Republicans, including Romney, launch new group
Reeling congressional Republicans today launched a new effort days after their latest setback -- the defection of Senator Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, putting Democrats within reach of potentially being able to push legislation through the Senate without a single Republican vote.
House GOP Whip Eric Cantor announced that the National Council for a New America will hold its first event on Saturday with former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, who ran last year and could run again in 2012; Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal, another possible 2012 contender; former Governor Jeb Bush, the former president's brother; and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, a former national GOP chairman.
The council appears a way to rebut Democratic portrayals of the GOP as the "party of no" by pulling together a cohesive policy strategy by the opposition.
While acknowledging the GOP's image and electoral problems, Cantor and Senator John McCain, the GOP presidential nominee last year, disputed that the effort is a "rebranding" of the party.
On a conference call, Cantor told reporters that "what we're aiming to do is to join together in a conversation with the American people" on major looming issues such as healthcare, energy, and national security.
McCain called it an effort to include Americans across ideological spectrum -- Republicans, independents, and like-minded Democrats -- to come up with solutions to issues such as healthcare. "We're going to spread a wide tent," he said.
"This is not a Contract with America," McCain added, referring to the campaign promises that Newt Gingrich and Republicans used to win a House majority in 1994. "This is a conversation with America."
McCain also addressed reports that Alaska Governor Sarah Palin, his vice presidential pick last year, was not invited, saying that she could be involved.
"We've reached out to her," he said.
The letter announcing the council is below:
Dear Friends,
The United States is the greatest country in the world, a beacon of hope, strength, and prosperity that Democracies worldwide seek to emulate. Our nation and its people have persevered through past challenges with strength derived from our common belief in freedom, liberty, and personal responsibility. Like every American, we look to the future with optimism for the great possibilities of tomorrow. Although today we face some of the toughest times in recent history, together, like so many generations before, we march forward with a vision for an even brighter future for our children.
Today, we are launching the National Council for a New America (NCNA), a caucus of Congressional leaders gathering the expertise of national leaders and doers. We hope that will form the foundation of a concerted, policy-based forum to listen to, partner with, and empower the American people with ideas and solutions that speak directly to the needs of our great nation. This forum will engage in a conversation with America that seeks to remove ideological filters, addresses the realities we are confronting, and speaks to the challenges our citizens are facing.
The NCNA will bring together citizens from across the country to begin a dialogue with the American people through a series of forums, town halls, and an online effort that will engage people in a discussion to meet our common challenges and build a stronger country through common-sense ideas. The NCNA will be a dynamic, forward-looking organization that will amplify the common-sense and wisdom of our fellow citizens through a grassroots dialogue with Republican leaders.
However, this is not a Republican-only forum. While we will be guided by our principles of freedom and security, we will seek to include more than just our ideas. This forum will include a wide open policy debate that every American can feel free to participate in. We do this not just to offer an alternative point of view or to be disagreeable. Instead, we want to ask the American people what their hopes and dreams are. Since January, the President and the Democratic Majority in Congress have – rightfully so – put forward their plan for the future, now we must listen, learn and lead through an honest, open conversation with the American people that will result in building policy proposals that will yield the best results for our nation’s long-term success.
Ultimately, however, we are only launching this effort. The real drivers will have to be the American people. We invite Americans from all walks of life to speak with us as we begin anew rebuilding and reenergizing our nation. We do not pretend to have all the answers nor do we expect the NCNA to remain a static forum. Instead, this is going to be a living, breathing, expanding group that engages Americans from all walks of life. We hope to engage other national leaders, grassroots activists and citizens and invite them to work with us to solve problems with common-sense conservative solutions.
A Blueprint for our Conversation with America
Economy: Real Solutions for Economic Recovery
As the country battles through the worst economic crisis in a generation, we must remain focused on the foundations and institutions that have made us the most prosperous people in the world and the ideas that create jobs and grow our economy. At the same time, we must learn from the mistakes that led to the current crisis and to prevent similar situations from ever occurring again.
