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Is It Time for the GOP to Abandon Social Conservatism?
Editor’s note: We’ll be discussing this story and all the day’s political news on our live BlazeCast at 1:30pm ET:
Is it time for the Republican Party to abandon social conservatism?
That question likely creates knots in the stomachs of pro-life individuals who also believe ardently in the defense of traditional marriage. But in the wake of President Barack Obama’s victory, an ongoing search has commenced for the basis of defeat and, simultaneously, for the heart and soul of the Republican Party. Naturally, some are certainly wondering where social issues fit into the mix.
And who could overlook the anxious excitement among some who’d like nothing more than to gleefully scribble an obituary for the nation’s so-called “religious right.” But are these detractors drawing conclusions too quickly — or are they correct in their assertions? With less than 72 hours passing since the conclusion of the electoral race, it’s hard to tell.
Before we get into the specifics and explore these claims, let’s examine where the general public falls on the two, key social issues of importance: abortion and same-sex marriage. To do this, we can look closely at FOX News’ exit polling data, which provides information about how voters view these issues.
WHERE AMERICANS STAND ON ABORTION
When asked to provide an assessment of whether abortion should be permitted, 59 percent of the 5,131 voters consulted said that the procedure should be “legal,” with 36 percent choosing “illegal.” Now, it’s important to note that people are only being given two options here — something that pigeonholes voters into choosing extremes, despite having potentially mixed views on the multifaceted subject.
When a separate question was asked — one that allowed voters to choose between different, more specified options, the results were fascinating. Only 29 percent of the nation said that abortion should be “legal in all cases,” although a combined 59 percent said that in should at least be “legal in some cases.” But on the flip side, 23 percent said that it should be “illegal in most cases,” with an additional 13 percent calling for it not to be allowed in any case. Here’s the table:
Photo Credit: FOX News
From a policy standpoint, there’s no doubt here that the current schema is more favorable to the pro-choice movement (and that, if we’re strictly speaking about policy, pro-choice candidates may resonate with more voters). But, as stated, abortion is a complex subject — one that can’t be measured by one, or even two, polling questions.
In May, TheBlaze highlighted some of the ideological transformations that may be afoot when it comes to the issue of abortion. Among Gallup’s fascinating findings at the time, the proportion of Americans calling themselves pro-choice is at a record low — a decline that is seen among all three U.S. political groups (Democrat, Republican and Independent).
Overall, the 2012 results showed that 50 percent of the nation calls itself “pro-life,” with only 41 percent claiming to be “pro-choice.” In 2011, 49 percent of the nation called itself pro-choice, with an additional 45 percent claiming that they were pro-life. In 2010, the results were similar, as 45 percent were pro-choice and 47 percent were pro-life.
The 2012 number clearly show a shift in personal perspective away from abortion. But — let’s not forget the important difference between the Gallup question and the information being explored in the exit poll. While Gallup was asking for personal perspective, the exit poll focused upon policy. The point here: It’s entirely possible to call oneself pro-life, but to still favor laws that give women “choice” on the abortion front.
WHERE AMERICANS STAND ON GAY MARRIAGE
Same-sex marriage is another highly-controversial issue that social conservatives have overwhelmingly rejected. While politically-flammable, it’s also a subject that is seemingly easier to measure — and one on which Americans are firmly divided.
According to FOX News’ exit polls, 49 percent of the nation believe that their state should “legally recognize same-sex marriage.” An additional 46 percent, however, do not agree with this sentiment. On yet another issue, America is divided (however, the nation is more equally split on the policy perspective associated with this issue than it is on abortion).
According to Gallup’s 2012 findings, 50 percent of the nation supports gay marriage and 48 percent does not believe that nuptials for same-sex couples should be legally affirmed. In the past, The Blaze also analyzed the 2011 numbers, which found for the first time since Gallup began asking questions about same-sex marriage, that more than 50 percent of the American public supported legalizing gay unions (53 percent to be exact).
