FAIRBANKS – Alaska’s two Republican members of Congress said the nation’s changing demographics played a role in their party’s electoral losses Tuesday, but they offered different prescriptions about how the voting public’s new look should fit in the GOP’s future.
Nationally, the debate among GOP leaders and commentators is an array of opinions.
Some say the party must moderate some of its positions to attract voters from an increasingly diverse electorate. Others argue the party should adhere to its principles but do a better job of delivering its message. Still others share a little of each view.
Senator Lisa Murkowski is blunt in her assessment of the Republican brand.
“I believe absolutely that if we are to be a relevant party going into the future, we have to look at the future and look at the demographics of this country,” Murkowski said in an interview Friday. “Whether it’s the growing Hispanic population or the enthusiasm or energy among young people, let’s tap into that.”
Murkowski said the party’s demographic difficulty is apparent in the Senate.
“I have suggested that people need to look no further than the makeup of Republicans in the Senate. It is primarily male, Caucasian, older, from the South,” she said. “That’s one demographic, but it is not the only demographic, and it is not the only demographic that will allow us to continue as a strong party. We’ve got to recognize that the world around us has changed.”
Representative Don Young, who has been in the U.S. House since 1973, said it’s the cyclical nature of politics that is to blame for his party’s setbacks in the election. The party shouldn’t abandon its principles, he said.
“I’ve been through so many party shakeups; 12 to 14 years ago, the Democrats were dead,” Young said Friday. “This is a cycle. There’s no doubt about this in my mind.”
Even so, Young said the party shouldn’t dismiss the changing demographics of the voting public. “The demographics of the election, you still have to look at it,” he said.
He said he believes that minority groups that voted largely for President Obama will, as they age, become conservative and drift toward the Republican Party.
“You look back through history and when immigrants came over from Europe, they primarily voted Democratic,” Young said. “But once they got established and in business … they vote Republican.”
Young said he won’t change his views on the issues.
“This is not the end of the world,” he said. “We have to stand by our principles. My principles will not change.”
Murkowski, who generally is viewed as a moderate Republican, said the GOP still has a good policy foundation.
“I think our message, the ideas, in so many ways are strong and solid,” she said. “I believe our ideas are there, but where we are failing is to communicate these ideas to the changing demographics.”
“When we talk about strength of the economy and certain values for small businesses, that is something that resonates with this community,” she said. “Let’s have that conversation. Let’s not say ‘They aren’t going to be with us on this issue so let’s not do that reaching out.’”
Contact Fairbanks Daily News-Miner managing editor Rod Boyce at 907-459-7585. Follow him on Twitter: @FDNMeditor.
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solid as a turd in the toliet said on Sunday, Nov 11 at 12:02 PM
make sure to include that pesky case that haunts the State of Alaska...you know the "HUGE" account that is being denied to the "BIRTHRIGHT" owner...the one that has stocks in "OIL" like BP and Exxon...but hey lets whine like a batch because RobMoney didn't win...Lisa is a fraud... At least her father knew a train wreck when he saw it coming and switched the tracks and avoid collision...Lisa is a I don't know politician... Her opinion is like RobMoney - anyway the money blows...and when the revelations of failure to address issues that might be "bothersome" will become a full throttle "pain in the axx" legally! Oh well...darn those missed opportunities Lisa...
106353916NE Perry said on Sunday, Nov 11 at 1:31 PM
Lisa must have realized the disaster ahead when she tried to help Heather (MBTE) Wilson,who was clobbered an actual environmentalist-did she warn Rmoney? No? Now, she'll be able to explain her vote on that bankruptcy bill to Elizabeth Warren herself. I supported Mazie Hirono.
106358502Factual View said on Sunday, Nov 11 at 1:46 PM
Donald "Duck"Young shows strong image of being "prejudice" against our President (The Best of All Times)and it strongly shows on his face. People stupidly voted him back in into more criminally activity that one day its going to come in the open and hopefully, real soon to reveal his bs tatics were phony all the time in congress. Stupid is as stupid gets.
