Young GOP loyalists attend forum
Discuss ways to revitalize party
 Steve Crowley (left), secretary of the Massachusetts Federation of Young Republicans, and Tim Gillespie spoke during a meeting at the Marriott Long Wharf yesterday. (Photo by Christina Caturano) |
At more than three dozen, the Republican activists who gathered yesterday in a hotel conference room to resuscitate their political party exceeded the number of Republicans in the state Legislature, where the GOP now claims a mere 24 of the 200 seats.
The afternoon forum at the Marriott Long Wharf hotel in Boston, hosted by the Massachusetts Federation of Young Republicans, drew the young (target ages 18 to 40, according to its leaders) and the not so young, including local politicians, former candidates, wannabe candidates and other activists from across the state. Each took three minutes to spout tactics to promote the party, recruit members, and recover from the beating they suffered in last month's election.
"The results make me quite angry," Clint Seward, 65, vice-chairman of the Acton Republican Town Committee , told the nodding crowd. "We had better candidates, and we got killed."
Seward recommended the party try harder to collect members' e-mail addresses to improve voter turnout and reduce costs. Other ideas include overhauling the party's image to appeal to the average Massachusetts voter, hooking middle and high school students, and delivering a more consistent message that will unify the party.
"Treat all fellow Republicans with respect, like we're all part of the same brotherhood and sisterhood," said Russell Evans, 40, a member of the Republican Town Committee in Brookline. He urged party members to "step away from being a group of warring tribes."
Republicans need to tweak their message to survive, said Doug Bennett, 30, who is on the Board of Selectmen and County Commission on Nantucket and hopes to challenge John F. Kerry for his Senate seat in 2008. The party should more readily embrace environmental causes, while staying pro-business, he said; it should become more moderate on social issues such as gay marriage, but remain fiscally conservative.
Ron Vining, 36, of Medford, who is running for chairman of the state party, promoted rallies at the State House and writing letters to newspapers. Barry Greenspan, 54, vice chairman of the Malden Republican City Committee , wants to spread the party message via public access television and by asking libraries to subscribe to more Republican magazines.
"It's got to be guerrilla warfare in the trenches," Vining said.
