This week, I wanted to do something different as far as this space that the editors of PolitickerMD.com so generously allow me to have. Recently, I gave a speech to the Republican Club of Northeast Baltimore County, and I will be posting the text of the speech below. Before I go further, I just want to say that despite being a registered Republican and conservative (which should be very obvious by now), I am a bi-partisan speaker -- I will speak to anyone.

This speech talks about what the Republicans can do to rebuild after the thumping received over the last two elections. The speech was giving at the monthly meeting of the RCNEBC on November 25.

The main focus of what I would like to talk about is where do the Republicans go from here. I believe that former Lt. Governor Michael Steele was very astute in his observation from last week, which should reassure many in this room. Steele, when he announced his plans to run for the chairman of the RNC, said “It is wrong to believe that voters have suddenly become liberal. They have just lost any sense of confidence that the Republican Party holds the answers to their problem.” This is honestly a dead on observation.

People needed answers, and that’s why Barack Obama is our president-elect. Are they the right answers? I do not believe so. Handouts and re-distributing wealth is a deterrent for those who aspire for the American dream and to lift themselves up from their current situation. Nevermind the fact that I believe he is going to use tax code hocus pocus to accomplish his goals. But the ideas were communicated well and he won, scoreboard. From a personal standpoint as far as covering the election, I am glad that it did not take two days, let alone a whole month like the last two. I prefer to have my sleep.

Getting back to my point. I think Mr. Steele is showing leadership because he is stepping up. Leaders do not sit by and wait to be picked, they step out and take the lead. That seemed to be the one thing missing from the Republican party, someone stepping up. Now, I assure you, that I am not running for the job, but I would like to step up and present some thoughts I have about what I would like to see the GOP do.

For starters, we need to practice what we preach when it comes to being better people in general. Tom Delay and Ted Stevens were wrapped up in legal issues. We also learned within the past couple of years that Newt Gingrich, had a creeper during the time of Lewinsky-gate. For those who are not hip to the lingo, a creeper is a “significant other.” In addition to that, many in the GOP demonized those who did not agree with President Bush as un-American and un-patriotic. For one thing, such characterizations are childish.

We need to learn that dissent does not mean disloyalty, especially now that the shoe is on the other foot and as we learned from this election cycle where disagreement means racism, more on that in a moment. Recently, I produced an interview of Lt. General Julius Becton, who said those words. He further explained that he did not need a bunch of yes men around him because they were of no good to him. I can understand this whole-heartedly. Having some dissent means that you will be looking at all possible angles to come up with a better solution.

Another thing I would say to party leadership is that no matter what set of principles we decide on, we need to stick to them. People will respect those who are not wishy-washy and are doing things because they believe in it. I am hopeful that this lesson has just been realized with the recent warning to Ted Stevens that he would be kicked out of the Senate if he won the election…thank God he lost. More importantly, thank God the party handled this quickly and without hesitation.

Next, I would encourage Republicans to reach out beyond the comfort area of the old white guys. That means going everywhere and telling everyone what the Republicans believe in. When I mean everyone, I mean everyone, different minorities, different religions…everyone. Republicans still have this stigma of being the party of not just rich people, but racists, particularly in the black community.

One example was from a book I read over the summer called “The Truth in Black & White” by Harry R. Jackson Jr. Bishop Jackson just happens to be a pastor of a church in my home county of Prince George’s. He talked about in 2004 trying to arrange a meeting between several influential leaders of black churches and the two major party candidates for President. Jackson wrote in his book that while the Republicans were willing to talk, the Democrats had not expressed a willingness to deal with the group’s issues. In addition, the black church leaders were already committed to Kerry and the leaders themselves did not want to associate themselves with Republicans.

I recently had a falling out with Doni Glover, the gentleman who publishes BmoreNews.com because I was going to vote my values and beliefs over my race. Glover asked me point blank in a phone call one night, how can I align myself with a group of people who do not give a [bleep] about Black people? I then reminded him about how the $700 billion dollar was handled. At this point, no one in Congress cares about White people, let alone black people. The last time I was on his show was Election Day. I was ready to talk politics, but I walked into a room that was full of hate where my blackness was questioned.

Glover explained that he does not buy into labels, but then proceeded at full speed to label himself a Black Man in America. I told him and I will tell you all tonight, above being a Black Man and a Republican, I am a Christian first. God has brought me this far and I know that he will carry me the rest of the way. By the way, you have to love how people who say they do not like labels use them more than anyone.

In addition to the racists like Glover, you have people who want to keep the ignorance alive and well like Maryland Democratic Party spokesman David Paulson, who a few months ago, used his space on PolitickerMD.com to completely twist a listeners phone call to The Ehrlich’s program on WBAL Radio. Dee in Jarrettsville believed that Obama couldn’t reconcile the races because of his known associations with extremists. Paulson made it sound as if she was a crazy racist from Harford County. I believe that Dee was a black woman. I do not hear too many whites talking about being brainwashed by Democrats.

So between those who believe like Doni Glover and those who maneuver like David Paulson, Republicans have their work cut out for them. No one said doing the right thing would be easy. So in 2010, we need to tell the state party to go any and everywhere in Maryland if they want to prove that Republicans are not racist and we are not all rich. Notice that I did not say compromise the message.

Many of you probably read my proclamation on Politicker earlier this year that Ronald Reagan is dead. I said that, not because I thought he was a horrible President, I thought looking back he was a good President. I said that because Republicans are not looking toward the future. I will say this about Reagan…he kept to the script. He said his message without compromise and standing on his own principles, without trading on anyone in the past. It’s time we start standing on our own two feet.

Now to the future, the GOP also needs to start embracing young people. Maryland in particular needs to start building and growing it’s farm system. Quite frankly, I do not want to see another John Kimball like character run for another office under the Republican Party. For those who don’t know, Mr. Kimball’s claim to fame was running against Al Wynn in 2000, using Wynn’s estranged wife on the robo-call. The message was in poor taste and an embarrassment to common decency, let alone Republicans.

So to wrap up my ideas on rebuilding, set principles and stick to them, practice what we preach, reach out to everyone and everywhere, embrace the young and recruit credible and believable candidates. These small moves will help regain the trust of the people and restore their faith in the Republican Party.

P. Kenneth Burns is a broadcaster and journalist who blogs at Maryland Politics Today and blog.kennyburns.com.
P. KENNETH BURNS can be reached via email at kenny@kennyburns.com.