Mike who?

By: Shawn Steel

December 20, 2008 09:38 PM EST

A friend of mine recently attended a "where do Republicans go from here?" session with a selected group of high-powered politicos - congressmen, legislators, donors, party leaders and activists - in the Republican citadel of Orange County, Calif. It was a group closely attuned to GOP politics.

As a test, one of the congressmen queried the group, "Who is the chairman of the Republican National Committee?" drawing blank expressions as attendees racked their brains. Only two could come up with the correct answer - Mike Duncan - and only because they had Googled it when the same question had crossed their minds earlier that day.

This "Mike Who?" incident isn't unusual. Duncan has been the Invisible Chairman, installed in January 2007 by Karl Rove to be unobtrusive - a mission he has carried out brilliantly. Many, if not most, Republican leaders and activists don't know who he is. For example, when Duncan was a guest recently on the Hugh Hewitt Show, the radio host asked Duncan why this was the first time this RNC chairman had ever asked to come on the show and address millions of his fellow Republicans.

Duncan couldn't give an answer other than he'd been busy for the past year. I suppose that's one way to look at it. Another way is he hasn't provided the kind of leadership the Republican National Committee needs in this day and age.

Despite his wraithlike RNC chairman, Duncan is slightly favored for reelection as chairman at the end of January. It should be cause for alarm when the chairmanship front-runner is a "Mike Who?" under who's watch the GOP suffered its worst drubbing in decades.

In fairness, Duncan isn't solely responsible for the Republican roof caving in for the past two years. The Republican in the White House and the Republicans formerly running the show in Congress must shoulder that blame.

But Duncan is basing his reelection campaign on his experience as RNC chairman. How can he take credit for any success while escaping any responsibility for reversals on his watch? It's like a weatherman taking credit fort the sunshine but saying he has no control over the rain.

The next RNC Chairman has a tall order to fill. The coming leftward lurch from Congress and the Obama Administration will stir up the base, but the next RNC chairman needs the argumentation and media skills to not only direct that energy, but restore the GOP brand as the only party trustworthy to protect individual liberty, ensure economic growth and decentralize power from Washington to the states and local communities.

Mike Duncan is a good man who may possess those qualities, but it says something that after nearly two years as chairman, we don't know.

The Republican Party needs a fresh start. We can find the qualities of a successful chairman in someone unconnected with either the Bush administration or the spendocracy formerly known as the Republican Congress. Reelecting Mike Duncan would signal we've learned nothing from the last few years and can expect more of the same, when what we need is something different - like appealing to voters on time-tested conservative principles.

There are a number of strong RNC chairmanship candidates. But we can learn from how Democrats' responded to their resounding 2004 defeat by reaching outside Democratic National Committee ranks to elect former presidential candidate Howard Dean as chairman. Dean strengthened the grass-roots base of the DNC and implemented a 50-state strategy that built up the party's presence in previously red area implemented.

Similarly, the RNC needs a chairman of national stature, someone who 1) has instant media credibility, 2) has organizational grit to change the RNC culture to winning election instead of playing defense, and 3) not only knows how to raise money from big donors, but by utilizing new technologies.

The Republican Party will come back. The question is whether the next election is a more like 1994 or 1934. Electing the right chairman is critically important: he or she will the face of the Republican Party as the public debates Obama administration policies. The Republican Party needs a chairman with the stature, innovation and deftness of mind to lead, not someone who blends into the tapestry.

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In Republican circles, this election is probably more important than any election in recent history, including the 2004 Presidential election. It has to be because of the losses sustained by the Party in the last two election cycles. Republicans have to understand that someone has to stop the bleeding of seats to the Democratic Party if the Republicans are to be a viable Party in the future. 

Let's remember one thing: what goes around, comes around. The Republican Party is taking its turn in the barrel right now, and the Democrats will also take their turn at some point. Another thing to remember is that when a party goes into the barrel, they've usually put themselves there, or at least standing on the edge with one foot ready to step in. It only takes  a few mistakes for the fickle electorate to push them in. 

Obama and his campaign used the hatred for President Bush, the war in Iraq (although not necessarily the war on Terrorism which is much more nebulous), and the Republicans inability to do anything substantial that could be translated into something for the public (among much more) into the need for change. It became a slogan that the masses could understand and take to heart.  Who doesn't want change? Only those who want the status to remain quo and who are. yes, I'll say it, out of touch.

Another thing Obama and his campaign used brilliantly was the Internet. They connected with a generation who are known for thinking they can change the world. Most of us have gone through that stage of life. It's only after they've spent some time in the "real" world (not the MTV Real World), have matured (some of whom maintain their liberal outlook - which in itself isn't at all bad), and realized that there are things, that no matter what good and great intentions they have, will not change, that they realize they have to deal with the problem in another way. 

I'm the first to admit the I know little if anything about the inner workings of the Republican Party. And I'm certainly not one to promote a candidate in this election. But, there are a few things I can suggest:

1. Get in touch with the core of the Party; the grassroots. Find out what Joe and Jane Sixpack really want. Don't talk with Party leaders; don't even talk with politicians. Go to the local level and talk to the people who worked the campaigns on the local level. 

2. Go to the colleges and recruit from there. This is the future of the Party leadership. There are conservatives on the college campus, it's up to the Party to find them and show what the RNC can do for them. 

Make a place for all conservatives. The RNC won't get all of them, of course, but by not being inclusive (and I really hate that word), the RNC fails to broaden its base. Notice I didn't say lose; you can't lose what you don't have to begin with. To be inclusive, the membership can't say someone can't belong because they don't fit. It's up to the Party to make a place for that person or group. 

3. Use technology to it's best advantage. Computers are our friend and are more than just someplace to keep a database. Establish the Party on the social networking sites. Make an effort to find the sites that cater to the college age and above. Not everyone is on Facebook and MySpace. I personally don't have accounts on either one and don't intend to do so. In fact, it might be worthwhile for the Republican Party to set up a social networking site devoted to the Republican Party. Allow groups to form that are devoted to a particular interest. Gardeners, while exchanging information about aphids, may also discuss tax reform. Those same gardeners may join another group devoted to tax reform. In that group (or in the gardening group, for that matter), the Party will find out just what the members think would make good tax reform. 

Shawn Steele, the author of the above article, discusses the three things needed for the next RNC Chairman. Steele wrote that the next chairman needs to have instant media credibility, have the organizational grit to change to a winning mindset and knows how to raise money not from big donors but also by new technology.

If you read the article, and you probably did if you are reading this, you most likely don't have any better idea of who Mike Duncan is than I do. I'm not knowledgeable about the RNC, but when even those active in the Party say "Mike who?" it's not a good thing. We all know Howard Dean heads the DNC, but Mike Duncan? Who is he? 

To get credibility, the Chairman needs be out there, making speeches, making himself (or herself) known, getting donations, but even more importantly, making the Party known to to the public. The Chairman needs to be the face of the Party, not the "person behind the curtain".

The Chairman needs to be open minded enough to know that there are credibility problems facing the RNC. These problems need to be dealt with, not given lip-service to, but appropriately dealt with so that the public sees that the RNC is serious about changing it's image, changing from a defensive to an offensive posture, and challenging it's membership to being proud of being Republicans, win or lose. 

The Chairman must also be knowledgeable in current technology and how to use it to the best of its abilities. The DNC has found that out with the Obama campaign and the Republicans must learn the lesson as well. If the Chairman can't or won't use the technology, then it must be delegated to someone who knows how to use it. We know live in the technology age, and if it's not used, the RNC will fall too far behind to catch up. It's that simple. 

This isn't rocket science.