Healthcare: Building a 21st Century, Patient-Centered System
No one doubts that our nation’s health care system is in need of reform, but we must strike the right balance that builds on what works and fixes what is broken. All Americans deserve access to high-quality, affordable care. But such coverage cannot come at the expense of their ability to choose their own doctor and have access to the right care, at the right time, in the right setting without waiting in line while sick. In addition, we must continue to focus on the innovation and science that have resulted in thousands of treatments and cures for life-threatening or debilitating diseases while allowing America to remain the leader in research and development worldwide.
Education: Preparing Our Children to Succeed
A high-quality education should not be dependent upon a parent’s income or address. All of America’s children deserve an education that will prepare them for the opportunities and the challenges that await them in the global economy. Yet today, thousands of American children, especially in our inner cities, receive a substandard education or find post-secondary education unaffordable. We must return power from Washington to parents and well-paid teachers who know what’s best for our children.
Energy: Solutions for Energy Independence
American families and businesses cannot afford an energy policy where we are held hostage by foreign oil cartels and dictators. As a nation, we can no longer send billions of dollars overseas each year, often to countries that help fund our enemies. We must implement a comprehensive energy policy that includes traditional fuels, alternative energy, and conservation resulting in affordable, reliable domestic energy. Such a policy will stabilize costs for families and businesses while at the same time creating much-needed jobs here at home.
National Security: Defending American Liberty and Freedom
The threats posed to our nation are more varied and evolving more than perhaps at any other time in our history. Modern communications, technology and the proliferation of weapons of all types have empowered our enemies and those who support them. Our national security policy must reflect these realities while allowing us to maintain technological superiority, support the most well-trained and well-equipped military in the world and have the intelligence capabilities to uncover and prevent attacks before they occur.
Our National Panel of Experts:
Governor Haley Barbour
Governor Jeb Bush
Governor Bobby Jindal
Senator John McCain
Governor Mitt Romney
These are not the only issue areas where we will engage America, but they form a starting point in our revitalization effort. In the coming months, the NCNA will focus our attention outside of Washington where American families are living and raising their children, working toward the promise of a better tomorrow, and where common-sense ideals are valued over pundits and the political winds. We know America’s best days are ahead, but we need to work hard to ensure that promise. We also know that the American people want choices and alternatives – that there is no one right solution for what America and its people need. This is what our country was founded on, this is what we stand for, this is what we hope the National Council for a New America will provide and we ask our fellow citizens to join with us.
Sincerely,
John Boehner, Eric Cantor, Mike Pence, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, John Carter, Pete Sessions, David Dreier, Kevin McCarthy, Roy Blunt
Mitch McConnell, Jon Kyl, Lamar Alexander, John Cornyn, John Thune
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How much you want to bet that out of these open and wide ranging discussions come the policy suggestions of lower taxes for the wealthiest Americans, "drill, baby, drill" energy policy, and you're on you own with the rising costs of health care and education?
Failed rejected policies + new packaging = attractive failed policies
Too little too late. The Republican party of NO has NOwhere to go. Their "pillars" of the Republican agenda for the last FORTY, yes, forty years have been proven dogamatic and WRONG for America.
The "genius" of the Republicans is they had scare citizens of their own government, while they themselves took control of that very same government. And in the process became more intrusive in our lives. The Republican party has no future of being a majority party ever again. We the People have wakened.
the republican party is currently the party of tax breaks for the wealthy, anti-intellectualism, xenophobia, pro-toture, obstructionism, and global warming deniers. the american people will no longer be tricked by them and i hope the fade away into obscurity.
These people who up until now have been telling us how to live are now trying to convince the public they are going to become good listeners? I think the oxymoron "Political Intelligence" says it all.
