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Former Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio) is the new head of the Main Street Partnership.

Nearly a year ago, Republicans for Environmental Protection gave up. The group didn't end its mission, exactly, it just decided to drop its party label. After years in which the Republican Party grew increasingly hostile towards science, environmental protections, and conservation efforts, "Republicans for Environmental Protection" was out; "ConservAmerica" was in.

As the Republican brand deteriorates, they're not the only ones who've decided to move away from the "R" word.

The Republican Main Street Partnership, a Washington-based group that has promoted moderate GOP lawmakers and policies, will remove the word "Republican" from its title and welcome center-right Democrats in 2013, Yahoo News has learned.

The organization's board of directors voted Tuesday morning to scrap party identification from its title and be known simply as "The Main Street Partnership." The group's new president, former Ohio Republican Rep. Steven LaTourette, told Yahoo News that he plans to begin conversations with Blue Dog Democrats and centrist groups in the coming months.

The group formerly known as the Republican Main Street Partnership also has a super PAC, Defending Main Street, and it too intends to start looking out for -- and talking to -- center-right members of both parties.

So, let me get this straight. The group that ostensibly exists to help moderate the Republican Party has grown so frustrated with the GOP's radicalism that it's giving up and starting to appeal to Democrats who may be more amenable to the organization's outreach?

As Josh Marshall put it, "In other words, the Republican Main Street Partnership doesn't seem to be able to find enough Republicans to be on Main Street."

We hear a lot from pundits about how Republicans would benefit from a Democratic Leadership Council-style group to help move the GOP from the extremes, following the Clinton-era model that worked to Democrats' electoral benefit 20 years ago.

And yet, with the Republican Main Street Partnership abandoning its party label altogether, the campaign to moderate the party is nowhere on the horizon.

Associated Press

Retiring Rep. Steven LaTourette (R-Ohio)

Rep. Steven LaTourette (R) of Ohio is wrapping up his 18-year career, and as he heads for the exits, the congressman -- a Republican moderate by 2012 standards -- is sharing some interesting insights as he reflects on what's become of Capitol Hill.

For example, LaTourette chatted with Dave Weigel about his party's confusion about earmarks, his caucus' unfortunate preoccupation with abortion votes, and the mistaken impeachment crusade against President Clinton in 1998. But this was the quote that stood out for me:

"Between 1996 and 1998 you get welfare reform, you kick out a major highway bill. You get a lot of good work done, and it was because Bill Clinton was willing to triangulate the Democrats. He'd actually reach out and talk to us. This president doesn't work with us at all."

I hear this quite a bit from Republicans: President Obama just hasn't worked hard enough to reach out to, and work with, his GOP rivals in Congress. And every time I come across the argument, I desperately want Republicans to explain what in the world they're talking about.

Let's say it's 2009, you're President Obama, you ran on a platform of bringing people together, and you're serious about following through on this commitment. What would you do? Maybe you'd appoint Republicans to key positions in your administration; you'd reach out for regular face-to-face meetings with Republican lawmakers; and you'd incorporate Republican ideas into your proposals on health care, foreign policy, energy, immigration, and education.

Except, Obama did all of those things. It didn't work.

Indeed, it's been largely forgotten, but in November 2008, shortly after the election, the Weekly Standard ran a piece with a list of steps Obama could take to prove that he's serious about bipartisan governing. The president did virtually everything on the list.

"This president doesn't work with us at all"? As best as I can tell, Obama's at least tried. I'm not sure anyone can credibly say the same about LaTourette's fellow Republicans.