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How can GOP connect better with voters?

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    A look at Republican strategy

  • Duration 7:51
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That here at home some political news with the top Republican in congress vowing he is far from done with being house speaker.

But John Boehner does admit the GOP needs to do a better job.

This during a wide -- interview with roll call where speaker Boehner was asked how his members should interpret the results of the election.

And the current unpopularity.

Of the GOP according to some polls.

And Boehner had this answer quote.

Well we have the majority in one house of congress and congress has been America's favorite whipping boy for more than two centuries so I don't expect that to change.

We lost the presidential election in November and there are lessons to be learned from that.

We have to do a better job of reaching out to every American and making the connection to show how our solutions will do a better job of helping them.

I'm confident if we can do that the Republican Party is going to be just fine.

David Drucker is a senior editor -- roll call he also has a new blog on house politics called GOP yours.

And you can see the entire interview with speaker Boehner posted there David -- you don't on this Monday.

Good morning good to be here John thanks.

Here's the question you know that the speaker said.

Congress has been America's favorite whipping boy for more than two centuries but if you look at some of the poll numbers out from -- quinnipiac.

It's not just congress in general Republicans do not do as well they get a 20% approval rating.

From the American people in this survey survey Democrats get a 32%.

Approval rating.

Why the difference.

Well I think right now there are a lot of people frustrated with Republican Party first of all you have conservatives who probably.

Are still voting Republican by and large that they don't like the party they don't they don't like.

On how it is function in congress for one reason or another they're unhappy with the results of the presidential election and they don't know that it's heading in the right direction.

-- you then have independent voters that are not necessarily happy with Republicans despite the fact that the Republican presidential candidate.

Did fairly well with independent voters last November.

And then of course you have everybody else who probably doesn't support the party in any event and you have issues the party has -- Ethnic minorities young voters.

Female voters and so it's just it's a down period for Republicans and they're looking for their way back up.

It doesn't help that -- just about every opportunity the man who lives at 16100 Pennsylvania Avenue takes out his megaphone and and criticizes house Republicans in particular he's been doing that until May be the last week or so.

Well look John I mean that's that's part of the business that there -- all right a democratic president is rarely gonna have nice things to say about house and senate Republicans.

And if that's that's where congressional Republicans are focused on what you know I mean guy the president is they're not gonna get anywhere I think.

For Republicans the real issue is trying to connect everything that they are trying to do in congress.

With every day Americans -- voters.

It really connect -- we if there every -- problems this is what I asked speaker Boehner about and he said in fact.

That that house Republicans in particular but all Republicans have to do a better job of -- -- they're relentless focus on a on.

Less spending in a smaller federal government.

On reining in the deficit and balancing the budget over ten years to how that's actually gonna help people because for many voters.

They hear that it sounds nice in theory nobody likes exploding deficits and hand over budgeting.

But it doesn't necessarily translate to problems are facing every day.

And how it's gonna help them get a job and you know increase the size of their bank account and that's where Republicans have to do much better.

Democrats in part because of the things they push for a just been better when when voters need health -- when voters need more money.

It it's more likely to have and you're more likely to have a Democrat with a policy geared accomplishing that and that's easier when you're talking about taking things away.

I think you have to work a little harder explaining why that's going to help but these are the things Republicans believe in if they want to be successful.

And they have to stop complain and they have to work at -- and trying to make that connection.

Well you asked speaker Boehner about how you know the role that he sees for himself in helping the party regain popularity among voters.

Let me read for.

For our viewers what he responded there's no doubt that as a party we need to do a better job of communicating.

And engaging with the American people in the house.

We only control one half of 13 of the government and going up against the presidential bully pulpit is tough.

But our priorities are still firmly aligned with the American people's creating jobs cutting wasteful government spending.

And expanding opportunity for all Americans so they can achieve the American dream.

Our job as house Republicans is to put our principles and the legislation like the budget that we will vote on this month.

And show how those solutions help families in our congressional districts and around the country.

And yet you know whenever a Republican budget proposal comes out -- you hear Democrats in the house on the senate side in the White House.

Running out and suggesting that you know Republicans want to throw children off of head start for instance.

Well.

Of course you know when -- Democrat you're opposed to Republicans it's your job to make everything they wanna do look at draconian as possible.

For the Republicans their job instead of just saying I want to cut the budget.

I want to reform Medicare what they ought to do and this is just an example is talk to the American people about.

Why they think their overhaul of Medicare will actually save it and preserve -- this is something that can connect with people.

This is something in my people say oh I see you're not trying to take it away you're trying to make sure I have access to it.

And look it is it harder when you're trying to.

Not change the retirement age at which you -- access Medicare and things of that nature sure those things can be harder.

But you can't accomplish it if you simply say we can't afford it we need to take it away.

And again if you look at Democrats would it would it would -- Republicans and conservatives think they're going to say.

Please look at this nice wonderful idea my opposition has I disagree with -- but intellectually it's very sound that this is just not how politics works.

I think a lot of Republicans understand this but they need to just they need internalize it.

One more quick quote from the president often talks about Republicans as being the party of millionaires and billionaires and and people with private corporate jet owners.

We in terms of communicating with the rank and file the speaker told you it is critically important.

We communicate how our solutions will help middle class families and small business is on a day to day basis it all starts -- jobs.

Whether it's reforming our tax code to create jobs and increase take home pay addressing our debt crisis to unleash more economic growth.

Reducing red tape that is a burden to employers or.

Approving projects like he still it will create both create jobs and lower energy costs it's all about connecting these solutions to families.

And small businesses.

It's sound that great can he put it in practice.

Well I think they can try I think it's hard to overcome a bully pulpit.

But.

Parties have done this before I think what Republicans need to do.

Is passed legislation that puts this in a practice it won't die in the senate the president won't sign most of it.

But there's another election in two years and what you can do is go to the voters and you could say this is what we would do if we were in charge.

These are the ways these pieces of legislation would help you Democrats actually did this in the past even as a minority.

Back before they got to hold the majority in the 06 elections where they would put out proposals and say this is -- how it would help you if we were in charge.

These -- things Republicans can do they're -- -- get enough attention for it.

And it can actually further their cause it's just it it's going to take them awhile.

David Drucker the man who spoke to speaker of the house John Boehner in that extensive interview David thank you.

Thanks a lot hospital we have.