GOP Leaders May Finally Be Catching On

More importantly, both Ryan and Rubio seem to represent a new breed of Republican leaders who want to double down on the GOP's devotion to issues of fiscal responsibility, but couple them with policies that offer opportunity and hope to a large number of people who now view themselves as part of "the middle class" that clearly is drifting in the direction of not only a liberal but, in many ways, increasingly socialist leadership.

Some very strong conservatives have urged that even Republicans engage the White House and Democrats in Congress with blunt talk, spelling out clearly what they observe, pulling no punches. And it appears, with Boehner's declaration as to President Obama's intentions, even the "Establishment Republicans" might be reaching that point. They replaced the word "progressive," which is increasingly being used to label President Obama, with the more accurate label of "moderately socialist," when describing current Democratic policy in Washington.

But if Republicans are to start stating the obvious about the president's goals of redistributing wealth and resources through various policies and legislation, they must offer an attractive alternative.

That means by its very necessity embracing the needs of the nation's cities, finding a way to provide a path toward some form of legal worker status that requires paying taxes and no shortcut to actual citizenship. And, most importantly, that requires explaining how the Republican policies of lower taxes, less government and defense of personal liberties actually benefit the many voters who in November either chose Obama out of fear, on a coin toss or simply decided not to come out in support of Gov. Romney.

Republicans need more plain-speaking leaders who fight for providing opportunity to more people through less government intrusion. In other words, the Republicans truly do need more Jack Kemps.