File Under: Do They Think This Will Actually Work?

From Politico:

Under the wise leadership of Michael Steele, the GOP wants to be the Party of Hip Hop:

Newly elected Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele plans an “off the hook” public relations offensive to attract younger voters, especially blacks and Hispanics, by applying the party's principles to “urban-suburban hip-hop settings....”

”There was underlying concerns we had become too regionalized and the party needed to reach beyond our comfort” zones, he said, citing defeats in such states as Virginia and North Carolina. “We need messengers to really capture that region - young, Hispanic, black, a cross section ... We want to convey that the modern-day GOP looks like the conservative party that stands on principles. But we want to apply them to urban-surburban hip-hop settings.”

Interestingly enough, Steele believes that if it uses new technology such as the internets, the party will be able to attract new voters. So, let's clarify: for over forty years, the GOP ran the Southern Strategy, appealing to racial attitudes in voters. Now, because of demographic shifts, bad ideas, and a complete and total governing failure, the GOP thinks it can reverse the past forty years, or completely forget they occurred, and try to reach out to a new audience.

Imagine the ad copy for one of these commercials: "For over forty years, we, as a party, have done everything in our power, to stop economic programs that would help you; to under-fund your schools and make sure your children could not advance in society; and. to label the opposing party as one that would that spoke for non-white minorities. We have told you that you are lazy and it is your own damn fault if you do not succeed like other, wealthier Americans who receive better educations and live in more prosperous neighborhoods and who can always get out of trouble. We have allowed crime to infect your neighborhoods and to make sure you are put in jail more often and for longer periods of time. Time after time, we have run political ads that make it appear you infringe upon what you should not have because we don't want you to have it. Just call Harold Ford to find out.

But times change. Because we have failed at everything we have recently tried, our voters have abandoned us. Now we need your help. Minorities: we will not like you and we will continue to under-fund any programs you need or want. We will continue to criticize your culture as, we believe, it denigrates society. But, please, when you enter the ballot box, remember how stupid you think we your are and vote for us. That is before we eliminate the Voting Rights Act."

I think that the GOP may have an issue with its initial credibility.