Tom Davis: Republican Party Has Become "A Private Club With An Admissions Test"

Former Rep. Tom Davis warned on Saturday night that the Republican Party he has been a part of throughout his career had become "a private club with an admissions test," destined to long-term minority status without major structural changes.

Speaking before the pro-gay rights Log Cabin Republicans, Davis, a long-serving Virginia Republican, warned that "cultural issues" and a lack of diversity (especially within cities) "has been killing" the GOP. The "old coalition," he concluded, simply "isn't working."

"We have been spiraling downhill," he said. "This administration, as they start making their decisions, it is going to be change some people can't believe in...The question for us is, as a party, are we going to be a welcome mat for these people? Or are we going to demand an admissions test and become a club? If that's the way we go, we are not going to be able to capitalize. We are not going to be able to grow. And we are not going to be able to govern."

Davis' remarks reflected much of the tone of the Log Cabin national convention. Steve Schmidt, who managed the McCain campaign in 2008, and Meghan McCain, the senator's daughter, both offered similarly biting and pessimistic takes on the exclusiveness of the GOP. Davis, however, offered the perspective of someone with a front row seat to watch his party's stumbles.

The Virginia Republican served 14 years in the House of Representatives before retiring from Congress in 2008. A Republican with an occasional moderate streak, he was endorsed by the Log Cabin Republicans despite supporting a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage. He dabbled with the notion of running for the Senate in 2008, before deciding to take time away from Washington. On Saturday, Davis floated the idea of returning to elected office. But any comeback, he seemed to say, could only be made possible if the Republican Party expanded its tent of voters.

"Right now, we've become a regional party," said Davis. "It is not the people in the party. It is the national branding that so hurts us... There are 18 states, which total, with the District of Columbia, 238 electoral votes that have now gone democratic in five straight presidential elections. And Sen. McCain wasn't within ten points in any of those 18 states."

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Comments

[YoMeLib]

Limbaugh brags about his 20 million listeners... I wonder how many thoughtful Republicans would like to stick a rag in the mouth of this buffoon ? Ditto the other pundits of his mentality ?

I used to have conversations with one of Rush's fans but I don't approach the guy any more because he is unfailingly morose.

[indy girl]

"Tom Davis: Republican Party Has Become 'A Private Club With An Admissions Test'"

It sure has! Here's a sample of the questions on today's New GOP Test. Could you make the grade?

Q Remove the extra word from this sentence:
"I went to the grocery also, then when I progressed to the car there I forgot my keys then."

Q. "Bling" is sparkly, shiny surface improvements to something geriatric and dull. True or False?

Q. "Waterboarding" is:
What you do in the surf at Waikiki -- washing clothes the old-fashioned way --
An excellent way to give a suspected terrorist a bath six times a day

Q. What is Arizona State University's mascot?
The Dodo -- Sparky the Devil -- John McCain -- The Vanishing Alumni Donors

Q. What was George W. Bush's fraternity at Yale?
The No-Brainers -- Skull and Bones -- Daddy's Boys -- Axis of Evil

Q. What do you have to offer the Republican party?
Vacation Home in Tahiti -- $1,000,000 fundraiser -- Member of Horndogs For Sarah --
Actually understand what Michael Steele is saying -- Have dirt on Meghan McCain

[joeyfoto]

I thought that it was a bad thing when Jesse Helms "circus" and Ronald Reagan's seductive presidential campaign began to turn Fundamentalist Christianity into a political party. I wrote then that it would end badly, but it did not end badly soon enough. Terrible damage was done to our country at the hands of the incompetent, anti-scientific, ideologica­lly-consti­pated, right-wing Jesus party. Fortunately for the future of America, George Bush has discredited everything that got him elected.

Why was it a good thing when this unholy alliance was helping the GO to win elections but a bad things that these bigoted, ignorant and narrow-minded fetus- freaks are all that's left in the little tent? I thought this mutually-d­estructive coalition was a bad thing, when it was winning. The long-term cost of that short-term advantage finally obvious.

[BigPictureReg]

JEB!......­..........­..........­..

JEB!......­..........­..........­..........­..........­.

..........­..........­..........­..........­..JEB!....­..........­..........­..........­..........

[SharpDressedMan]

Steve Schmidt will never be asked to manage any of Sarah Palin's campaigns.

[waustingray]

"we are not going to be able to capitalize. We are not going to be able to grow. And we are not going to be able to govern"

man that is all too telling

[nylibgrrl]

"And we are not going to be able to govern."

And that would be different, how?

[SharpDressedMan]

The difference now is Republicans are not in power in the White House or Congress. Their damage will be less than in the last 8 years.

Think about it. A party that develops a budget without numbers would be far more dangerous if they were in power. A Republican Congressman said he has a list of 17 socialists in Congress. When pressed for names he provided 1 name several days later.

[Wrenigade]

With Newt Gingrich being referred to as the "intellectual leader" of the GOP; and Rush Limbaugh as its "ideological soul" the Republicans will be wandering in the wilderness for a long. long time because they consistently drive smart, pragmatic, rational leaders like Davis out of the Party.

[mesuki]

I like the Republicans just the way they are...if they were to disappear I wouldn't have anyone to laugh at or get so angry at everyday. I say leave them just the way they are with all their bigotry, whining and exclusion! and pass the popcorn!

[doneflyin]

Don't worry, they'll stay the same going further to the right until they fall off the edge of the earth.
They think the world is flat, ya' know, and only 6000 years old.

[iswideopen]

Davis, you are a republican, right? Well, to you and them I say; "fool Americans once, shame on them, (George W. Bush stole the first election); "fool Americans twice, shame on the GOP". You see, it doesn't matter what you "club of white southerners" say, it's what are you going to do with the likes of Newt Gingrich, "Dick" Cheney, Sean Hannity, Bill O'Reilly, Ann Coulter, Rush Limbaugh, Glenn Beck, et al. And most of all, the "tea party" and "successionist" that make up the republican party base. That is all you have left.. They will never, ever, change. Grown men don't insult each other with petty name calling when their country is in the trouble of a lifetime for many of us. They sit down and dicuss major issues and decisions and find a solution. The GOP will never bend, therefore, it is now broken. May you stay that way. This is simply your next ploy for votes. Good luck with that.

[WhiteHat]

Yet one more Republican who isn't embarrassed to focus on GOP success, ignoring the best interests of the country. THAT is what's wrong with the GOP.

[maxfax]

Brilliant, how long did it take him to figure this one out?

[clearlythinking]

That's an excellent way of describing your party Mr. Davis. The real question is, what are you going to do to change it?

[MajorKong]

Perhaps someday the GOP will consider extending their reach beyond white, southern evangelicals but I'm not betting on it.

[mohawk79]

And what exaclty has the Democratic Party "given" to this country:

A failed war on poverty.

A failing educational system, wrought with tenured teachers who don't give a s***.

for starters. Need I continue?

[yasmeen]

no. we remember clearly what you gave us these past 8 years.

[nana4g]

You are just saying words.

"and blue is white and there are two Sundays in every week and Geo W. Bush saved the world.

[patricksmom]

What the democratic party has given us are social security, medicare, money for higher education and hope for a sustainable future for all Americans and for the world.

[jeanwny]

And hopefully, a leader smart enough to drag us out of the last century and the first 8 years of this one back to the position we should have in the world. It is a daunting task but the electorate is hopeful, and as evidenced by the polls more than willing to leave the "far right" behind.