106359336Amazed said on Sunday, Nov 11 at 3:10 PM
"Tap into it" ? Does that mean change the focus of the lies? Or genuinely redirect the actions to match the refocused message. Simply appealing to a group is one thing. But acting in a manner that supports that appeal should be the goal. too much energy is already being focused on figuring out why they lost and how they can rebrand themselves for the next election. Focus on the current problems and that will work itself out on its own. Misguided energy. Its not that complicated of a puzzle. Do what the people you represent want and rpresent them, not Washington.
106363515mountainlady said on Sunday, Nov 11 at 3:32 PM
I am very impressed that Congressman Young is going to stick to his principles... especially since he doesn't have any. Interesting promise from someone voted "most corrupt" in Alaska politics. Lisa... can I take back my write in?
106364346Charle said on Sunday, Nov 11 at 6:13 PM
Solid, you sound like you are full of it. Get a laxative. You Dems keep talking like you have a clue as to what is going on. If you did have you would have voted different. Mr Hate Monger go re-elected by the electorial vote that he paid for, so shut up with trashing someone you don't even know about. The media also played their part in getting the show-boy re-elected and I believe all will regret the day.At least Mitt Romney knows something about running a business. Your man had no experience in running a bussiness and very little experience in politics. So with that I guess I will just say Thanks for jeopardizing our country further , Jerk.
106373091Kleiner Perkin said on Sunday, Nov 11 at 10:14 PM
Dear Dems, I listened to liberals whine about the "smallness" of their PFD checks this year yet they run right out and vote for Gunny French and Les (he really IS Less) Gara, who stifle and kill oil production while claiming they fight for the people to get more. Yeah. And you vote for Obama who then stops drilling. Enjoy an income tax and no PFD's in the future you gullible tools.
106383805Fishingurl said on Sunday, Nov 11 at 11:41 PM
I have voted in every election in Alaska since 1979. I am proud to say I have never voted for anyone named Murkowski. Never will. I have not seen many politicians that can string words together but not answer questions better than Lisa. "tap into that", What the heck does that mean? That apple did not fall far from the tree. And Don - well he is a horse that should have been put out to pasture a long time ago. (at least he is one end of the horse)
106386436Dave said on Monday, Nov 12 at 12:15 AM
You losers shut out and ignored the Ron Paul republicans, so 12 million less people showed up to vote. Why? Because there is almost NO difference between Republicrats and Demorats. Why "waste" your vote on a republican who is a libtard. THAT is why you lost. It will only get worse.
106387612LaFern said on Monday, Nov 12 at 1:39 AM
These so-called "crazy young voters" (born in the 80s to early 90s) believe in a bit more basic, central Republican values than people think. What they don't believe in, discrimination and intimidation at home and abroad, trumps whatever governmental organization principles they have in the voting booth. Young voters will continue to say NO to the Republicans' hodgepodge ideas of putting Christians above non-Christians, whites above non-whites, men above women, straight people over gay, etc. etc. On top of that, young people don't believe in hardcore libertarianism either. What Republicans are there that don't adhere to any of these extremes? Considering that some of these extremes are even enshrined in the national party platform, there just aren't many. The Republicans MUST take the risk of a shrinking voter base to distance themselves from extremism. Political debate will be more civil and elections will be treated like general polls of citizens, and not life or death situations.
106389526wallyworld said on Monday, Nov 12 at 9:47 AM
I'm tickled pick to know that Don Young will not change his principles. But I'm sure his corporate sponsors are much happier than I am.
106420785Guest said on Monday, Nov 12 at 1:02 PM
Seriously the democratic party was dead 10-12 years ago? If you look at the popular vote in the presidential elections back to 1992 the democrats have won 5-1. 2004 being their only loss. If republicans want to remain relevant they need to drop the anti-abortion, anti-gay and anti-immigration. The extreme positions they take on those subjects is what turns off the moderate republicans and independents. Democrats are more than willing to work on entitlement reforms. But what they won't stand for is getting rid of them. And when Reagan raised taxes as well as Clinton is when our economy was at it's strongest. So the notion that we are better off with lower taxes is a myth. Just look what happened when Bush did it.
106436366clothes in the bedroom said on Thursday, Nov 15 at 2:52 PM
I smell sex and candy whose that lounging in my chair...sounds like a Republican in DC said the GOP needs a proctologist...that is true...lol..
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