GOP takes stock of Silicon Valley

When House Speaker John Boehner attends a GOP fundraiser in Silicon Valley on May 17, he'll find himself in the midst of an industry that generally considers Washington a nuisance and Republicans even worse.

The Valley's tech titans backed President Barack Obama overwhelmingly in 2008, and young Republicans here downplay their party affiliation — for fear of becoming social pariahs. Valley watchers say Speaker Boehner needs to present himself as a pragmatist rather than an ideologue — someone who is serious about solving the nation's economic problems without the baggage of GOP social issues, like the fight against abortion or gay marriage. Boehner’s political sales pitch should zero in on the needs of entrepreneurs, said Tim Draper, of Draper Fisher Jurvetson, a venture capital firm on Silicon Valley’s money highway, Sand Hill Road. Draper, who generally supports Republicans, suggested that all politicians visiting the tech industry should begin with a pledge: “‘I promise to leave your innovative businesses alone to grow, create jobs and wealth, and to change the world for the better.’” To talk the talk, Republicans should address the tech industry’s top concerns — such as immigration and K-12 education. “If our K-12 schools don't improve, particularly in science, business and math, our country will not generate the next Mark Zuckerberg, or Bill Gates, and the Larry’s and Sergey’s will start their businesses in other countries,” Draper said.