While the 2012 numbers showed somewhat of a decline in support when compared to the previous year, the affirmative proportion stands firm, at least for now, at 50 percent. The nation remains divided, but over the past few years there has been an intense effort to push for equal rights in relation to homosexual marriage — actions that may be paying off for proponents.
In 1996, only 27 percent of the nation supported gay marriage. By 2004, this proportion had grown to 42 percent. This year, despite the 2011 versus 2012 disparity, the situation is evolving. Normally, allowing constituents to vote on gay marriage has had disastrous results for those hoping to see the institution legalized.
But this electoral cycle, three states — Washington, Maryland and Maine — legalized same-sex unions (and with the population voting in favor of these rights). Previously, 32 similar attempts across the nation failed, with North Carolina’s earlier this year serving as the latest example.
And, as The Christian Post reported, “While voters in Washington, Maine and Maryland voted to allow same-sex marriage, voters in Minnesota turned back a proposed constitutional amendment that would have prohibited same-sex marriage if it were approved by law.” Plainly stated: One cannot help but wonder if the legalities are taking a turn in favor of gay nuptials.
All things considered, while abortion appears to be evolving based on new technologies and a slight pro-life tilt, gay marriage is moving in a much more rapid direction (one that is unfavorable to those who fervently espouse traditional marriage).
ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION & THE AMERICAN PUBLIC
Another issue, immigration, based on exit polls, warrants a quick look. Overwhelmingly, Americans said that illegals who are already in the United States (65 percent agreed) should be granted “a chance to apply for legal status.”
Only 28 percent of the nation embraces the notion that these individuals should be deported back “to the country they came from” (on the whole, Romney voters overwhelmingly embraced deportation). Here’s the table showcasing these results (once again, respondents weren’t given many options and were forced to choose two extremes):
Clearly, both parties need to come up with palatable methods for protecting the borders to prevent further permeation. However, it appears that, for those who already reside here, a path to citizenship is the will of the people (at least according to this exit poll).
Perhaps Romney’s views on “self-deportation” did harm him on this issue, especially among Latinos (however, immigration was not one of the most pressing issues this cycle in voters’ minds). In a column this week, commentator Charles Krauthammer proclaimed that the GOP must embrace “amnesty” if it wishes to reform itself.
“The problem is hardly structural. It requires but a single policy change: Border fence plus amnesty. Yes, amnesty,” he wrote. “Use the word. Shock and awe — full legal normalization (just short of citizenship) in return for full border enforcement.”
HOW SOCIAL ISSUES PLAYED INTO THE 2012 ELECTION
Gay marriage, abortion and immigration, aside, there are many other social issues that emerge in the American political schema. However, it the first two issues that stand out as the most relevant, controversial and, arguably, the most talked about.
Based on Romney’s electoral loss, numerous outlets are questioning whether the “religious right,” a group that is monumentally pro-life and anti-gay marriage — and the cohort that helped George W. Bush win his 2004 election — is beginning to implode and lose its relevance.
“On multiple levels, Tuesday’s election results raised questions about the Christian right’s agenda on American politics, eight years after the movement helped sweep President George W. Bush into a second term and opened the era of state bans on same-sex marriage,” CNN’s Dan Gilgoff wrote.
Religion News Service, like CNN, framed the electoral losses and their impact on religious conservatives in the following terms:
Instead of the promised victories, the religious right encountered defeat at almost every turn. Not only did Obama win convincingly, but Democrats held onto the Senate – and the power to confirm judges – and Wisconsin elected the nation’s first openly gay senator, Tammy Baldwin.
Meanwhile, Republican senate candidates Todd Akin and Richard Mourdock went down to unanticipated defeat in large part because of their strongly anti-abortion views, and an effort in Florida to restrict abortion failed. For the first time ever, same-sex marriage proponents won on ballots in four out of four states, while marijuana for recreational use was legalized in two out of three states where the question was on the ballot.
Even Michele Bachmann, an icon among Christian conservatives, barely held onto her House seat in Minnesota while Tea Party favorite Allen West lost his congressional district in Florida.
