Four Comments About Newmajority Comments

We've had a lot of very interesting comments here at NewMajority over the past 48 hours, and I'd like to say a word or two in reply.

First: Many commenters have urged that authors of the original blogpost join the comment thread and respond to particularly trenchant points. I note that some of our bloggers already do this - Jeffery Singer for example - and I'd certainly recommend that other bloggers follow if they can. I will make this a policy myself as well, once the frenzy of these early launch weeks subsides.

Second: I thank all commenters who have offered suggestions about how to make the comments section work better. This week has been something of a shakedown cruise, where we've learned a lot about how people will actually use the site. Before we were just guessing. We'll adjust accordingly. We always appreciate input. If you want to communicate directly, please write to me at Editor@FrumForum.com - and (another suggestion) we'll tinker with the design to make sure that address is featured more prominently.

Third: Many commenters here complain that some other commenters are not "really" Republicans or conservatives. When abusive or uncivil or irrelevant comments are brought to our attention, we remove them. That said, please understand who this site is for. It is not only for people who currently identify as Republicans or conservatives. I am not satisfied with the shriveled state of our party, and our supreme goal here at NewMajority is to enlarge it. That means we have to do a couple of things that have become very unwelcome in the conservative world in the past while. We have to join the conversation with people who might be open to our arguments even if they do not fully agree with all of them - and (more difficult still) not only do we have to talk at them, but we have to listen to them.

Two comments I have plucked from the comments thread illustrate what I mean, both for good and for ill.

Here's from a reader who used to be a Reagan Republican, but who has now been lost. When Fox News tells us that 85% of Republicans feel positively about Sarah Palin, they are not telling us much. The question is: what do ex-Republicans and potential Republicans think about? 85% of 46% of the vote = 39%. Not so good.

I was a Schedule C during the 2nd Reagan administration but I am no longer involved in the party or politics at all. But the Palin clothes are disturbing to me on two fronts and the fate of the clothes - stashed, returned or contributed don't ease that problem. I am STILL baffled that such an extraordinary figure could be spent on clothes for Gov. Palin and her family in such a short timeframe and that it was determined appropriate in the first place. When I read Frum's piece and his point about the involvement of the current Chairmanship frontrunner, I tried to imagine what the Frank Fahrenkopf RNC would have done concerning such clothes - either at the acquisition stage or the distribution stage. I'm not sure. For me - the give away still is an evasion of the real issue - how and why were $180,000 spent on clothing for the vice-presidential candidate? It is appalling to me and I have yet to read an answer that even makes sense. Frum - help me out here. How was that justified in the first place???????

Now this, from a social conservative reader. Question for us all to contemplate: If somebody tells you that they want your vote, but not your input - that they will accept your support but grant you no respect in return, how would YOU react? And why should Republicans expect the vast millions of centrist independent voters who sway elections to feel otherwise? We can learn from people even when we disagree with them. I personally lean very strongly to the social conservative side of most issues. But watching what has happened to our party - and oh by the way, to public policy - since 1998, I've slowly and maybe too grudgingly come to accept that we need more inclusion, more dialogue, and more regard for the views of others. Ask yourself only this: Whatever their other merits, as between Barack Obama and John McCain (never mind George Bush!), whom would you describe as the better listener? And do you think it's a total coincidence that he's the one who won?

People like you are not needed in the party. Don't get me wrong. Conservatives should encourage you to vote Repub, but people like you should be no where near the policy-making apparatus of our party …