February 9th, 2012
07:44 PM ET
9 years ago
Conservatives see tough challenges on road to White House
Washington (CNN) - Republicans looking to take back the White House in November face a challenging political environment, a trio of conservative political observers said Thursday at an annual gathering of conservative activists.
The recent controversy over health insurance coverage for contraception may help to turn out Catholic swing voters in key states, but the observers also said the Republican Party would do well to have its own positive agenda and clear messaging if it wants to unseat President Barack Obama.
FULL STORY
From CNN Politics
- Warnock's seat comes into focus amid battle over voting laws and filibuster rules March 23, 2021 03:06 am
- White House aides prep $3 trillion jobs package for Biden March 23, 2021 02:30 am
- Biden administration continues to deny journalists access to border facilities March 23, 2021 02:28 am
- Arguing against statehood for DC, congressman says it has no car dealerships (it does) March 23, 2021 02:23 am
- Former Capitol riot prosecutor's comments on Trump alarm new no-drama Justice Department March 23, 2021 02:16 am
- Biden administration not confident Johnson & Johnson will meet 20 million goal by end of month March 23, 2021 01:52 am
A positive message is unlikely, given the comments from CPAC attendees today.
The assumption here is that Catholic voters all follow the no contraception rule. Statistics prove otherwise.
Now Conservatives are saying impossible to win the white house and congress in 2012
Look everything that the president does is not right in the eyes of the republicans they feel like they would do things this way or that way but in actual reality they wouldn't do anything to better the situation for ordinary american people if they really look at the republicans are the ones reasponsible for all the mess the u.s is in now .obama for 2012
It is amazing to me that they claim to be Christians but sound totally opposite!!!!!!!!
by the time 2020 is here, there won't be a "republican" party – if you take a poll – most people won't tell you that they are social liberals –
Vote Democrat 2012
Since the jobs report, the boys in the background figured they'll lose on the economy, so it's time to gin up cultural/social issues again. They can't play the national defense card since the President wiped out Osama and 22 of his top henchmen.
What this CPAC is is just another reminder how totally bereft the GOP is of any ideas that actually help people. They can only continue to idolize Reagan, a president who has been out of office for 23 years, been dead for 8 years, who raised taxes 12 times, allowed amnesty, and actually worked with Democrats.
They've got nothing and they are going down hard in November.
Obama/Biden/E.Warren 2012
The road ahead of you is only as rough as you want it to be. Conservatives. They have nothing to run on.
1. Military conservatives. Wars are winding down and costs are high.
2. Economic conservatives. The economy is showing the slow steady improvement, just as predicted.
3. Budget conservatives. Let's not remind people Democrats are fighting for middle class tax cuts.
4. Social conservatives. You can always manufacture an issue with this fallback position.
If Republicans would let themselves be supportive of popular issues, then their road would be a lot smoother.
They will lose this election cycle. Mitt is too moderate for Tea Party extremists, Newt is a scumbag that no one out side of the rural south will trust or support, Santorum is a loon, and Paul's non-interventionism policy knocks him out of the running.
Tough road ahead indeed! Does anybody see this party of right wing-ding-a-lings as out of touch, out of style and out of their minds, and most importantly nearly treasonous with their consistent attempts to appeal to lowest common denominator? Simply A bunch of angry, Obama bashing, fact ignoring, naysayers is how I would describe them.
If they actually spent more times promoting ideas, instead of hatred and fear, maybe, just maybe people wouldn't run from them like trying to avoid an open cesspool.
At least the GOP can actually see the issues they have. They will have a tough time in the coming election. The only plans they have are the same failed policies they have been pushing for 30 years. Add to that the fact that they are completely negative and build their campaigns on destroying the other person. Yes, you people are in trouble.
Hard to stop laughing about MR Cains support for JOE the Plumber and his advice to use the 9-9-9 proposal. It sounds like a new TOILET CLEANER which is appropo for the plumbing industry.
one of the problems these conservatives have is that they are tone deaf to much of what the American people are saying. Read the polls......We don't care who marries who......we have no problem with gays serving in the military....many don't want a woman to be forced to carry a baby if it was due to a sexual assualt...and many want the right to be able to practice birth control if we wish. Poll shows the economy is more important, that income inequality IS a big issue and many on ALL sides do favor raising taxes on the wealthy to help pay down the debt. Yet the GOP only pays attention to the polls when the polls are in their favor. And we have the right to practice or non practice a religion and keep it out of politics. Of course they are going to have a tough road to hoe once they get away from trying to please their rightwing base and work on winning the rest of us over.
Rudy NYC
The road ahead of you is only as rough as you want it to be. Conservatives. They have nothing to run on.
-------
The road ahead for you liberals is going to be VERY rough. You're almost out of other people's money to spend.
These people have no road to the White House!
A 14-year old male was there and said he had listened to Limbaugh since he was 10. PARENTAL SUPERVISION OF THAT IGNORANT KID DEFINITELY NEEDED DESPERATELY.
As an adult, I find Rush's language very offensive. Indoctrination into the republican party of hate anyone? "Send us your children" – Hitler.
Most of the participants at CPAC 2012 are nothing but a bunch of baffoons. Do they know anything positive to say instead of bashing everyone who don't agree with them.
This contraception issue- MOST CATHOLIC WOMEN HAVE TAKEN SOME FORM OF BIRTH CONTROL OR BEEN PERMANENTLY FIXED TO NOT HAVE ANYMORE CHILDREN. Leave it to the Republicans to rave about having all these children but then after their born forget to take care of them-either through the education system, health system, need to proper food programs-you name it-- it is the truth.
Any work place who offers insurance has the contraception issue in it. Maybe because your Catholic you should deny this health coverage offered--come on--this is 2012 not 1712..................
A Social/Religious Brownshirt will never occupy the White House. The Christ Soldiers are fighting the wrong fight. They should be more concerned about whether they will still exist in 20-30 years.
The demographic landscape of the US is changing and changing fast. Social and Religious Conservative Whites are dinosaurs, and the winter is going to be cold.