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What Republicans can learn from the 2012 election

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    Peggy Noonan weighs in

  • Duration 6:41
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I'm joined by Wall Street Journal columnist Peggy noon so Peggy why do you think that -- Oh I think.

Already we know some of -- usual suspects even just a few days after the election.

They get out the vote effort on the democratic side was appears to have been a small masterpiece.

It'll probably have impact on national elections.

Going into the future and Republicans have a lot to learn there.

And there have been demographic changes and America.

It but at the end of the day.

I think might mighty surprised about the election was that it was not so close.

In a way everybody was thinking we'd all be up till 4 in the morning -- maybe we'd be counting.

Ohio votes for two weeks.

That didn't happen this was a solid.

Win for the president -- think the Republican Party has.

Much to think about here going into the future thinking is always good and maybe step back and and give it at least some time to think that you wrote -- -- this -- the Republicans really don't need to change their principles.

Of fundamental principles belief of small government and so want.

But maybe the way they present those principles what do you until -- The -- they.

The Winnie the party goes forward sometimes.

It is a way it is a way that unnecessarily.

I think occasionally turns people off.

I also think.

It something big a big lesson for the Republican Party in this election.

Is to look at America see the Republican base the famous Republican base right and see that forward.

This is not expanding anymore this is where it is may -- it's beginning to contract.

The attitude of political professionals since I was -- -- on the Republican side has always been.

Every election is an opportunity to turn out the base that's what we do excite the base press their buttons that's the story.

We'll long term that's just never strategy.

-- that will work one of the things I think.

The party will have to do now is listen to certain voices such is up here in New York Heather Higgins of of -- I WV.

Independent women's forum yeah -- am sorry I WS.

She has been saying for some time to party political professionals.

The answer is not to drilled deep into the base the answer -- to expand the base.

And that is through going to people went just through conversation that is through talking to them about -- them about the issues they care about.

It is not operating from up here with big ads that just press people's buttons.

It's operating in a way like the Obama campaign did its going down on the ground and talking to people it's labor intensive.

But it's a way of growing to -- persuading.

People so which I think the Republicans have gotten kind of they had.

Is it a way of saying I mean it's it's at its simplest most crass terms -- we actually care about you and a more fundamental way than Republicans have been doing maddening to Republicans talking too much in abstractions you know we wanna cut -- this tax or that tax we have this.

Brand of reform idea without being able to connected in some tangible way.

Took took took to voters -- Yes all of what you said I think is true.

But it's also just this top down thing where we are communicating from you on high through big.

Dubai is of advertisements.

That say things that are sometimes essentially been around that are aimed to move you -- -- you man.

-- to -- to people we got to go down there and talk from the bottom line how do you think president also is Jason Riley said meek people welcome.

Let them know they are welcome in this party were you don't isn't this hectoring tone.

I don't know about.

Things like marginal tax rates which is sort of a language normal humans don't speak any well.

We speak -- at the Wall Street Journal well we have got stuck a cup.

-- well how do you think President Obama.

Emerges from this I mean it's it was a negative relentlessly negative campaign in many ways to see -- -- enhance other than the fact that he was reelected what what lesson should he take in terms of governing.

Percent higher I'll tell you it's.

He was an incumbent president.

He just won by a smaller margin than he did the first time out this is the first time since Woodrow Wilson went a second term armor.

One by fewer votes.

In a funny way -- it is possible that the president.

Looking back now on everything.

Might feel a growing.

Humility and that would be a lovely things yes I know white hot let me let me try this on his trademark.

No it is not -- -- has spent however a shrewd political move right now would be.

Magnanimity.

Right the -- Imus.

He's had a problem working with Republicans on the hill with a -- people have written books about them it's all over everybody knows he is not a good negotiator he's fumbled at the first few times.

Change your way.

Go to the hill the Republicans need it and say I wanna deal.

-- president's people are said to talk sometimes about his legacy nothing would enhance his legacy.

Making a peaceful deal with Republicans on the hill now about the fiscal cliff issues.

Make some substantive accommodation with all of them and or put some and maybe make a name a Republican Treasury Secretary say -- cabinet appointees something like that.

What -- that -- begin a Republican Treasury Secretary I think that made it going are you may know something I don't.

Look I think the American people.

Would like to see Washington.

Begin -- Handle successfully some of the problems that only Washington and handle right federal -- budget issues etc.

It would be good for the country and I think it would be good for the president if he started out now.

Not with the old stuff and the old fight and the old.

Don't push me on -- Eric you know I'll go to the people make you back down I won you lost my way or the highway and none of that stuff.

Something new.

The left would accept that their feeling so good the right would be shocked and think why now may be progress can be made it would be a good thing.

All right -- thanks so much for.

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