Considering that Obama, a president who is staunchly pro-choice and who is actively advocating for same-sex marriage, was able to win, in the minds of some, showcases that the Christian right’s influence may be waning. However, such a standpoint fails to take into account other issues going on in America. Elections are multifaceted. Even within a voting bloc, there are intervening issues to consider that have a profound impact on turnout and candidate selection.
The Catholic vote, for instance, has also been a focus of discussion in the wake of the election. Despite Obama’s marriage and abortion views, which run contrary to Catholic teaching, he still won the Catholic cohort. This development was particularly troubling to some conservatives, especially following the Obama administration’s controversial contraceptive mandate, which was widely seen as an assault on religious liberty. However, numerous intervening factors, including views on immigration, economics and ethnicity, may have swayed the Catholic vote.
“Maybe Hispanic Catholics were not as moved by religious liberty-type arguments as by immigration and economics,” John Green, a religion and politics expert at the University of Akron, told CNN, thus emphasizing the role that Latinos played in Obama’s re-election.
This is, of course, just a mere snapshot into the presidential race. When considering how much social issues played into the campaign, it’s essential that one must, after exploring where the American people stand on these fronts, also assess which issues, overall, were on voters’ minds when they headed into the polls.
While strong opinions abound over social issues in the U.S., when exploring the subjects of most importance to the voting public, abortion and gay marriage barely registered. In essence, this makes sense. After all, everyone knew that the economy was the number one issue this election cycle.
CNN’s early exit poll results the day of the election found that, by far, economic conditions were on voters’ minds, followed by health care, the deficit and foreign policy. So, while abortion and gay marriage likely shaped, to a lesser degree, how people decided to vote, they weren’t highly motivating factors (or issues that were at the forefront of peoples’ minds).
Considering voters’ priorities, it’s no wonder social conservatism seemingly played a small role in the election.
IS SOCIAL CONSERVATISM TO BLAME FOR ROMNEY’S LOSS?
So, considering these issues, was social conservatism at the center of Romney’s loss? There are, of course, one-issue voters who will reject or even accept a candidate based on a solitary social stance. When it comes to gay marriage and abortion, in fact, this dynamic is prevalent. Currently, conservatives and liberals, alike, are jockeying over whether the party is too right-of-center or – not conservative enough.
Still, looking beyond this debate and focusing more on strategy, others recognize that the Republican Party’s future likely hinges upon reaching out to groups that have not traditionally, at least in recent decades, embraced the GOP — young people, the religiously-unaffiliated (a fast-growing group) and minorities (the latter of which tends, depending on the sub group, to be highly religious).
“Defeat can be a very clarifying moment,” Faith and Freedom Coalition president Ralph Reed told The Wall Street Journal. “We need to find a way to combine core principles with an outreach strategy that is more welcome to voters who haven’t always been reached out to.”
While this ideal is certainly true, especially when looking at ongoing demographic changes, it’s impossible not to miss out on the overwhelming theme that this election was all about the economy. Building upon this notion, but with additional framing, lawyer and blogger John Hinderaker noted his belief that America, despite what the right has conventionally contended, is not, economically-speaking, a center-right nation.
“This belief is one that we conservatives have cherished for a long time, but as of today, I think we have to admit that it is false. America is a deeply divided country with a center-left plurality,” Hinderaker wrote. “This plurality includes a vast number of citizens who describe themselves as moderates, but whose views on the issues are identical or similar to those that have historically been deemed liberal.”
The blogger continued, providing a framing of the American public’s purportedly troubling reliance upon and penchant for government subsidies:
Put bluntly, the takers outnumber the makers. The polls in this election cycle diverged in a number of ways, but in one respect they were remarkably consistent: every poll I saw, including those that forecast an Obama victory, found that most people believed Mitt Romney would do a better job than Barack Obama on the economy. So with the economy the dominant issue in the campaign, why did that consensus not assure a Romney victory? Because a great many people live outside the real, competitive economy. Over 100 million receive means tested benefits from the federal government, many more from the states. And, of course, a great many more are public employees. To many millions of Americans, the economy is mostly an abstraction.
