The Next America Roundup: Postelection Opinions and Commentary

WEEKEND MUST-READS

Post-election columns and analyses raise enduring issues to be contemplated far beyond Nov. 6. Peruse last week's Pick 6.

Here are opinions and commentary that explore aspects of the ways shifting demographics are shaping policy and politics. 

THE NEXT AMERICA

First Step Toward Any Republican Revival Is Acceptance 
Ronald Brownstein, National Journal’s editorial director, says the GOP's soul-searching could lead the party to realize that it needs to appeal to a broader range of Americans.

Extra Points

• A Young Republican Looks Forward. Jeb Golinkin, a University of Texas law student, says he, like other young Republicans, will become the face of a very different conservative movement.
• The Return of the Obama Coalition. Demographers Ruy Teixiera and John Halprin say the president’s reelection is a nod to a decades-long progressive movement.

MULTIRACIAL AMERICA

America: Love It or Leave It Behind
Salon’s Joan Walsh says President Obama can only do so much, asserting that angry older whites must decide to embrace or secede from America’s multiracial future.

Extra Point

• After the White Establishment, What’s Next? Eric Liu, a former adviser to President Clinton, weighs for Time.com what it really means to be American.

IMMIGRATION REFORM
Time for a Path to Citizenship
Norm Coleman, in the Twin City’s Pioneer Press, says embracing our rule of law and our immigration heritage can be accomplished simultaneously, for Puerto Ricans and others who believe the U.S. shines the light of liberty and economic opportunity.
 

Extra Points

• The Amnesty Fantasy: A Single Policy Won’t Sway Hispanics. By Rich Lowry of the National Review.
• Immigration Is Suddenly En Vogue, but Not All Latinos Are Buying It. By Sylvia Puente of the Latino Policy Forum.
• GOP Wants to Fix Immigration, but Reform Might Come With Idea Like CitizenCorps. By Major Garrett, National Journal. 

ELECTION STRATEGY

5 ‘Gifts’ Romney Gave America
Ron Fournier, National Journal’s editor-in-chief, enumerates arenas where the Republican strategy went off track.

Extra Points

• The GOP Has Problems With White Voters Too. By Nate Cohn of The New Republic.
• Everything You Want to Know About the Tech Nerds Who Won for Obama Has Been Written. By Rebecca Greenfield, Atlantic Wire.
• Republicans Lost Because They Forgot About Marketing. By John Tantillo on FoxNews.com.

BEYOND LATINOS

How to Make Inroads With Asian-Americans
Skanda Amarnath, on The Daily Beast, explains why it’s actually listening to prospective voters.

FOREIGN POLICY

Migrants Are Also Neighbors
Geraldo Cadava, a Northwestern University history professor, says immigration reform is tightly aligned with reenvisioning policies with Mexico and other Latin American countries. 

Other commentary regarding race and demography, as shared via Atlantic Wire’s daily “Top 5 Columns” feature (subscribe here)

• Eugene Robinson in The Washington Post on Republicans' need to listen 
• Alex Pareene in Salon on Republican rebranding 
• Maureen Dowd in The New York Times on Romney's white male base 
• Sarah Westwood in The Wall Street Journal on college Republicans 

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