SRLC: New Orleans and the Road to Victory

posted at 4:42 pm on April 12, 2010 by Anita MonCrief
[ Politics ]   

The theme of the Southern Republican Leadership Conference (SRLC) was “The road to victory begins in New Orleans.” Considering the history of the city, it’s oddly fitting for New Orleans to host SRLC. After Katrina, the Left and its media allies used the hurricane to paint the Republicans as incompetent, uncaring racists and the Republicans were too afraid to put the bulk of the blame back where it belonged–on the New Orleans black mayor, Ray Nagin, and then Louisiana female governor, Kathleen Blanco. Katrina, like some many of the events of the past few years, was a missed opportunity for a party that still can’t effectively address cries of racism. Thus, the myth has trumped the truth in the general public perception.

After a tortured battle over health care and the rise of the Tea Party movement, the Republican party is currently engaged in external and internal battles to define its course. One blogger commented on Twitter that “we’re not at CPAC anymore,” and judging from the lack of tea partiers among the Republican party elite, one must wonder if SRLC has suffered during the previous year as RNC donors decided to invested in grassroots initiatives. To anyone paying attention, the disconnect between the Republican old guard and the rising grassroots movement is stark.

On Friday evening a well dressed woman with a VIP badge asked me about the “young man with the water bottle” who spoke that afternoon. The woman was a delegate from Florida and she was referring to Andrew Breitbart.

Breitbart had spent most of the day being stalked by members of the main stream media, including Nightline and reporters from the Associated Press and at that moment, it became clear that while most of the media and the left were consumed with the “Pimp and Pro” sting that the effects of social media and the internet had not reached the very core of the party. This is where the Democrats have the edge of Republicans, and it appears that even after a year of unprecedented political participation, the RNC has done little to bridge that divide.

RNC chairman Michael Steele addressed the recent problems that had been highlighted in the news and many Conservatives are ready to forgive and move on. However, questions remain about the RNC leadership and how to overcome not only the internal divide but also how to engage minority and low-income Americans.

One protester outside of the event toted a hand made sign that read “SRLC, the party is over,” but judging from the hodge-podge of signs and causes represented during the protest, even the left are confused as to why they really oppose Republicans and the RNC.

SRLC featured the shining stars of the party with Mike Pence and Herman Cain creating presidential buzz on Twitter despite straw poll results. As November 2010 rapidly approaches, it remains to be seen whether the party will follow the lead of the tea partiers and get its act together in time.

I leave you with a video of one of the protesters explaining the need for universal health care.

Blowback