The Imperative of an Inspiring Platform: Fostering Growth and Donations for the Ohio State Republican Party

We need to expect a pursuit of exceptionalism for County and State party Central Committee members. A poor platform beget a poor political party.

Why should Ohioans care about a document that few non-politicians will ever read? The answer is because of the influence the two major party platforms have on public policy. While a platform is not binding to politicians, political scientists have found that over the past 30 years lawmakers in Congress tend to vote in line with their party’s platform: 89 percent of the time for Republicans and 79 percent of the time for Democrats. For this reason all Ohioans should be aware of what is proposed in these documents and how they may affect the welfare of our nation (Jeremiah 29:7).

We should also point out on a study of State Platforms and State Parties that those State Parties without without a platform or similar set of goals tend to be heavily influenced by lobbyists. The people really end up having very little say and the Republican legislators of those states tend to be much more moderate. Republican states without a platform do not have as high of a standard of living as those State parties with a platform.

There is a critical necessity for the Ohio State Republican Party to adopt a meaningful and substantive platform that resonates with Ohio Republicans and kindles their passion. A platform devoid of inspiration, aspiring goals, and a direction is inherently counterproductive, hampering the party's growth and hindering the generation of crucial donations. The argument revolves around the idea that an inspiring platform is not just a political nicety but an essential catalyst for mobilizing support, attracting new members, and ensuring a thriving Republican Party in Ohio.

I’ve taken the time to review the platform that will be submitted to the Ohio Republican State Central Committee for approval from the platform committee and I am more than a bit underwhelmed. The Ohio State Republican Party is at a crossroads, facing the challenge of crafting a platform that genuinely excites and motivates Ohio Republicans. The question that looms large is: can a party truly thrive without a platform that inspires its members? I aim to provide a compelling argument in favor of adopting an inspiring platform to grow the party and boost donations.

Mobilizing Support:

An uninspiring platform fails to rally the party's base. Ohio Republicans are diverse, with a wide array of policy preferences, but they unite under the shared values. A compelling platform that embodies these values not only invigorates the party's core supporters but also draws in more Ohioans who align with these principles. An uninspiring platform, conversely, runs the risk of leaving the Republican base disheartened, reducing voter turnout, and weakening the party's overall influence. While Ohio has a little less population than Pennsylvania it routinely has a million more registered Republicans. When we compare our State to all the State as a percentage of population - we see that our Ohio party ranks near the bottom - 39th. Why does Ohio not have more registered Republicans when Repubicans have dominate State government for more than a decade and has super majorities in the Ohio House and Senate?

Attracting New Members

A platform that resonates with Ohio Republicans is a powerful tool for attracting new members to the party. It presents an opportunity to engage with disaffected voters from other political affiliations and encourages them to switch allegiances. Additionally, an inspiring platform can attract younger generations, making the party more inclusive and reflective of the evolving demographics of Ohio. In contrast, a lackluster platform may deter potential new members and contribute to stagnation in the party's growth.

Boosting Donations

For any political party, financial support is crucial for running effective campaigns, organizing grassroots efforts, and promoting its message. An uninspiring platform can hamper fundraising efforts, as donors are less inclined to invest in a cause they don't feel passionate about. In contrast, a platform that resonates with Ohio Republicans can energize supporters to open their wallets and contribute generously to the party's coffers.

Reinforcing the Party's Identity

An inspiring platform reinforces the identity of the Ohio State Republican Party. It communicates a clear vision, a set of values, and a plan of action that Republicans can rally behind. A well-defined platform fosters a sense of belonging and purpose among party members, enhancing party unity and cohesiveness.

The Hallmarks of a Good Platform

It is easy to have arguments of what a good platform is. Many members get confuse the purpose of a State Platform. Many County parties adopt platforms that are not really platforms. It is important for the Party to convey what their values and beliefs are - but these are high-level items. The purpose of a state platform is not to restate the National platform. The National platform is a high-level document that very much conveys beliefs and values that should be common for all Republicans.

A State platform is much different than the National platform as the state platform is supposed to be a document conveying the legislative objectives that the party wants to see passed. A good platform is not drafted in a bubble - A Stateplatform should be a collaboration of the Ohio Republican State Central Committee, The chairmen of the various County Central Committees, and if the Governor, Speaker of the House, and Senate President are Republicans they should be included as well.

Here is a value or a belief statement:

Liberty is the cornerstone of our democratic Republic and the source of individual freedom.  We will defend the rights of a free people against any form of unjust coercion in government, in religion, in business, in education, in healthcare, in self-defense, and in free expression.

Here is a platform plank:

Passage of legislation that prohibits the discrimination or harassment of Ohioans refusing to participate with public health orders or with public health standards that require the sharing of personal medical information and do not provide due process.

Do you see the difference between a value statement and a platform plank? Platform planks are high-level legislative objectives that have enough detail that you can ascertain with some sort of measurement if they have or have not been completed.

Citizen Lobbyists

The Republican State Central Committee and the various Republican County Central Committee members should be thought of as lobbyists for you. If you are trying to influence a change in County Government you should be able to meet with a County Central Committee member and discuss the best path forward. If you want to influence change in State Government you should be able to meet and discuss this change with your State Central Committee member.

There is of course always the argument that many in the establishment will say is that as members of the State or County Central Committee - that members of such organizations do not tell officeholders what to do.

The purpose of a political party is to help educate voters so that they have a reasonable estimation of how their officeholders will vote on legislation. For instance - Democrats are for abortion and Republicans are pro-life. The party platform planks are the high level legislative objectives. This is akin to a company’s board of directors setting goals for a CEO to hit. Setting popular goals helps to drive donations and grass roots volunteerism.

Conclusion

In the ever-evolving landscape of politics, a compelling and inspiring platform is not just a political luxury; it is an absolute necessity. The Ohio State Republican Party, to secure its future and maintain its relevance, must adopt a platform that Ohio Republicans are passionate about. Such a platform is not only a magnet for support and membership but also a catalyst for generating crucial donations. A lackluster platform, on the other hand, is a disservice to the party's mission, potentially undermining its growth and influence. In an age where political engagement is driven by conviction and inspiration, a vibrant and relevant platform is the cornerstone of success for the Ohio State Republican Party.