Chairman Steele’s Online Survey:
How to Save the GOP

On Friday, RNC Chairman Michael Steele blasted out an e-mail to subscribers of the GOP’s listserv asking them to fill out a 25-question survey on the “state of the Republican Party” and how to improve it. The survey includes a request for donations.

Among strategic questions asked are:

• Why did Republicans lose the White House and Congressional seats in the 2008 elections?
• What are the key strengths and beliefs of the Republican Party that we can build on?
• What technology would you like to see the RNC make better use of to grow our Party?

The survey also solicits participants’ views on such issues as “more socialism” vs. free markets, President Obama’s “bailouts,” illegal immigration, and the so-called “fairness doctrine.”

Obama Uses Database to Support Dem Congressional Candidate

We’ve already noted how President Obama has repurposed his campaign database as a tool to rally grassroots support for his political agenda.

Now, he’s taken the next logical step. Obama has allowed the use of his “Organizing for America” (OFA) database to help Scott Murphy, the Democratic candidate in a hotly contested special congressional race in New York’s 20th district. Around 60,000 e-mails were sent out on Wednesday urging Obama’s supporters to also support Murphy. Read more

Is the Political Tide Turning Already?
(Maybe… at least in fundraising)

After being trounced month after month by Democrats (especially through better use of the Internet), the GOP has finally won a round in the fundraising contest.

According to a report from Fox News, Republicans beat Democrats handily in fundraising statistics for February. In that month, the RNC pulled in $5.1 million, while the DNC raised only $3.26 million. By contrast, two years ago (while still under the chairmanship of Howard Dean), the DNC raised $5.5 million in February of 2007. Read more

Chairman Steele “Gets It”

At a news conference in Portland, Oregon, RNC chairman Michael Steele made some encouraging comments.

First, rather than sidestepping the issue, he frankly admitted that “[the Democrats'] team has a better game plan. Their team has a better set of players. Their team has the winning way.”

Then, according to the Portland Observer, Steele also acknowledged the need to “deliver a different message, one exalted in the boilerplate Republican principles of rugged individualism and trimming government,” and stressed that “we are a conservative party.”

Beyond this, he “noted that the Republican Party also needs to better implement technology and ‘all of that fun stuff.’”

We couldn’t agree more strongly. Once again: true conservatism + technology = victory!

Obama Planning Massive Online Campaign To Rally Support

During his campaign, President Barack Obama amassed over 13 million e-mail addresses of supporters. The campaign is over, but the power of Obama’s database is still very much with us. And Obama plans to use that power to mount a massive grassroots campaign to rally support for his political agenda.

According to the San Francisco Chronicle, Obama intends to ask his 13 million e-enthusiasts to go door-to-door to solicit pledges of support. Those recruited will, in turn, themselves be entered into the database. Read more