Editorial: WV Republican Party Should Rise to the Occasion
While many political observers have noted the rampant corruption
that has afflicted Democratic Party officials at the state and local
level for decades, the West Virginia Republican Party has had its
own serious problem:
Irrelevance.
Frankly, it's a jump ball as to which is worse: to be conniving and self-interested but in power or...to get ground under the wheel at election time nearly consistently for the past seventy-four years. Would you rather be known as an incompetent brute or as an irrelevant weakling? Tough call.
West Virginia Republicans oftentimes will make a core part of their identity the fact that "at least they aren't Democrats," which, when translated, means: "So don't blame me for the mess we're in -- my party wasn't involved."
And yet it has been involved. While it's true that the WV Republican Party is hard pressed at every election to find brave souls to go up against Democratic incumbents, oftentimes on modest campaign budgets and with party registration nearly always on the Democrats' side, the WV GOP has some blame for their poor performance over the years.
The blames comes not from the so-so registration efforts of their own. In the modern era, West Virginians are not as wedded to party doctrine. Many Democrats -- perhaps a majority in a traditional state like West Virginia -- are willing to vote for a Republican candidate.
So what is lacking? Two words: DRIVE. BOLDNESS.
Republican leaders in West Virginia are far too timid, acting as though they actually have a reputation to lose. They need to start by painting their best ideas with big, bright colors for the public to view. That's exactly what Ronald Reagan did, throughout his career in California and then later the country. He was both bold and persuasive. He articulated his views clearly, even firmly, but, like Lincoln, also with eloquence.
As a result, the public responded the way Reagan wanted -- even in liberal California.
Today, most West Virginians would be hard-pressed to tell you the big difference between state Democratic and GOP leaders. The Democrats, in general, have been able to steal enough of the Republicans' more popular ideas to neutralize the minority party even further -- if that was possible.
If the Republican Party of West Virginia wants to make even a small difference in this generation, it had better find its backbone and a few people who are gifted in the speech category. Without sounding some clear, melodious trumpets soon, the WV GOP might as well pack it in. We hope that won't happen, as our state, more than any other in the country, needs and deserves a truly viable two-party system.
Message to the WV GOP: Pick a few solid themes, articulate them creatively and persuasively, and go for it.
What are you waiting for?