New NH GOP leadership – same as the old?

by edmosca

As I posted over here, there is new GOP leadership in the NH House of Representatives.  Our friend Ed Mosca has his take on the results of the GOP voting:

SAME OLD

Well, New Hampshire House Republicans elected a new face as their leader for 2009-2010 – Representative Sherman Packard of Londonderry.  Unfortunately, while the GOP has a new messenger, the message is still lacking.  Here is what Packard had to say:  “Unfortunately, these are not going to be an easy two years for us or for the state as a whole.  We face staggering revenue shortfalls, a budget that is out of balance by at least $90 Million and more social experimentation that all smack in the face of the New Hampshire Advantage.  Our 176 member caucus will remain vigilant, stand strong against wasteful spending and work hard to protect the taxpayers of this state.”

I don’t think that continuing to harp on the budget deficit is going to accomplish much for Republicans.  It was hardly a secret during the 2008 campaign.  Yet it didn’t seem to hurt Lynch and the Democrats.  Budget deficits fly, I suspect, higher on the radar of voters who are already inclined to vote Republican.  In other words, the state GOP isn’t going to expand the base very much by continuing to beat the budget deficit drum.

It’s also a double-edged sword.  If Lynch “solves” the deficit without passing a broad-based tax, then he –not the GOP– is going to get the credit.  The Party in power always gets the credit, or the blame.  Just ask Senator and Governor Maverick.

As for “more social experimentation,” I assume that Packard is referring to civil unions.  I think the same analysis applies here.  The voters who oppose civil unions are already inclined to vote Republican.  So again, this issue is not a base-expander.

There are two things lacking in Packard’s message.  The first is that it offers nothing regarding the problems that voters are most concerned about – the skyrocketing cost of health insurance, out-of-control property taxes (Manchester just issued its bills – OUCH!), and improving public education.  The State GOP seems to be making the same mistake that John McCain made.

McCain never did seem to comprehend that the majority of voters don’t care about “earmarks” as much as he does, and they especially didn’t want to hear him drone on about earmarks when the country was in an economic meltdown.  Similarly, at the State level, voters are looking for more than vigilance against wasteful spending.

The other thing that is lacking is the Ronald Reagan touch.  It’s all doom-and-gloom from the state GOP.  That’s not what attracts voters.  Ronald Reagan’s certitude that America’s best days were ahead of her and, as much as it pains me to say it because unlike with Reagan there is no substance behind it, Barack Obama’s optimistic “yes we can” are what attracts voters.

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