, he argued, moderate Democrats and independents who want to lower their taxes have to vote for a Republican candidate to achieve that. Here, they can vote for the initiative and stay with the Democrat.

"Because the voter finds, I can affect certain policy changes by voting for an initiative and then separately I make a vote for the state Legislature or for the governor," explained Guppy.

At the non-partisan Freedom Foundation, in Olympia, CEO Jonathan Bechtle said the Republicans don't need wholesale changes in philosophy. He pointed out that voters did split their ticket, voting for Republican McKenna for governor and for President Obama. He argued that moderate Democrats and independents need a compelling reason to vote Republican.

"In the governor's race, you had to go down a layer to find enough differentiation between the candidates," said Bechtle, particularly on taxes. And, he added, Democrat Jay Inslee didn't do or say anything to drive away moderates in his party, or independents.

In 2008, Vance said Democrats had a 10 percent advantage in party identification in Washington, and this year, it was a 13 point advantage.

Bechtle said Republicans must be more targeted toward moderate Democrats, women voters and Hispanics, needing just a couple of percentage points more to make the governor's race more competitive.

Vance said the white vote in Washington fell from 83 percent four years ago to 76 percent this year. He added the GOP has gotten as much support as it can from white, conservative voters.

"The Republican Party has got to start crafting messages and running candidates who can appeal to the new electorate, which is less white, younger, more progressive and if not, it will not survive."

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Tim Haeck, KIRO Radio Reporter
Tim Haeck is a news reporter with KIRO Radio. While Tim is one of our go-to, no-nonsense reporters, he also has a sensationally dry sense of humor and it will surprise some to learn he is a weekend warrior.
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Comments (35)


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  • 2112 wrote...
    More would vote republican
    November 9, 2012 3:22 pm
    If they would drop the Abortion and other religious platform stances. They are willing to cede the state and country to the Marxists to ram these issues down our throats.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • 2112 wrote...
    Oh and welcome the Gays
    November 9, 2012 3:24 pm
    Especially those who want to be in committed marriages. It is the fiscal issues guys, we have alot of fiscal conservatives out their who vote straight "D" on the social issues.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Phil B wrote...
    For a start...
    November 9, 2012 3:38 pm
    Disassociate themselves from the national party and their extremist views. I'm all for fiscal responsibility. But I won't vote for any Republican as long as the party continues to disregard the needy, bang the war drums, thump their bibles, and insist on treating women and gays as second class citizens.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Howdy wrote...
    Phil B
    November 9, 2012 4:10 pm
    It sounds like you like to gobble up all the garbage that the media feeds you.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • DonVigo wrote...
    Howdy:
    November 9, 2012 4:51 pm
    Sounds like you're repeating the speaking points Fox News has given you. The animosity for the Republican party is very real, and Phil B identified it quite well. The conservatives are constantly throwing around the terms "socialist," and "Obamaphones" when they're not just plain whining about the Democratic overspeding on the needy rather than the Republican overspending on the military. Your candidate was about to dump an extra billion into said military which was totally unneccesary, hence the "war drum" comment ringing true. The Religious Right is the portion of your group that fights for "the sanctity of marriage" and denys gays basic civil rights in the name of Christian morality... Yeah, that's not media bias, Howdy... It's the truth, and again, that truth is only serving to alienate more and more moderates each election. If you don't like the way the media portrays Republicans, stop living up to the portrail.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Howdy wrote...
    Donvigo
    November 9, 2012 8:53 pm
    I don't watch Fox news- no cable. I don't doubt there is animosity towards the repulican party (and I don't care). PhilB didn't identify anything except that he's a sucker for those sleazy political commercials. I didn't know "socialist" was an insult, there's been socialist programs in the US for decades. "Obamaphones"- I think that term was coined by an Obama supporter "Got my Obamaphone" is what I heard on the radio, followed by "Romney sucks". I'm pretty sure most republicans have no problem helping those in need. I hear they contribute more of THEIR OWN money to charity than democrats. As far as republicans spending money on the military, so do democrats. There are fanatical religious people out there (and not just Christian), there are also militant gay organizations they both try to shove their agendas down your throat (pun intended). I just wish they would keep to themselves. I don't see anyone trying to deny basic civil rights to anyone (got examples?) I guess any moderates that feel alienated aren't smart enough to see through the smoke.

