Part 2 of 3

By Katie Kieffer

I’m back from my first day as Undercover Boss for the GOP. I’m ready with a crucial report on how the GOP can bring young voting power back into the party.

If the GOP is bold enough to execute this plan, it will not be an easy Kobe Bryantesque slam-dunk to win the youth vote. It’s going to be a Rudy-like journey to achieve success.

I’m offering constructive criticism of the GOP that I think most conservatives (other than Jason Lewis) would be too afraid to announce publicly. But, isn’t that the point of Undercover Boss – to let the “Boss” know what is really happening in the trenches? So, if you’re used to brownnosing and political gaming, I’m warning you, my report isn’t going to be butterflies and smiley faces.

Here are the first two of my top recommendations to the GOP on how it can win young voters:

Marketing:

The GOP is not marketing its ideas in a way that is resonating with college students. A quick contrast of the national College Republicans’ website with the College Democrats’ website reveals that both are aesthetically boring. Neither sites would keep you coming back for more. This is an area of opportunity for the GOP. Locally, the Minnesota College Republicans’ (MN CRs) site is also a yawn, as well as a designer’s nightmare of inconsistent font sizes and style types everywhere.

Still, I decided to give the MN CRs the benefit of the doubt on its website design and check out its You Tube site. This was a bigger letdown than its website. The showcased video (below) was probably fun for the CRs to create, but it appears completely ineffective in attracting youth.

Rather than focusing on Sen. Franken’s numerous illogical ideas, the video personally attacks Sen. Franken, making him out to be “Frankenstein. Monster of the People.” It’s fine to use humor to get a point across: I do this in my own You Tube videos. But focus on defending a good idea, like capitalism, not on tearing down an individual.

In this video, a CR dressed like Frankenstein shouts out to other students, who mostly ignore him. If I weren’t a grounded conservative, I’d almost be inclined to feel sorry for Sen. Al Franken after watching this video, and I certainly would not join the MN CRs. The tone is petty, negative and borderline disrespectful. Watch and see if you think this is a group your non-GOP friends would like to join:

My assessment is that videos like this send the message to young people that the GOP is more concerned about picking a fight than solving real problems, like the labor crisis. This video sets up the stage for an “us vs. them,” “donkeys vs. elephants” mentality.

Being a conservative needs to be seen as cool, socially acceptable and the answer to America’s social and fiscal problems today. Otherwise, young people will choose to be liberals. I believe that conservative philosophies offer practical and rational solutions, but the GOP has yet to effectively market how it will be the party to implement conservative solutions.

To be fair, I’ve heard rumors that blogger and recently elected Deputy Chair of the Republican Party of Minnesota, Michael Brodkorb, would be tasked with overseeing a program to draw young people into the GOP. This is a huge job – bigger than one person – and Brodkorb will need many dedicated helpers and a killer strategy to succeed.

Intellectual inclusion

Here are the facts: 66 percent of young people voted for President Obama. The GOP has a long history of failing to connect with young voters. So, if the GOP wants to grow it needs young people to identify with its platform.

The time is ripe, because and young people always thirst for change. They have optimistic visions for improving the world and their lives. Now that President Obama’s promises of positive hope and change are failing to materialize, a Harvard poll reveals that even far-left young Democrats are beginning to have buyer’s remorse.

While young people are still attracted to the President, former Obama campaign volunteer coordinator, Ben Katz, says, “I do feel disappointment, yes.” Many young people had “Hollywood-like” expectations for change, and now, they feel let down.

You can’t forcibly change a bleeding heart liberal, but you can follow through on your promises and open the door to young people who feel like they do not belong to either major party. These young people fall into two main categories:

1. Tea Party conservatives. They belong to a grassroots network frustrated with over-sized government growth and exorbitant spending. They feel disenfranchised by the two major political parties in America. Welcome them into the GOP, or understand that they will grow into their own distinct and powerful force.
2. Censervatives. These are centrist conservatives who, as David Frum puts it, “support national defense, are eager to cut other federal spending and are hostile to Democratic attempts to regulate the economy.” But, they seek a middle ground on many other issues.

Pure-bred conservative young people are attracted to the bold, fresh ideas and activism that the Tea Party offers. Moderate conservative or disenchanted liberal youth are looking for solutions and flexibility, so they float towards the DFL or abstain from the political process entirely. Both groups could be brought into the GOP’s tent if the GOP opens itself to the Wisdom of Crowds. The GOP needs to open itself to more intellectual diversity while maintaining a solid, principled core.

The GOP will attract more young people of diverse viewpoints by simply following through on its promises, involving young people in the election process, asking for their opinions and bringing the “fun” and “social” aspects back to conservative debate. Let young people know that you don’t have to be a suited-up intern on Capitol Hill or a tent-abiding hippie, tattooed with peace symbols, to participate in the civic arena.

Humans are meant to learn and grow – not to fight and call each other names, like the MN CRs seem to do in the ‘Frankenstein’ video. I attract liberal readers to my blog, for instance, by giving them a voice in my conversation. Without changing my core beliefs, I can engage a wide range of minds by giving them the opportunity to voice an opinion, which I might learn from.

The GOP still has a stigma of being a white male cigar club, and this has to go. It will be hard to remove this stigma, and the GOP must make a genuine effort – not just a cosmetic effort – to remove it.

I have more major findings on young professional voters and the GOP to share with you. Please join me again later this week and I will reveal all.

Now, if only I could figure out how to create an “invisible ink” feature on my blog…

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