"Rebranding" the GOP

Bobby Jindal ("We have to stop being the stupid party"), Marco Rubio (favors immigration reform), and a few other GOP members are concerned.   It's finally sinking in that they lost big in the national elections, even if they control 30 state houses and the House of Representatives.  They know that demographic shifts will continue to go against them unless they change.

Some of them are trying to find even more ways to steal elections like gerrymandering districts and then awarding electoral votes by district, instead of states;  or passing even more voter-suppression laws and regulations.

The others, the more reasonable ones, are trying to "rebrand" the GOP.  Eric Cantor is the latest  to enter this enterprise, shown in press releases and a major speech yesterday at the American Enterprise Institute.  But, rather pathetically, he was forced to make this statement, when asked why they were stalling the Violence Against Women Act in the House:

"You know, I as a gentleman care very deeply about women in the abuse situation, that we need to get them the relief that this bill offers. . . .  That's what we want to do, that's our priority, we must move and act on this bill."

Yes, but you've already lost when you have to make such a statement to try to counter-act your previous actions.

And hasn't your conservative word-maven, Frank Luntz, taught you better than to talk about "rebranding?"   Luntz's specialty is teaching politicians what words to use to influence public opinion.

E. J. Dionne dismantled this one on Rachel Maddow's show.   He pointed out that rebranding is only trying to change the perception of your product;  it does nothing to change the product.

Gotcha !!!   Thanks, E. J.

Ralph