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The perception that we’re the party of the rich unfortunately continues to grow

He made the comments immediately after declaring Monday “Day One” of the party’s push to change perceptions the audit uncovered – that the GOP is “narrow minded,” “out of touch” and “stuffy old men.” 

“The perception that we’re the party of the rich unfortunately continues to grow,” Priebus said as he released the report, drawn up by panelists with strong ties to “big-tent” Republicans who have long favored more inclusive policies opposed by ideological purists. 

Priebus said the RNC would spend $10 million this year, an unprecedented amount in a non-election year, to hire hundreds of workers to network with, court and register minority voters. 

“We’ve never put this many paid boots on the ground this early in an off year,” he said. “ We’ve also never been this dedicated to working at the community level, to win minority votes, household to household.” 

Philosophical Divisions

Some of the report’s proposed mechanical changes could be accomplished with adequate funding; those that call for a philosophical pivot — becoming more accepting of those who disagree with the party’s positions — will be harder to enforce.  Candidates straying from Republican doctrine in recent years have been penalized by the party’s base in elections. 

“Our standard should not be universal purity,” Sally Bradshaw, one of the report’s authors and a longtime consultant to former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, said at a briefing today. 

The report, which includes more than 200 recommendations and runs almost 100 pages, is often blunt.