Comments such as those by C Adams point up sharply the narrowminded views of the abominable leftist socialist elitists who are the propagandists in charge of the Democrat party. What is wrong with the "wealthiest Americans" getting some tax relief? After all, they are the ones who pay the vast majority of the taxes, certainly not the 50 percent plus who pay no taxes, thus getting a free ride from those who are being overtaxed. Wake up, use your brain, take responsibility for your own welfare. No, I am not wealthy, just an American who worked hard for what I achieved. I apologize to no one for paying my own way. Shame on you!
You can put lipstick on a pig, but you still have a pig wearing lipstick.
@John Howell
The point, which was lost on you, was that the policies coming out of these discussions would be the same well-worn policies that have brought us to the very place we are. These will not be new policies. Sure, they will be 'positioned' in some new manner but, mark my words, they will be the same failed policies trumpeted over the past eight years from a political ideology completely bereft of ideas. We are not rich either, though some might debate me on that, but I am fortunate to be considered very successful. I have worked very hard to make it out of the jungles of inner city Chicago for that success. I owe this country everything and will gladly pay more than most because I have been blessed with more.
Hey Johnny Howell,
What seems to be overlooked is that the top 1% of Americans OWN 40% of the wealth in America. The bottom 80% of Americans own 10% of wealth in America.
Of course the wealthy pay more, they own more and make more than the bottom 80% of Americans. Let also look at your numbers, 50% does not pay taxes, yet they still pay social security and medicare. Why don't they pay taxes...oh because them make less than $25,000.00 a year. So you are telling me that someone who makes that little money should not get a refund at the end of the year but a person who makes over $1,000,000.00 should get more tax relief, sucker please.
That is why you rethuglicans are fools, you can not see just how messed up your tax structures are. Look at you damn figures, HALF THE COUNTRY MAKES LESS THAN 25K A BLOODY YEAR!
Are the congressional republicans "reeling" like the boston globe is "reeling"? Wanna bet on which one lasts longer?
In undertaking such an effort this organization MUST get involved with electronic media--that is how the present administration worked their way into power. This cannot be ignored. Great effort must be made to set up a powerful network. Not everyone will show up to a town hall meeting, but many will respond to electronic contact. I went online today to find a website for NCNA and there isn't one!!! The effort should have been started there! All the liberal posts already have defamatory comments up and running against the effort. Conservatives and independents MUST get out of the dark ages or this effort will not work.
John McCain does not need to be involved in anything new the Republicans do. From what I have heard, the people of Arizona are fed up with him and he won't win re-election there.
NCNA... Never Come Near Americans.
Yeah, that works, since up til now they've only met on yachts and at country clubs etc. and have only now woken up to the fact that there's another 98% of America that they'll have to force themselves to (gasp!) pretend to listen to if they want votes, even if they have to hold their noses. I'll bet it's gonna KILL them to mix with the "little people". And of course they have no website, their #1 poster child McCain has no computer skills and can't even figure out email!
Four rich white guys (wow that's new and different), and a new version of Sarah Palin, only this time it's "hey they voted for a black guy, they'll LOVE Bobby!" instead of "hey they wanted Hillary, now's our chance to grab her votes!"
This gets funnier and funnier!
Might I also point out that in spite of the recent wave of praise from world leaders that finally the US is not run by a president and administration intent on lording it over the world, that cute little letter above begins with a tone bursting with egomania and hyberbole.
They couldn't get a clue if you fed it to them with a spoon.
Mitt Romney in charge! Now that,s excitment! I do agree that McCain needs to stay home! But, the Republicans will take over in 2010 and Mitt will kick Obama,s butt in 2012!
C Adams...
Has it ever occured to you that some own more because they work longer hours, save and invest their money, take bigger risks, or made more sacrifices? Conversely, has it occured to you that there are also those who are at the bottom end of the scale because of their own choices such as dropping out of High School, druges, criminal activity, etc? Why should it be the role of the federal government to pick winners and losers from strata of American society?
