viewpoints » S end letters to: letters@thejewishnews.com DETROIT JEWISH NEWS theJEWISHNEWS.com guest column Arthur M. Horwitz Publisher / Executive Editor ahorwitz@renmedia.us Future Of The Republican Party: Unity F. Kevin Browett Chief Operating Officer kbrowett@renmedia.us | Editorial F amily unity — working together. parents, Marjory and Donald Epstein. Last Sunday, I spoke at Temple We each have unique qualities that Beth El on the future of the enhance not just our family unit person- Republican Party. As would be custom- ally, but our company professionally as well ary for any Jewish parent, my own mother as we work together to grow our business. asked me the best question of all: What Most importantly, we support one another do you recommend families each day. divided from this election do on For example, as I embarked on a Thanksgiving? My answer was summer of campaigning for the GOP, simple: Come together and be it was my sister and parents, all liber- thankful. als and independents, who encour- People are sick and tired of aged and supported me to champion being sick and tired. In an elec- my convictions. I am better — we tion like the one that just took are better — because of our unwav- place, there was one winner ering support for each other. — but the American people are Similarly, the Republican Party Lena Epstein hurting and that was made clear. needs to spend the next four years Both parties were sent a direct trying to figure out how to effectively message this election, a message that will be a productive family. We don’t have to require each of them to change if they hope agree with one another all the time, but we to stay relevant. need to have open minds and a willingness Our family units represent a perfect anal- to support each other despite our disagree- ogy to the current state of our politics and ments. the future of not only the Republican Party, President-elect Trump has shown tre- but also politics in general. Like a family, if mendous leadership so far in this concept, either party wants to thrive, both individu- committed to assembling a team of rivals ally and collectively, it is the strength of to better not just the Republican family, but all its members working together that will the American family of which we are all a secure its success. part as well. I am blessed to see how this works first- In fact, he met with Gov. Mitt Romney, hand, not just in my various roles within one of his most vocal critics during the the Republican Party, but every day on campaign season, and yet was considered both personal and professional levels. I am for one of the most important positions in fortunate to be a third-generation co-owner the new administration’s cabinet, Secretary of my family business, Vesco Oil Company, of State. The message is undeniable: It’s time alongside my sister, Lilly Stotland, and our to unite. As younger generations constitute a big- ger proportion of voters, the demands of the electorate continue to change and so, too, should both political parties that look to capture their support. When looking at the exit polling, Trump did better with racial minorities and women than Romney in 2012 — a fact that is often overlooked in the mainstream media. The GOP’s future potential will be subject to Republicans’ willingness to embrace Trump’s populism while at the same time stripping out the baggage of some support- ers, conveying that this new movement for change is not just for older white men, but for all Americans, the entire family. My success, personally and profession- ally, is founded in the constant love and support I receive from my family. It is often forgotten, not just in the media, but in Washington, too, that the founding prin- ciples of our party 162 years ago were first and foremost a powerful stance of love and support for all people — for equality — the party was a champion against the oppressive institution of slavery. Lincoln’s party, the Republican Party, was not just founded on tolerance, but on the idea of truly embodying, ironically as it may sound to some Clinton supporters, the idea that we as a people, as a country, as a family are “stronger together.” United we stand. I agree. * Lena Epstein was the state co-chair for the Donald Trump presidential campaign in Michigan. Managing Editor: Jackie Headapohl jheadapohl@renmedia.us Story Development Editor: Keri Guten Cohen kcohen@thejewishnews.com Arts & Life Editor: Lynne Konstantin lkonstantin@renmedia.us Senior Copy Editor: David Sachs dsachs@renmedia.us Editorial Assistant: Sy Manello smanello@renmedia.us Senior Columnist: Danny Raskin dannyraskin@sbcglobal.net Contributing Editor: Robert Sklar rsklar@renmedia.us Contributing Writers: Ruthan Brodsky, Suzanne Chessler, Annabel Cohen, Don Cohen, Shari S. 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