New Project Surveys Local Republican Leaders, Finds Worries About 'Socialism'

As the debate over the Republican brand continues, a new project is giving local party leaders a chance to voice their concerns about the direction of the GOP and of the country. The GOP Speaks asks Republicans at the grassroots level to respond to seven questions about the party's focus, President Obama's agenda, and different voices in the conservative movement. So far, 17 local Republican officials have taken the survey, and their answers show widespread concern about "socialism," individual liberties, and the disconnect of the national Republican leaders from rank-and-file members of the party.

Conor Friedersdorf, a pundit who frequently contributes to The Atlantic, the American Scene, and The Daily Beast, devised the survey as a way to find out what Republicans at the local level think. "I've started e-mailing a questionnaire to various Republican Party County Chairmen," Friedersdorf wrote in his introduction. "Ultimately I hope to reach them all." He told Politics Daily that he is urging GOP county chairmen to contact him, as well as anyone with lists of local GOP contacts.

The survey asks local leaders where they believe the party should focus its energy, what they find what most worrisome about the Obama administration, and how they view conservative pundits like Glenn Beck and Sean Hannity. Other questions address broad questions about the GOP "coalition" of various conservative factions.

The answers the project has received so far reveal a wide variety of concerns and policy visions, but also show strong trends. First and foremost on local Republicans' minds, it seems, are vague worries about "socialism" and the creeping infringement on personal freedom.

"The Party should focus its energy on retaking personal liberties," wrote Jeff Limón, chairman of the Benton County Republican Party in Oregon. "There has been a slow and steady erosion of our liberties since the Roosevelt administration. Our objective should be to retake those liberties, and in doing so, increase the entrepreneurial spirit that has made America great." An anonymous respondent captured a general sentiment: "Obama's socalist tendencies and his constant campaigning away from Washington are very troubling." Another, explaining what most disturbs him about President Obama, said it is the president's "plan to fundamentally change the U.S. as we know it and as it was envisioned by our founders."

Questions about conservative media personalities received mixed reactions -- some admitted they don't listen to conservative talk radio, one said he finds Beck "a little scary" -- but most seemed to think the combined forces of conservative pundits keep the right informed and active.