On Friday August 31, after a shortened convention, the reviews of Mitt Romney, Paul Ryan, and the Republican Party as a whole began. Critics have accused Mr. Ryan of outright lying, while supporters have praised the convention for having a diverse set of speakers, and emphasizing the economy, individual choice, and hard work.
While the general consensus seems to be that Paul Ryan said some things that were less than true, that is what politicians do. The bigger issue coming out of the convention is if the attempt to establish diversity at the convention will change the public perception.
The GOP convention had numerous women speaking, in what was a clear attempt to try and win back women who have been put-off by the pervasive influence of the religious right.
After many high-ranking Republicans condemned Todd Akin for his ignorant comment, the GOP still approved a policy plank that stated life begins at conception, and abortion should be illegal, without indicating any exceptions. The attempts to distance the Romney/Ryan ticket from that aspect of the party might be an impossible task.
Words spoken by a politician are worth very little, but a man can be judged by the company he keeps. The GOP depends on the money and support from many people who are deeply invested in pro-life causes. Unless more members of the GOP can appear less beholden to the interests of religious leaders, it will be a struggle for any individual Republican to close the national gender gap.
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Comments: 2
I've read the entire Republican platform. From the polls I've seen, they are ahead with married women. Don't know why they shouldn't be. Republicans, after all, were the ones who originated getting women the vote. And Republicans care about everyone, not just small groups of persons because of skin color or gender or sexual preferences. They care about everyone and want everyone to succeed.
As Condoleeza Rice said, we've always been the party who knows that if we're doing poorly it's not because someone else is doing well. We were taught to celebrate the successes of everyone, not to be envious or to covet what they have.
Republicans have had so many first for women, that anyone with a brain should know that they have no war on women.
Now a war on killing babies? Perhaps. But not on women.
By the way, word has it had the DNC is changing some speakers because they need to put in more minorities and women after seeing that the RNC did that. Doesn't that just figure?