Yesterday, I expressed concern about the fact that newly elected RNC Chairman Michael Steele has yet to make “any significant new effort to win over millennials.” Today, however, I want to recognize Steele for something he has done exceedingly well. If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know I have on a number of occasions talked about the need for the Republican Party to utilize . I’ve noted on more than one occasion that peer production is the business model of countless top-tier corporations, and that it was the single most important factor in Barack Obama’s electoral victory. The , led by Steele, has become a premiere model of peer production at its finest, engaging thousands of ordinary grassroots Republicans and having them peer produce great new ideas for the future of the Republican Party.
David All sent me an e-mail responding to my post yesterday, saying, “No need to be ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Steele — he gets it up and down the block and shows through his actions that he’s going to shake things up. The culture of a broken RNC is over.” Considering that in two weeks the RNC has gone from one of the most closed organizations in the country to a phenomenal example of openness, embracing peer production and tying it into every piece of its technology strategy, I tend to agree with David. However, taking advantage of peer production in the technology space is but the first step — the RNC must use peer production in every aspect of its operations, from recruiting candidates to fundraising to generating new ideas. President Obama’s effective use of peer production during the campaign brought in a staggering $750 million plus and built . Republicans too can enjoy this success.
The fact is that the Republican Party has come a long way since election day 2008, and leading that charge is Chairman Steele and the RNC. This new openness and willingness to adopt mass collaboration will pay substantial dividends in the long term, but the GOP must not stop now. Catching up to the Democrats simply isn’t enough; Republicans must make peer production their own, using it in every arena to outraise, outmuscle, and outmaneuver Democrats. Two weeks in, Chairman Steele has already demonstrated a propensity for embracing peer production. This is great news for the Republican Party as it strives to get back on track in 2010 and take back the White House in 2012.
Last 5 posts by Aaron Marks
- Onward and Upward: Building a Sustainable Majority - January 22nd, 2010
- Dear Young Voters: This Is What You Get When You Don't Vote - December 1st, 2009
- The Youth Vote and the 2009 Elections - November 6th, 2009
- The Best of the Post-2009 Election Spin - November 5th, 2009
- Introducing NextGenGOP Executive Director James Kane - October 20th, 2009