Long Term Viability of the Republican Party

[Oldiesfreak1854]

The overall viability of the GOP is not at all good until we educate people about how our policies are really better for blacks, Latinos, etc. than those of Democrats.  And before my fellow conservatives say that Romney lost because he was a moderate: Romney lost because he articulated his message poorly and let President Obama turn the election into a popularity contest.  The Republican Party has been destroying itself since 2010 by nominating unelectable candidates in statewide elections for the sake of ideology.  And that made it easy for Romney to be caricatured as a right-wing extremist.  We likely would have won many more races if the more moderate candidates had been nominated, and if it was like that at the state level, then to suggest that Romney lost a national because he was too moderate seems to me to be, at best, bordering on ludicrous.  To paraphrase what Kirsten Powers said on Fox News last night, you can't win if all of your catchers are out in right field (or left field, for that matter).  Remember that half a loaf is better than no bread.  I wouldn't mind taking either the Christian Democrat or Canadian Conservative route.  The religious conservative vote (at least among whites) is pretty much locked up for the GOP in every election, so while we should address social issues, we need to put them on the back burner.  I say this as someone whose ideology in many ways closely identifies with Christian democrats (though I'm conservative on most economic issues, like taxes).

[Oldiesfreak1854]

until we educate people about how our policies are really better for blacks, Latinos, etc. than those of Democrats.

Educate us now.

I don't think the GOP needs to move to the center on any issues, but we need to do a better job of communicating our beliefs.  Since 1992, the Republicans have been in greater trouble going forward than at any time in their history except possibly for the Great Depression.  Here's how I think they need to tool their message:

1. On immigration, we need to explain to the Latino community that were are not anti-immigration, but rather anti-illegal immigration.  (I don't see how opposing illegal immigration is offensive anyway.)  Explain how illegal immigration sets people up for a lifetime of exploitation.  We need to focus our efforts on more Spanish advertising and address social issues (like abortion and gay marriage) to Latinos, since most of them are very socially conservative.  
2. On social issues themselves, we shouldn't become more centrist, but we should downplay them relative to economic issues.  Most people are motivated more by issues like that anyway.  And we should convince those who are socially liberal/moderate to rethink their positions.  
3. For blacks, we should tell people the true story of civil rights and how Republicans were the party that fought to end slavery and segregation, as well as how Democrats resisted us at every turn.  Tell them how opposition to school choice and creating dependency on welfare programs (which should be reformed rather than repealed) is a modern-day form of slavery and the antithesis of civil rights.
4. For Jews, tell them how our support for Israel and the Jewish community has been much stronger than that of Democrats over the past few years and prioritize economic issues (becaus of Jewish fiscal conservatism) and, if necessary, emphasize social issues in our message as well.

These are four important steps the GOP can take to shatter the myth that they are a party of right-wing extremists and remain viable in tbe long term.  Essentially, we need to be, to paraphrase George H. W. Bush, a kinder, gentler
party than we appear to be now.