Well, now. I guess Republicans are working on their microtargeting skills this week because they've produced a study -- one they actually paid for -- advising them that women just don't care much for Republicans.
Yes, this is a problem, and it's one they're not going to get around easily. What do you expect when your party holds hearings on women's health and only invites men to testify? Or consistently votes to repeal the Affordable Care Act, which is giving a deep and lasting benefit to women, especially single women?
Or when your leaders come out and say women are a bunch of sluts who just want birth control to sleep around?
As it turns out, women reacted accordingly. Politico:
A detailed report commissioned by two major Republican groups — including one backed by Karl Rove — paints a dismal picture for Republicans, concluding female voters view the party as “intolerant,” “lacking in compassion” and “stuck in the past.”
Women are “barely receptive” to Republicans’ policies, and the party does “especially poorly” with women in the Northeast and Midwest, according to an internal Crossroads GPS and American Action Network report obtained by POLITICO. It was presented to a small number of senior aides this month on Capitol Hill, according to multiple sources involved.
All of that is true, but they're not going to be able to reverse that trend. Look at their ideas for solutions:
The solutions offered include neutralizing Democratic attacks that the GOP doesn’t support “fairness” for women; “deal honestly with any disagreement on abortion, then move to other issues”; and “pursue policy innovations that inspire women voters to give the GOP a ‘fresh look.’”
Oh yeah, I definitely want to give a fresh look to a party that won't even consider raising the minimum wage or offering policy suggestions to make my life better. Sure.
Republicans need to understand that the reason they're unpopular with women is because their policies suck, especially for women. And when they pound away at those policies like they're the holy grail without even bothering to listen to women, here's what happens:
Two policies former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor promoted as a way to make inroads with middle-class women and families — charter schools and flexible work schedules — were actually the least popular policies among female voters.
Yes, they were. And more to the point, being the party that has insisted upon obstructing all progress while behaving like sexist pigs at the same time has consequences at election time.
Did they really think they'd escape the natural results of what they've done for the past four years?