Then there is the fact that relatively few Americans actually pay for the government they consume. To a greater extent than any other developed nation, we rely on upper-income people to finance our federal government. When that is combined with the fact that around 40% of our federal spending isn’t paid for at all–it is borrowed–it is small wonder that many self-interested voters are happy to vote themselves more government. Mitt Romney proclaimed that Barack Obama was the candidate of “free stuff,” and voters took him at his word.
It is quite possible that the economic uncertainties, teamed with the aforementioned sentiments, played a major role in Romney’s loss. But — as for social issues, there doesn’t seem to be any evidence at the moment that they were central to the candidate’s fall.
A FINAL NOTE ON SOCIAL ISSUES
It’s far too early to proclaim that the religious right is losing its influence. After all, different election cycles call for renewed and divergent focuses. In 2004, national security was on everyone’s minds; in 2012, it was the economy.
We do know that religion is slightly declining in American society and that, of course, has a potential impact on electoral prospects. However, the obituary-writing and dismissive nature of social conservatism seems pre-mature. While a continued exploration is warranted, so is a look into government policy and its impact on dependency — and how these elements translate into votes for and against the nation’s major political parties.
All this in mind, keeping an eye on social issues is important, especially considering the trajectory that gay marriage is on. While it is entirely possible that social issues didn’t hamper Romney’s chances, if the nation continues to be more accepting of gay marriage, the party’s adherence to traditional unions (or, at least the sometimes tough, though principled, words on the issue) may harm future GOP candidates at the polls.
As for abortion, the issue remains complex. From a policy standpoint, the nation continues to favor pro-choice policy. But personal views seem to be trending in a pro-life direction.
Considering these elements, it would benefit the Republican Party to consider its messaging and how it markets its social — and economic — policies. Very few issues in this world are black and white in practice. Considering the grey areas and finding balance, while remaining true to conviction can be a difficult practice. However, it’s something that both parties should regularly be doing, as social change comes to fruition.
Remember, while Obama captured the majority of the votes, the election was somewhat close. Obama won over 50 percent of the nation and Romney resonated with 48 percent of voters. Thus, an embrace of conservative values hasn’t yet diminished to dangerously-low levels or else the disparity between the candidates would have been greater.
In the Washington Post, Michael Gerson wrote the following about the GOP’s challenge in the coming years — words that are certainly fascinating (but ideals that not all conservatives will embrace):
This is the conservative task over the next few years: not to preserve a rigid ideology but to reconstruct a political appeal along improved but principled lines.
Some of the most important intellectual groundwork is needed on the role of government. Mitt Romney had a five-part plan to encourage job creation. He lacked a public philosophy that explained government’s valid role in meeting human needs. Suburban women heard little about improved public education. Single women, particularly single mothers, heard little about their struggles, apart from an off-putting Republican critique of food stamps. Blue-collar workers in, say, Ohio heard little about the unique challenges that face declining industrial communities. Latinos heard little from Republicans about promoting equal opportunity and economic mobility.
In the end, rather than abandoning social conservatism, it seems that the GOP has two major tasks at hand moving forward: Heed Reed’s advice to refine an outreach strategy that reaches new populations, while remaining true to values, and figure out how to tackle and address the pitfalls of government dependency.
In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.
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Comments (489)
Centralsville
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:18pmWithout embracing social conservatism America will never rise out of our debt. This immoral behavior and the millions of children from broken families living off welfare, filling our prisons, and failing in our schools, is exactly what causes our debt. If Republicans abandon the moral values that made our country great in the first place then I will never vote again or wait for a proper third party with values. It was once said that America was great because America was good, well, America ain’t good anymore. It was also said that once the people found out they could vote themselves goodies from the government our democracy would be doomed. Well, that day is here people.
