College Republicans, Like Old Republicans, Think Twitter Will Solve Their Problems

Despite having no real solutions to offer and little interest in abandoning their divisive social agenda (notwithstanding the opinions of a few unelected renegades), many Republicans see a clear path back to power: Twitter.

Last month, Rep. Pat McHenry (R-NC) told a group of conservative bloggers that the GOP needs Twitter and Facebook more than new ideas. Now it seems the College Republican National Committee -- "a famously cutthroat operation" where "Karl Rove and Lee Atwater learned the ropes" -- is taking a similar approach. Slate attended the group's annual convention and reports that the group is "working on its technological chops," including Twitter:

The group is also working on its technological chops, which outgoing president Charlie Smith told me should be the CNRC's No.1 priority going forward. David All, of the eponymous conservative media consulting group, tried to persuade a less-than-capacity crowd that Twitter was the future. "That's the thing that we need to embrace and evangelize every single day," he said. "We have a massive opportunity to grow the pie of conservatism because of the quickness of Twitter and because everyone is jumping on board."

When he asked who was on Twitter, about half those assembled raised their hands. Only a couple -- including Charlie Smith -- used the #crnc tag. One member piped up skeptically: "What is Twitter? I don't get it, I use it kind of begrudgingly."

Of course, we're talking about the medium that made possible Sen. Chuck Grassley's brilliant messaging this weekend, when he tweeted:

Pres Obama while u sightseeing in Paris u said 'time to delivr on healthcare' When you are a hammer u think evrything is a NAIL I'm no NAIL

As Steve Benen previously pointed out, "It's not the account, it's what you do with it." He added, "Are Republicans making an effort to embrace a new medium? Sure. Are they doing it well? Not quite yet."