WASHINGTON — This was to be a roadmap for a new, more inclusive Republican Party: attract minority voters, support immigration reform and embrace “welcoming and inclusive” attitudes on gay rights.

But minutes after unveiling the proposal Monday, the party chairman distanced himself from it, and some conservatives and tea partyers balked.

It all illustrated the Republican Party’s precarious balance as it works to unite battling factions.

“This is not my report,” Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus told reporters, describing the contents as simply recommendations by a five-person panel – even though he was the person who had commissioned the self-audit after the party lost a second consecutive presidential election last fall.

He made the comments immediately after declaring Monday “Day One” of the party’s push to change perceptions the audit uncovered – that the Republican Party is “narrow minded,” “out of touch” and “stuffy old men.”

“The perception that we’re the party of the rich unfortunately continues to grow,” Priebus said as he released the report, drawn up by panelists with strong ties to “big-tent” Republicans who have long favored more inclusive policies opposed by ideological purists.

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Conservative and tea party criticism was immediate, a sign that the prescriptions may end up widening existing divides rather than building new bridges in an evolving Republican Party.

“The idea that a major political party must accept the practice of homosexuality as normal so as to remain relevant will prove the contrary and lead to disaster,” said John Horvat II, a Catholic scholar.

And Jenny Beth Martin, national coordinator for the Tea Party Patriots, faulted Washington Republican establishment leaders for the November losses, saying they strayed from the conservative message.

“Americans and those in the tea party movement don’t need an ‘autopsy’ report from RNC to know they failed to promote our principles and lost because of it,” she said.

Priebus, the party chairman, released the audit’s findings two days after conservatives wrapped up an annual conference in which tea party favorites including Sens. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Ted Cruz of Texas drew applause for their blunt critiques of the Republican Party as antiquated and sometimes unprincipled.

At the weekend gathering, conservative pundits including Ann Coulter derided comprehensive immigration reform as a form of amnesty, and organizers initially blocked a group of gay Republicans from participating in the event.

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The report also comes as Democrats work to capitalize on Republican fissures, with President Obama courting Republican members of Congress in recent weeks in hopes of getting some to side with his party on major issues before Congress, and as divisions among Republicans are on full display.

Several congressional Republicans are working with Democrats on a comprehensive immigration overhaul plan, and last Friday Ohio Sen. Rob Portman — seen as a pillar of the party establishment — became the latest high-profile Republican to announce his support for gay marriage.

Despite party disagreements, the 100-page audit recommended a $10 million minority outreach program designed to market the Republican brand to gay voters, women and racial minorities, a proposal that comes just months after those voting groups helped propel Obama to re-election. The audit also proposes that Republicans take a harder line with corporate America, loosen political fundraising laws across the nation, and cut in half the number of candidate debates in a shortened 2016 presidential primary calendar.

Priebus described the recommendations as unprecedented in scope and ambition. He’s trying change his party’s tone on divisive issues that alienate the voters the Republican Party wants to reach. But he’s also being careful not to fully embrace the proposals out of a concern that he could enrage his most passionate voters by endorsing changes to underlying policies in the Republican platform that oppose both gay marriage and allowing illegal immigrants to achieve citizenship.

“There is not an easy path for this,” said veteran Republican strategist Sally Bradshaw. “These are difficult recommendations.”


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