Conservation Through Change: Redefining the Republican Platform

As people around the world awoke on November ninth, they realized the world had changed. Astonishingly, Donald Trump, the republican nominee for President of the United States, secured over 270 electoral votes needed to name him the future 45th president of the United States. Some claim that Donald Trump has redefined the GOP platform through a focus on nationalism and an appeal to the middle class. Yet, many Americans fail to realize that president-elect, Donald Trump, is not a true conservative, but a populist. Through appeal to popular desires of Americans, Donald Trump won the electoral vote by awakening feelings of discord among American; however, he has not remained true to conservative principals.

Although Republicans have now secured Congress and the Presidency, and in the coming months, a conservative majority in the Supreme Court, they have failed to recognize the importance and values of minority groups; this inability has led to loss of constituents in previous elections. Today, many millennials identify with more conservative values, but the Republican platform fails to address social and economic issues, which have become more important to Americans in recent years. Many value the Republican economic policy of “Restoring the American Dream” and the ideal of a limited government to preserve individual liberties; however, many disagree with GOP social policies. In order for the Republican Party to remain competitive with the Democratic Party, they must redefine their platform by not only appealing to the white, middle-class male, but women and minorities.

The GOP has failed to provide equity for women, notably leading to many women’s lack of trust within the party. In April of 2015, both male and female Republican senators rejected the Equal Pay Bill, stating discrimination based on gender is already illegal, and, thus, the bill would be dilatory. However, the true reason for rejection of the bill likely stems out of influence from companies who provided financial support during the 2014 midterm election. Although the GOP has made strides to attract women to their party through federal mandate of a six-week maternity leave and encouragement for employers to provide childcare in the workplace, they fail to speak to women of different ethnicity, race, and class.

In a CNN survey, 55% percent of Americans said the GOP has been unsuccessful in understanding the problems of women. A CNBC article regarding the GOP’s problems with women stated, “Looking back historically, with the exception of this election, successful Republican candidates must keep the gender gap low during their campaign”. A keen focus on women’s issues—not only including reproductive rights, but economic equality, equal pay, college affordability, and child care—is sagacious for any political party, especially since women comprise over half of the American population.

Female success ensures economic success. Women are the primary breadwinners in 40% of households with children, constitute half of the workforce, and when placed in a leadership position, improve a corporation’s chances at success. Through economic and social reform in favor of women, the GOP will not only attract white, wealthy women, but working women and minorities.

While 50.8% of the population of the United States is female, almost forty percent of our population is composed of minorities. A NBC News census projected the white majority in the United States will be gone in 2043. Since 2000, voter suppression by Republicans upon minorities has escalated. Many states were once required to submit all voting changes to the federal government due to history of discrimination against minority voting, but the Supreme Court revoked this requirement in 2013. Consequently, Republicans have been able to challenge minority voter registration and thus infringe upon many Americans ability, and responsibility, to vote. They have also failed to disassociate their party from white supremacists, such as Richard Spencer, director of the National Policy Institute, which promotes “heritage, identity, and future of European peoples”.

Senator Marco Rubio, a prominent Cuban politician who contended for the GOP presidential nomination, revealed, “The conservative movement should have particular appeal to people in minority and immigrant communities who are trying to make it, and Republicans need to work harder than ever to communicate our beliefs to them”. In each presidential election prior to 2016, the number of minorities that voted for the Republican nominee has decreased, revealing a declining appeal of the GOP to such a crucial voter base. Republicans who have conducted outreach to minorities, such as Governor Larry Hogan of Maryland, have been able to successfully defeat their democratic opponent. Governor Hogan featured his diverse family and predominantly canvassed in African-American neighborhoods, garnering four more points of the vote in the City of Baltimore than his Republican predecessor. Representative Steve Pearce of New Mexico, a six-term congressman, represents a heavily Hispanic district. Through sustainment of positive relationships with minorities in his community for eleven years, he is currently the only Republican in the New Mexico Congressional Delegation.

Many republicans believe minority outreach may compromise conservative values; however, neither Governor Hogan and Representative Pearce vowed to compromise conservative principles to win over voters. Instead, they promised cooperation with minority communities and responsiveness to their community’s needs. In a country with rapidly changing demographics, it is vital that the GOP improves relationships with underserved communities to ensure victories in future elections.

The GOP is founded upon conservatism, favoring tradition in the face of change. However, conservation of this party lies in recognition of change. Change encompasses many facets of our Nation’s growth—America’s changing demographics, America’s economic success and growth with women in the workforce, and the world’s changing climate. Conservatives need to realize that abandonment of their beliefs is not necessary to accept change, but integration is vital. Through policies that empower women and invest in minorities, the party will thrive in future years. It is up to America to demand these changes within the GOP, changes that will not only serve Republicans, but changes that will serve Americans.

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