And your wealth argument is one of substitution. We're not talking about a wealth tax... we're talking about INCOME TAX. Those who pay 40% of all income taxes earn 20% of the income, so they're still paying TWICE their fair share. With 40% of Americans having little or no tax liability, what interest do they have in curtailing abuse of taxation by Washington? If everyone gets a say in government, then everyone should also have a stake in government. We've gone from taxation without representation, to representation without taxation -- which has the potential to be every bit as abuse. If wealthy liberals are are so in love with paying higher taxes, then cut taxes and you can write the government a check of your own volition. There is no law preventing them from doing so.
Still, given the five losers (except maybe Barbour) behind this stupidity, you can all rest easy. It'll be dead before it gets off the ground.
This effort will go nowhere with John McCain involved in it. True conservatives are fed up with the "good old boys". He is one of the worst of the republican party. He is a fence straddler, not a conservative. Everyone saw the way he threw Sarah Palin under the train. He only got as many votes as he did BECAUSE of Sarah Palin. No one is interested in his old, worn-out, "I know what to do", attitude. WE WANT A TRUE CONSERVATIVE, not another Bush basher. Believe me, people are not going out to "Tea Parties" to vote for a John McCain, or anyone with his liberal ideas. Wake up Republican party, if you don't give us working people what we want to vote for, we will vote Independant.
You people that are commenting negatively to the efforts of these experts on how to solve the problem the United States is now facing due to merciless spending and bailouts by the Obama administration should be ashame of yourself.How can you complain while the administration nail us to the cross together with our children and grandchildrens future that is now subject to deficit for the rest of their lives.
The move to get to get a new party or to get the republilcan party to wake up and stand up for true values and the people they work for is well over due. MY Problem is John McClain. If you look at history, he has never been a true conservative. He has moved to the left to many times. His whole election was run with no back bone. He fed Palin to the liberals. McCain as part of the top future leads for the GOP will not bring credibility.
I have been a conservative all my life. I have five children, not children but are all in their 40's, and they were raised with our beliefs, however their social outlook is very different from the republicans, please listen to me we are loosing these young people, they believe in the right to choose and our party is shuting them out. Please lighten up on the social issues, because they all believe in less governmnent . Please Please listen why can't we have people in the party and also people running for office that believe in the right to choose.
Our founding fathers developed a system of government that is unmatched in the history of the world. They developed a very in depth set of dos and donts. We have disregarded the very principals that made our country great and we have adopted principles that are leading to our decline.
We must stop the bickering, name calling, misinformation and slandering. We have breathtakingly critical issues that must be successfully addressed. It is far too simplistic to argue that It is/was any one person's, or one party's fault. There is plenty of blame for all of us. We must work this out together.
Republicans are NOT conservative! That's why they are losing ground. Conservative means less, less govt, not the huge defense dept that is more than the rest of the world combined and we pay for it all.
Conservative is less--less instruction in our lives, not telling us what to do with our bodies, our kids and not wiretapping and reading all our emails and calling it a "patriot act" to make it look legit.
and calling democrats elitists while the republicans write legislation to help corporate farms while family farms went under and supported global business that shipped jobs overseas while home grown Americans are losing our jobs left and right from the FAILED republican administration that looted the treasury and then pushed a bailout bill for banks so that everyone would cry out when the second bailout was for AMERICAN CITIZENS to help with our health care after we lose our jobs.
Arlen Specter is a sharp guy, he has always been a prochoice republican--a true conservative staying out of our personal lives.
MODERATE is the way, not neofascist right wing religious fanatics who shove their beliefs down everyone else's throats!
And those who say "Christians" founded this country forget that the FOUNDERS were ALSO adament in keeping religion OUT of the government because they saw what happened when the religious controlled the government--my Christian ancestors were killed by other "Christians" just because they believed differently.
Keep your religion out of OUR government (not yours and not mine!)
What ever happened to all the people who believe in hard work, pay their equal share of dues, and lend their skills to their community? Our country is like a young child. What do you teach it when you don't allow it to fail? Suck it up! Wipe your tears and get to work!