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:14pmYou don’t get it. Making social issues, even good ones, Federal issues, is when you create the society you just listed. It’s not that people smoke pot that we have debt, it’s that the Fedgov has been charged by social conservatives to spend billions and billions of dollars on a so called “war on drugs”. Folks smoke MJ back in the Founders day and yet somehow the nation didn’t go bankrupt. Again, it’s Federalizing social issues that causes the problem. Social issues are a state, local or individual issue, and the more you remove control from individuals and hand it to government for insane crusades, the more you see society decay.
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TembRising
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:14pmThe 2016 campaign has begun and the democrats smirk as the GOP, ever naive, list their faults publicly, deny their truths, dilute their principles for everyone to hear!
Instead of telling the truth, that we cannot win against a corrupt democrat party, our leaders past and present detail what we lack.
Beyond naive and really stupid.
Democrats hand you the rope and you begin to hang yourself, in denial of just who and what you are up against.
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:21pmand playing nice with the future in the balance is a sin. WWIII is here and it has started as a battle of ideology, next it will be more real, 2014
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TembRising
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:23pmIt’s a win-win for the sneaky, snarky leftwingers, to watch the GOP lose a major election, and then watch as they publicly detail their faults!
“Why did you lose?” they ask often, feigning interest.
Do you REALLY think they care?
But, the GOP begins to doubt their own message, allowing the voters of 2016 to consider the “problems” and “mistakes” instead of hearing pride in our principles and outrage for the fraud that elected Obama again
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taxedenuf
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:14pmIt seems the vote totals indicate 2 irrefutable conclusions. Catholics talk a bunch about abortion and right to life, but they vote exactly opposite. Secondly, we may be post racial enough to have a black muslim president, but not post religious enough to have s
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Argosy
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:14pmThe Democrats ostracize anyone that stands up for moral issues, best left to the state, let the cesspools that some states are, become more so, leave others alone.
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TembRising
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:20pmI don’t know if GOP leadership is so naive or just so in denial about the level of corruption within the democrat party.
Instead of reasserting our values and the strength of our principles, they list our faults to the world, setting in motion another defeat, using air time to self destruct instead of reaffirm our positions.
All are listening, and for the democrats it’s a win-win!
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:25pmthe GOP is part of the corruption
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Argosy
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:30pmAnd the people are part of the corruption
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Tickdog
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:08pmyeah and how many of those voters voted 10 times? and how many of them are living? and how many are pets? you see where i am going with this….
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TembRising
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:17pmInstead of the GOP discrediting Republicans for “faults” you would think they would fight back.
You would think they would defend our values, reassert our truths, and condemn the corruption in elections we cannot win due to lies, bribes, and fraud.
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Margyt
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:07pmChristianity isn’t monolithic politically. I had a long discussion with a fellow believer who is politically a flaming liberal. His position is that abortion is a non-issue because conservatives support war…everybody is a murderer. He doesn’t support gay marriage but that is a church issue and the law allowed pastors freedom to not marry gays. All of the other issues were able to be justified by loving, forgiving, tolerant, etc. I do not agree with him at all but he is not non-Christian. It is almost impossible for me to see how anyone with any discernment can’t see through the garbage, the lies, the intellectual inconsistencies of the left. Somehow, they don’t, though. Someday (and soon, I think), their eyes will be opened. We have to stand firm until that day.
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Dano.50
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:06pmThe Commandments were God’s way of saying to a bunch of idiots, “Look. While I ain’t guaranteeing success, I’ll at least guarantee that, by following the few simple pointers – everybody hold out your fingers now – the odds of you trashing your life will be VASTLY reduced.”
We can’t abandon social conservatism because the alternative is a Cloward and Piven strategy.
Systems collapse when the cost of correcting overwhelms the benefits of production, and it takes far fewer mistakes to destroy something, than the work it takes to build something.
I made enough of my own, but at least paying for them taught me to think, “How bad’s this gonna hurt if it backfires?”
That’s all Common Sense is and I refuse to support those who haven’t got it cause that line is endless.
