Some - clearly including a few of those on this site - would like nothing more than for the Republican party to abandon social conservatism in the name of a hands-off libertarian strategy that says "I don't care what you do, just don't bother me". While this sounds to many like paradise... more
Some - clearly including a few of those on this site - would like nothing more than for the Republican party to abandon social conservatism in the name of a hands-off libertarian strategy that says "I don't care what you do, just don't bother me". While this sounds to many like paradise, it is in fact a dangerous strategy that would set the GOP and America itself on the road to an early death.
Social Conservatism, with strong families, support for life, and a firm committment to traditional values is essential to America's survival. Weak homes - the result of on-demand abortion and the destruction of traditional marriage - breed a generation of Americans that will be more dependent on the government from everything from the food they eat the morals they learn. That, in turn, will consume more and more resources as our economy suffers from the entrance of this generation into the work force. The ultimate end, of course, is a weakened position for America in the world, and our relegation to becoming the France of the 21st century.
Republicans must launch a drive that will not only drive the hypocrites from the party, but return the GOP to its socially conservative roots, and, at the same time, begin a national campaign to remind and convince Americans of the importance of traditional values.
ProudPatriot
I think r€nato said all that needs to be said on this one!
Aggiecowboy
Strongly disagree. Social morals cannot be dictated by law. The only thing that succeeds in doing is driving the behavior underground making it unsafe and/or even more popular. Remember what happened when the religious right pushed prohibition? Remember when abortion was illegal? Laws didn't stop people from drinking or getting abortion. Freedom of Choice trumps religious morals.
jrgunn
Agreed. It was this message, spoken by Governor Palin, that brought out tens of thousands of people. Without her and that message, McCain would have lost by much, much more.
kewpie3
>>Social Conservatism, with strong families, support for life, and a firm committment to traditional values<<
Those are appealing ideas to most people. It's not saying "agree or leave" it's that we "live our values." I mean, who doesn't want a strong family? Without tying these to a particular religion, they are principles that most people understand and agree with.
maggot
It's for sure that the last thing we need is a weakened position in the world.
righty64
I think by hypocrites, you mean people who run as social conservatives but then abandon those ideas when elected. Correct? I agree. We do not need any more Mark Foleys, Larry Craigs, the pervert wing. And we do not need the Duke Cunningham take the money and run types either. We need to have more people like Sarah Palin who live their values running for office.
bamapachyderm
"Republicans must launch a drive that will not only drive the hypocrites from the party"
No. Politics is about addition, not subtraction. The way to do this is sell the ideas, not banish those who don't fall in lockstep.
Conservative values are not a hard sell, if the message (and messenger) is right. "Agree or leave" is precisely the wrong way to sell the ideas!