Republicans Adjust Brand to Absorb Alienated Moderate Conservatives

Is Black the new Black?

When Barack Obama won the Presidential election, a shift occurred around the world. Suddenly, a black man attained the highest position of power in the United States and arguably the world. People across America said they had not believed that they would live to see the day when a “black man” would win the Presidency.

In response to President Obama’s surprising and effective campaign, delegates of the Republican National Committee selected former Maryland Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele as its new chairman, hoping to change its brand from that of extreme white-loving Limbaugh loving conservatives to that of minority embracing pro-economic moderates.

Former RNC Chairman Mike Duncan responded to the news by declaring, “Obviously the winds of change are blowing.” Duncan had hoped to have been re-elected.

“It’s time for something completely different,” Steele said at his acceptance speech. “We are going to bring this party to every corner, every board room, every neighborhood, every community, and we are going to say to friend and foe alike, we want to be a part of us. We want you to work with us. And for those of you who want to obstruct, get ready to get knocked over.”

“The RNC isn’t diverse yet,” said CBS News chief political consultant Marc Ambinder. “When people speak of broadening the party’s geographic diversity, they are speaking in code. They mean that the party needs to welcome more moderates; needs to be more forgiving of departures from orthodoxy; needs to be less antagonistic to pro-choicers and gays.”

Paul Calls on Voters to Reject Democratic and Republican Presidential Candidates

Ron Paul, whose surprising meteoric popularity stunned the Republican Party, has called upon third party Presidential candidates Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, Chuck Baldwin and Bob Barr to attend a joint news conference proposed for Wednesday to encourage people to forsake the DNC and RNC Presidential candidates.

Ron Paul delegates were rebuffed at the Republican Convention held last week in Minneapolis, denied microphone time or opportunity to have their votes counted, according to delegates attending protests outside the RNC Convention. While Republican insiders said they tried to court Ron Paul delegates, many libertarian leaning followers remained resolute in their hopes to assert their emphasis on restoring Constitutional rights, which has failed to make the party’s platform as well as immediate withdrawal from Iraq and elimination of the Federal Reserve..

“The strongest message can be sent by rejecting the two party system,” Paul said in prepared remarks obtained by AP. “This can be accomplished by voting for one of the non-establishment, principled candidates.”

Nader and running mate Matt Gonzalez, who held Super Rallies in both Denver and Minneapolis during the two parties’ conventions, also invited Baldwin, McKinney and Barr to participate in their “Open the Debate” Super Rallies held in both Denver and Minneapolis during the two parties’ conventions. The Green Party Vice-Presidential candidate, Rosa Clemente enjoyed a ready audience at both venues.

The Nader campaign has just completed getting on their 45th state ballot. Despite this achievement for an independent candidate, news coverage has been slim for Nader, ironic since he was so vilified by Democrats and sneered at by Republicans for George Walker Bush’s win in 2000.

According to most recent polls, the Democrat Barack Obama and Republican John McCain are neck and neck in the race. A unified voice from both libertarian and socialist leaning parties ( otherwise called fringe by the mainstream) could help to open up the debates and alter the depth of media coverage offered to all the candidates.

“This is the beginning of the realignment of American politics,” Nader said.

Secret Service and Police Stage Pre-emptive Attacks on Protestors

Polidoc heads into Minneapolis where we will catch up with Green Party Vice-Presidential candidate Rosa Clemente who attended the Monday protest against the Republican National Convention (RNC). While we haven’t had the time to update our blog, we will do a significant wrap-up next week. Until then, here’s a press release from the Green Party of United States.

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DESPITE POLICE RAIDS AND ARRESTS, MINNESOTA GREENS JOIN ANTIWAR, ANTIPOVERTY PROTESTS AT RNC

Greens have been among those targeted for harassment and intimidation by police in a wave of pre-emptive actions taken before the Republican National Convention in St. Paul.

On Saturday police surrounded the home of Michael Whelan, a long-time Green Party supporter, whose Arise Bookstore at one time housed the party’s office. He was host to a group of independent journalists. The police broke down doors and subjected occupants to house arrest. “You figure this would be going on in South Africa, or Russia, not in St. Paul,” Whelan said. “St. Paul is nice.”

The previous night, police had invaded a meeting space in St. Paul rented by the anarchist RNC Welcoming Committee. They seized equipment and subjected some fifty people to handcuffing and search. Next day Monica Bicking, a leading member of the organization, was jailed along with three friends, and her home in Minneapolis was boarded up for alleged violation of city codes.

Meanwhile, the group’s nonviolence consultant and trainer, Betsy Raasch-Gilman, expecting arrest, took “sanctuary” at the meetinghouse of Twin Cities Friends (Quakers). As of this morning Bicking had been released, but those arrested with her and several others remain in custody. Both Bicking and Raasch-Gilman are daughters of former Green Party candidates and present spokespeople.

According to Minnesota poet and writer Richard Broderick, who is a member of the Green Party and has also been one of its candidates, “The erosion of civil liberties and constitutionally guaranteed rights in this country makes all the eloquent calls we heard from Denver for unity and restoring the American Dream little more than hollow rhetoric.”

Despite the efforts at intimidation orchestrated by federal authorities and carried out by DFL administrations in both Hennepin and Ramsey counties, Minnesota Greens have united to bring their VP candidate, Rosa Clemente, to the Twin Cities. She addressed the antiwar marchers in St. Paul today and tonight appeared with the National Truth Commission on Poverty. She will be participating in the Poor People’s march from Mears Park tomorrow.