Some, stupid rule or something, about allowing idiots to breed and lead.
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humphrey2
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:05pmMr. Paul, who is retiring after 12 terms in the House, said voters on Tuesday rejected Mitt Romney because he had opposed the government bailout of General Motors and Chrysler.”The people in the Midwest voted against him: ‘Oh, we have to be taken care of!’ So that vote was sort of like what we are laughing at in Greece,” Mr. Paul said.”People do not want anything cut,” he said. “They want all the bailouts to come. They want the Fed to keep printing the money. And they don’t believe that we’ve gone off the cliff or are close to going off the cliff. They think we can patch it over, that we can somehow come up with some magic solution. But you can’t have a budgetary solution if you don’t change what the role of government should be. As long as you think we have to police the world and run this welfare state, all we are going to argue about is who will get the loot.”I have to agree With Dr.Paul People are also very tired of all these wars and Obama successfully portray Romney as a War Hawk Jews do not support the Democratic party never. So Romney stating Iran was a threat is NOT popular. Perhaps disenfranchising Paul Supporters was wrong Libertarian-leaning Republican Congressman Ron Paul lost his bid for the Republican presidential nomination this year, but a number of his acolytes ran for Congress as Republicans and won November 6. Is Congress the real location for The growing Ron Paul Revolution. Ignoring Paul was a bigger consequence then The GOP wants tosee
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:19pmRon was the ONLY guy going in the other direction. The only one with vision and the Republican Elite worked against him.
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YoshiFD3S
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:04pmShould we “give in” and compromise our morals and values just because a disappointing majority of the country LACK any sense of morals and values outside of “letting people do what they want”?
NO.
Grow some balls, people. Learn how to better relate and speak to the younger generation (like mine, I’m 27)…and THEN you will change the future.
Right now, my generation is being shaped by “reality” TV shows, Starbucks, Rhianna, and every other form of social trash out in society these days.
And you wonder why the moral foundations of this country are in shambles. Look at our CULTURE. It PROMOTES everything that is and has always been WRONG with this world.
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:16pmwhen boehner flip flops then who is going to stand firm? If you do that is good but why vote for someone that will turn on you at the first chance.
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Seymour
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:04pmI also want to add that I’m Christian, ardently so but if we’re going to get this country back we must tone this down. The reality is those that don’t know Christ, which seems now a majority had the crap scared out of them. It took them 3 times to include God in their platform so the question begs, do we want to be right and continue as we have or do we want to win? These are the dynamics of the reality we’re faced with. Take em or leave em but don’t bellyache when we see these types of results. We were sitting ducks on this phantom war on women but what did we do? We doubled down on this i.e. Akin and Mourdock. As a Christian I’m with them, in politics they couldn’t have spouted anything more damaging.
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:31pmLoss of the Ten Commandments and the Golden Rule, If you live by this alone without any religion involved you have a basis of social interaction that is proven to work for the better. Laws of man end in slavery.
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:01pmYoung people want leadership, they want something to believe in and a goal in life, Republican have nothing to give
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 2:17pmThat’s a sad thing to say about young people. Nobody, young, middle aged or old, should look for guidance and goals from a politician. Folks that do need to learn independent thought and to form their own goals and ways to achieve those goals. Politicians of all stripe will betray you every time if you give them that kind of mandate over your life.
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:58pmNo one has said anything about the bigotry against Mormons either. I heard a “Lutheran Christian” call Mormons satanists. That is why I left the Christian Church, bigotry and hypocrisy.
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Margyt
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:57pmPart of the message that is being put out by the “winners” in this election is that they have a mandate to do whatever they please. 50-48 isn’t a mandate. In fact they will be able to do whatever they want. The House won’t be able to stand against them. None-the-less 48% of America said no. If people had voted for Herman Cain or any other “I’m not playing” choice, BO would have won by a landslide and our voice would have been truly gone electorally. Make no mistake, this system is falling apart. We can’t withstand four more years of what has been happening. We need to look toward what strengths we have to rebuild on. Unity of purpose around core values and clarity about what we can influence are our biggest assets as we look toward rebuilding what we all have destroyed.
