How will the GOP appeal to younger voters and address ISIS in 2016?

2015-05-21T11:36:30-04:00

A recent polls suggest that the GOP is going to face problems in the coming election. A large majority of American's believe ISIS is a serious threat but it's nearly 50/50 on committing ground troops to combat this threat. Also, the next generation of voters have not been personally touched by 9/11 and OIF/OEF and thus do not understand the risk associated with sending in American forces.

"A Harvard University Institute of Politics survey released in late April showed that 57% of that group [18-29 yr olds] favored sending ground troops to participate in a military campaign against ISIS... 'This youngest generation of first-time voters doesn't have a personal connection to 9/11, to Hurricane Katrina, to [George W.] Bush and then the promise of Obama' as they contemplate foreign policy for the first time, said John Della Volpe, director of polling at the Institute of Politics. 'There's certainly an indication that the youngest voters are interested in a stronger, more forceful foreign policy.'"

GOP 2016ers grapple with ground troops in Iraq - CNNPolitics.com

Pressing to send a new wave of U.S. combat troops into Iraq would have amounted to political suicide for White House hopefuls just a few years ago.

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made May 21 at 2015 11:43 AM

2015-05-21T11:43:57-04:00

Good question. Unfortunately, I think it will be a while before we know the answer ... first the party needs to have a within-the-ranks slugfest to see who will even be their candidate. As I have said several times before, the Republicans will likely hand the damn election to the Democrats (again) because they can't get their act together.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made May 21 at 2015 11:45 AM

2015-05-21T11:45:48-04:00

The most appropriate way that they could deal w/ ISIS is to allow military leaders to perform militarily. This group, ISIS, is not interested in political solutions. I don't know how anyone could possibly think that there is a political solution for them.

It is a fine line to walk, that is for sure, ESPECIALLY after losing so much ground that we took initially. I think that, if they were smart, they would turn the question around and say, "How would the Democrats handle the situation any different from how they are currently handling it?"

Response by Sgt Aaron Kennedy, MS made May 21 at 2015 12:34 PM

2015-05-21T12:34:09-04:00

If you read the actual Republican Platform (through the lens of a Young Voter)

https://www.gop.com/platform/we-the-people/

The message is not tailored to Young Voters.

Frankly it's adversarial in many regards. It has some great points, but the message gets diluted because of order, language, tone, etc.

We The People: A Restoration of Constitutional Government | GOP

We are the party of the Constitution, the solemn compact which confirms our God-given individual rights and assures that all Americans stand equal before the law. Perhaps the greatest political document ever written, it defines the purposes and limits of government and is the blueprint for ordered liberty that makes the U.S. the world’s freest, most stable, and most prosperous nation. Its Constitutional ideals have been emulated around the...

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made May 21 at 2015 1:32 PM

2015-05-21T13:32:41-04:00

The GOP IMHO is in disarray, when it married itself to the Christian conservative branch during the Reagan era, and the Newt Regime, and its alienation of black & Hispanic voters have left it in a very precarious position. Strong on defense only goes so far in todays youth, with less than 1% of them serving it is not of concern to them, some one else can take care of it, BTW where is my free money you promised seems to be the general consensus of todays youth. Here in lies the problem of todays GOP, there out of touch with their constituents. Cut Social Security kill your chance with seniors, cut education, kill your chances with middle class, black and Hispanics. Cut welfare, the poor just drove over to the Dems's side to vote in spades. The current philosophy will have to change. Instead of cuts, or preaching about fences, sell the reason why and what are the benefits. Scare tactics alone won't work, aren't working. Attacking Hillary because she is a woman will most certainly blow up in their face.

Response by SSG Leonard Johnson made May 21 at 2015 2:45 PM

2015-05-21T14:45:45-04:00

Don't think u can.....the young ones are zombie to the left wing commies of the democratic party...hahahaha hell I kind of like that....when I debate them in college ...they can never come up with a sustainable argument ;) get very good grades cuz if this

Response by Sgt Jay Jones made May 21 at 2015 7:06 PM

2015-05-21T19:06:26-04:00

If the GOP is depending on appealing to younger voters to win the White House in 2016, I'm afraid they will fail miserably.

What they need to focus on is a sincere effort to appeal to minorities and women. There are many disenfranchised minorities and women who feel the GOP is not concerned about their issues. The GOP needs to outline a platform that addresses these real concerns.