Republicans’ Advice to Republicans

SENATOR TOM COBURN

of Oklahoma, on NBC’s “Meet the Press”

“Sell a vision that’s positive for America, not a negative vision about what’s wrong with America. I think you have to have both, but we didn’t sell a positive vision.”

FORMER GOV. MIKE HUCKABEE

of Arkansas, host of Fox News’s “Huckabee”

“You appeal to their dreams and their hopes. The Republicans sometimes appeal to a sense of guilt and shame.”

LISA STICKAN

Chairwoman of the Young Republican National Federation

To recent college graduates looking for jobs and trying to pay off student loans, the G.O.P. should say: “We don’t want you buried in debt; we don’t want you buried in the national debt.”

TOM MORRISSEY

Chairman of the Arizona Republican Party

Make certain immigration legislation “is worded so that it’s fair and reasonable, so that it can be supported by enough people to make it work. Remember you’re dealing with people. You’re not dealing with numbers.”

JIMMY LASALVIA

Executive director of GOProud

“The political reality on [gay marriage] was different 10 years ago, but now the political reality is that that issue is a loser for Republicans.”

JESSE BENTON

Manager of Ron Paul’s presidential campaign

“We need to be more respectful of the grass roots, listen more to the grass roots, turn the grass roots loose.”

WILLIAM KRISTOL

Editor of The Weekly Standard, on “Fox News Sunday”

“Republicans have some Tea Party problems and some establishment problems, and, basically, they should get away from either maniacally defending the establishment or maniacally defending the Tea Party.”

JENNY BETH MARTIN

National coordinator of Tea Party Patriots, at a news conference in Washington a day after the election

“What we got was a weak moderate candidate handpicked by the Beltway elites and country club establishment wing of the Republican Party. The presidential loss is unequivocally on them. The Tea Party is the last best hope America has to restore her founding principles.”

MEGHAN MCCAIN

Political columnist and blogger and daughter of Senator John McCain, posted on Twitter via @McCainBlogette

“Moderate Republicans can help change minds from the inside out. This party can evolve with the times. I’m not giving up, neither should you.”

REPRESENTATIVE CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS

of Washington, on CNN’s “State of the Union”

“I don’t think it’s about the Republican Party needing to become more moderate. I really believe it’s the Republican Party becoming more modern.”