The Changing Landscape of the GOP

How did Dave Brat, a virtual unknown, defeat House Majority Leader Eric Cantor in his home district?  The answer to this question shows the rise of an alternative electorate – and while GOP strategists are still dictating tried-and-true analog strategy, this battle was won and lost online. The tea party is leveraging social media and talk radio to swell their ranks and turn out voters.  

Also this week, former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s federal trial begins this week on federal charges stemming from gifts he received from a wealthy political supporter.  But with debates still raging on in the US on the Supreme Court’s controversial Citizens United ruling, giving individuals and corporations even more opportunity to give gifts and cash to politicians, we examine the issues from various perspectives.  We also discuss government transparency in the digital age and whether emerging web tools can give more power back to the people.

Guests

Alex Howard, Columnist, TechRepublic

Twitter: @digiphile /Website: techrepublic.com/Blog: E Pluribus Unum

Suhail Khan, Conservative Activist/Former Bush Administration Appointee 

Twitter: @suhail_a_khan

Manu Raju, Senior congressional reporter, POLITICO

Twitter: @mkraju / Website: Politico.com

Ilya Shapiro, Senior Fellow in Constitutional Studies, Cato Institute

Twitter: @ishapiro / Website: cato.org