Prince of Darkness Offers Guidance

Karl Rove has written a terrific article on Newsweek about our way out of of the wilderness.

I think the first three points are pretty obvious and I would love to send him my list of 25 things because I think mine are better (as one does).

That said, I agree with all his points except number four.

4.Republicans must regain ground among critical voting groups. Voters ages 18–29 voted Democratic by a 2-to-1 margin. A market-oriented "green" agenda that's true to our principles would help win them back. Hispanics dropped from 44 percent Republican in 2004 to 31 percent in 2008. The GOP won't be a majority party if it cedes the young or Hispanics to Democrats. Republicans must find a way to support secure borders, a guest-worker program and comprehensive immigration reform that strengthens citizenship, grows our economy and keeps America a welcoming nation. An anti-Hispanic attitude is suicidal. As the party of Lincoln, Republicans have a moral obligation to make our case to Hispanics, blacks and Asian-Americans who share our values. Whether we see gains in 2010 depends on it.

Winning requires addition, not subtraction. While the GOP's strength is in the suburbs, exurbs and small towns, it cannot surrender urban America, especially if it wants to win states such as Pennsylvania, Michigan and Ohio and regain strength in New England.

Winning does require addition but I don't think being conservative means trying to be all things to all people in a country as big and diverse as the United States. That would be is foolish. While Karl Rove isn't saying that exactly it is dangerously vague when precision is called for now.

Conservatism is about the strong values Rove mentions in his other points. We don't have to change those to attract the Youth vote, we just need to sharpen our message and be better. Better understood. Better heard. Better than Liberals at talking to these groups.

Before we can add to our numbers, we have to make sure our numbers add up. We must clarify our positions and attach them to a clear core of values. Once we do that, Conservatism will be excellently placed for the future. The so-called Prince of Political Darkness has offered clear guidance back into the light.