    From looking at this election objectivly I could see some of it being steered by the media both locally and nationally- just my observation. It seemed the local media steered more towards Mckenna. By the way, I'm not a republican, it just seems that people such as yourself have a certain stereotype... it's the truth.

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  • RMAN wrote...
    GOP?
    November 9, 2012 4:13 pm
    There is not a problem with the GOP, there is a problem with left wing extremists that only vote D no matter what and lie about everything. What makes matters worse is leftists are the ones telling how the GOP should change, like they would ever vote for the R party anyway. IDIOCRACY the movie is coming true!
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    The takers vs the makers
    November 9, 2012 4:33 pm
    Biggest lie Republicans tell each other. 1) 8 out of the 10 "richest" counties in the country went for Obama 2) The blue states are net providers of tax revenue and the red states are net takers 3) My husband and I are a college-educated, home owning, two-income family, with health insurance and we voted for Obama and Inslee.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Makers my a**
    November 9, 2012 4:34 pm
    States with the highest percentage of people who do not pay income taxes (the takers) Idaho, Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina States with the lowest percentage of people who do not pay income taxes (the makers) Washington, Minnesota, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, DC, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey Notice anything Takers?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Republicans are fine with welfare as long as it's going to the top.
    November 9, 2012 4:42 pm
    Fact: Spending for corporate welfare programs outweighs spending for low-income programs by more than three to one: $167 billion to $51.7 billion Fact: Total federal spending on a safety net for the poor costs the average taxpayer about $400 a year, while spending on corporate welfare programs costs the same taxpayer about $1400 a year. (source: CBO figures)
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Hey gaymarried!
    November 9, 2012 4:44 pm
    Sorry if it takes tax money to pay for infrastructure in the red states. You do understand that the money spent on the roads in the red states is used to transport the food they grow to the blue states.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    The food they sell to the blue states? They're not giving it to us.
    November 9, 2012 4:50 pm
    I don't mind paying for their roads. I'm charitable that way. They can redistribute the wealth to the red states. I don't mind. They're the ones that mind and they're the ones that biatch and moan about it.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • gaymarriedchristianfromhollywood wrote...
    Republicans are not the party of the Christ.
    November 9, 2012 4:48 pm
    Anybody who thinks he would be okay with cutting programs for the least among us to give to the richest corporations who don't need it is no Christian. Christ loved the poor. He didn't blame them for their misery or treat them with disdain. Remember what Jesus demands if you are truly Christian. 1. Love your neighbor as you love yourself 2. Do unto others as you would have them do unto you 3. JC says, As you treat the least among you so you treat me also Corporate welfare programs are protected at the expense of the poor and powerless. In the last Congress, spending for the needy absorbed the majority of spending cuts, while corporate welfare spending was barely touched. Fact: Over 90% of the budget cuts passed by the last Congress cut spending for the poor -- programs that ensure food for the needy, housing for the homeless, job training for the unemployed, community health care for the sick. (source: Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, Bearing Most of the Burden, 1996). Fact: Only 3.9% of total federal outlays go to programs that solely benefit poor people. Welfare programs for corporations do not play by the same rules as welfare for people. Welfare benefits for individuals and families are limited by strict eligibility requirements and time limits, while corporations get corporate welfare benefits regardless of wealth or accountability. Fact: Individuals and families must demonstrate need to receive benefits, while corporations with billions of dollars in annual income remain on the federal dole. Fact: Most social spending is in the form of discretionary spending, which is scrutinized in the annual budget negotiating process in Congress; most corporate welfare programs are in the form of tax expenditures, which go on and on since they are not subject to annual review by Congress.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Howdy wrote...
    corporate welfare
    November 10, 2012 4:13 am
    I remember Obama bragging about saving Detroit during one of the debates. Was he talking about the city?
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Moondoggie wrote...
    Don Vigo
    November 9, 2012 4:50 pm
    Thank you for the laugh. So my comment about free stuff is borderline Hate speech? Wow! You might want to lay off the hard stuff this early in the day.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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