Centennial Mayor Cathy Noon, left, and U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Wash., after the congresswoman spoke to the Colorado Women's Alliance luncheon about changing the GOP's brand. (Lynn Bartels, The Denver Post)
GREENWOOD VILLAGE ? The highest ranking female Republican in Congress says her party needs to do a better job communicating so Democrats don't keep defining conservatives in negative ways.
U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Washington spoke to the Colorado Women's Alliance luncheon Friday, where the guest list was a who's who in state GOP politics.
McMorris Rodgers didn't deliver the usual red meat heard at Republican gatherings with repeated attacks on President Barack Obama and the Democrats. Although she was critical, she focused her remarks on what Republicans can do to improve what she called "a damaged brand."
"We've allowed Democrats to define us in ways that are very damaging ? we're the party of the rich, male, out of touch, old fashioned," she said.
But in fact, the congresswoman said, Republicans are an average of five years younger than their Democratic counterparts in the House. McMorris Rodgers, who just turned 44, said the GOP leadership team is on average 16 years younger than the Democratic leadership team, and the members come from all walks of life.
She said she wants to try to change the GOP's branding before the 2014 election.
Among the luncheon guests were two Republicans who could be on Colorado ballots in 2014. State Rep. Amy Stephens of Monument is considering challenging U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, and Arapahoe County District Attorney George Brauchler might run against Gov. John Hickenlooper.
McMorris Rodgers ? who is pregnant with her third child ? said she was first elected to leadership after 2008, the same year Obama "revolutionized" technology in his presidential campaign.
"I said ... I want to focus on getting Republicans to use technology," she said, adding an emphasis was placed on social media among the members and their staffers.
After the 2012 election, when Obama was easily re-elected and Democrats retained control of the U.S. Senate, McMorris Rodgers was elected the GOP House conference chair and became responsible for the caucus communication strategy.
"Coming out of the 2012 election, I think it was another wake-up call for me," she said. "We have to do a better job of connecting with people in every corner of this country, every demographic group, every age."
Colorado Democrats who were following tweets of her speech couldn't resist a few jabs. Among them was Craig Hughes, who was a senior adviser to Obama's campaign and who managed Democrat Michael Bennet's successful 2010 U.S. Senate campaign.
When McMorris Rodgers said Republicans have allowed Democrats to define her party in ways that are damaging, Hughes tweeted: "We let them speak publicly."
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels@denverpost.com or twitter.com/lynn_bartels
LaGuardia Airport the weather channel national grid LIPA Garcinia Cambogia Little Things One Direction Bob Ross
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.