Saul Anuzis, MIGOP Chairman and Candidate for RNC Chairman
We have contacted each of the candidates for RNC Chairman, asking them to answer a few brief interview questions about their vision for the future of the Republican Party. NextGenGOP is proud to present this exclusive interview with Saul Anuzis, one of the leading candidates for RNC chairman, and the first to respond to our interview request.
1) How necessary do you believe it to be for the Republican Party to win over young voters? What new steps, if any, do you believe the GOP should take to accomplish this?
I have consistently encouraged both College Republican and Teenage Republicans in the process. We have organized campaign school, assisted in bringing students to CPAC, etc. I believe expanding our ranks among young voters needs to be a top priority. However, this work cannot be left only to the College Republicans. We created a specific program here that had coordinators and vans and delivered volunteers regularly from campuses to Victory Centers and campaign efforts statewide. Every program in our party needs to look for ways to reach out to young people. If we are going to be the party of the future, everyone needs to make young people a priority.
Much of this will depend on our national candidates and leaders. We can build a base of supporters based on philosophy, but attracting a “movement” will often be based around a candidate. That said we must do more on college campuses to fight for conservative ideas. This means challenging liberal professors, supporting our youth organizations when they stand up against liberal thinking, and speaking to young people where they live: on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc. During this past election, the MI GOP worked directly with CRs to create the “Stop the Braindrain Tour” CRs managed a program to help state legislative candidates with teams of college volunteers to knock doors, drop literature and make GOTV phone calls. This program helped energize the CRs around the state and allowed them to make a real impact on local Republican races. We must showcase our ideas in these forums. I also will implement a 60 under 40 program every year that allows each state and territory to send at least one person under 40 to Washington for leadership, fundraising and communication training in the hopes of creating a “farm team” of leaders all across the country that can step up and lead our party down the road.
2) If you are elected chairman, what role will technology and the Internet have for you personally during your tenure the RNC?
Well, I launched by RNC chairman’s bid on and . I think that illustrates how important the Internet and technology is for me. Technology must be an integral AND integrated part of everyday party operations. I am committed to making that happen. Technology will be front and center during my tenure as RNC chairman. Many of you already follow me on Twitter (@sanuzis) or on my daily blog, , or on or by reading my daily “Commentary & Articles of Interest” which I e-mail everyday to thousands of grass-root activists, party insiders, media and key influencers around the country. I have always used the Internet to help me reach and connect with Republicans across Michigan and the United States. This will continue when I am RNC chairman.
3) If elected chairman, what changes and/or upgrades will you make to the eCampaign infrastructure at the RNC?
I embrace, support and have endorsed the “A Plan for the Future.” I encourage everyone to read it and support. It is a blueprint of realistic and attainable goals that will return the GOP to the forefront of using technology to advance our agenda and win elections.
4) Why did Barack Obama and the Democrats win in this election? What components of this success, if any, do you believe Republicans need to take advantage of moving forward?
Republicans have the right ideas, but America lost faith in Republicans because we failed to deliver on those ideas.
The Democrats succeeded by taking the game to Republican “turf” because they had co-opted GOP messages. Barack Obama won by talking tough on terror, promising tax cuts and by talking about faith and personal responsibility. These are conservative messages. In 2000 and 2004 the Republican Party was on the cutting edge in the use of technology, but the Democrats raced passed the GOP this year.
Democrats win when the media is allowed to behave like a division of the DNC. Republicans must be more aggressive in communicating its message and not allow the media to become obsessed with polls and enamored of political personalities. When the Republican Party once again returns to our core values and beliefs, and can again convince America that we can be trusted on those issues, we will make a comeback – stronger than ever.
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