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No Grass
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:57pmThe GOP problem is the GOP. The Party is not the goal, the representation of the people within the constraints of the Constitution is the goal.
G. Washington warned of parties (factions) in many forms and associations, including geographically, socially and politically. (see G>W> farewell address)
The GOP should have concentrated on governance and the economic problems that the Federal Government can affect. When social issues are pressed, leave it to the States and explain that the social issues are not in Article I section 8. But the 9th and 10th Amendments are in the Constitution. This argument probably wouldn’t work on the ignorant masses, because they are ignorant.
As the Founders continually pointed out, this Constitutional Republic will only work in a virtuous society. That is where the social issues are debated and controlled. No virtue creates ignorance charlatans, despots, and serfs.
The local and State governments are the only way forward for Conservatives now. We are over-center of the tipping point in unchecked democracy, dependency, education, debt, etc.
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 1:10pmIt will not work for ignorance BECAUSE no one is selling Liberty. If I vote for O I get a phone. Simple as thaat. If I vote for Romney I get what? I do not know, I was never sold anything but hot air and O lite.
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:53pmThe Republican Party does not stand for anything. All this other stuff doesn’t matter. When Republicans cave in every time why vote for them? All this analyzing is garbage and has destroyed this country. The basics are do what you say. Flip Flop doesn’t win wishy washy doesn’t win and stabbing those that vote for you doesn’t win and Bohener the communist doesn’t win. Did Karl Rove write this article?
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Seymour
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:53pmAbsolutely and most unequivocally not. We have to stop electing in the primaries faux conservatives and get a true conservative in there. While I like Romney personally this is precisely why we didn’t duplicate 2010. A lot of true conservatives sat this out as evidenced by McCain having received more votes than Romney. To this end Rove, Kristol and Coulter’s days are over….OVER!
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blackbean
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:51pmAbandon social issues and I abandon them!! I will just simply not vote at all with no party waving a flag of righteousness. Bad attitude? Absolutely! Just recognizing reality.
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Nevermind
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:49pmWhat it is time for the GOP to abandon is the far right idiots like Beck , Hannity and Rush. They have peddled fear , division and preyed on your pockets for ratings. You all it here and listen to All 3 try to sell you more and more crap and you fall for it. Why didnt any of the 3 endorse someone? Its becasue they are hacks and have no opinion of value, just mouth pieces for the GOP that only care about power not principle. For a ” conservative ” to back Romeny shows no principles.
So suck down your two if by tea and wear your $130 jeans that beck is selling. Until you realize you are just suckers for the drug addict sports radio guys that know nothing of politics you will continue to be laughed at.
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GhostOfJefferson
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:05pmThat’s hardly a fair or well considered opinion Nevermind. I’m not saying everything you said is wrong, but the “sin” of selling does not seem a sin to those on this side of the fictional aisle. I can’t say I’ve ever bought anything from any of these guys, nor their sponsors, that I can ever recall. If their goal is to propagandize in order to market items, it’s not really working very well.
Should people base their opinions solely on what they hear on these shows? God, I hope not. But listening to them as a supplement to one’s media and source or even entertainment? Sure, why not?
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Eastinfection
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 3:40pmWell said Ghost.
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Jedrin
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:48pmI’ll write this one last time, the Blaze Sucks
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inblack
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:45pmNancy/Time,
Can we not say the same thing about rape, spousal abuse, honor killings or pedophilia?
I’m morally against them, but it is their choice?
Any aggression against an innocent is immoral and We Have An Obligation to stop it.
Sure it is hard, sure it’s convenient for women to kill an unwanted child, but it is wrong.
If I know it is wrong and I do not work to stop it, then I may be the one that God sorts out.
Frankly I love God too much to cop out and let the murders go on without fighting for Him and fighting for life, as feeble as my efforts may be.
From a purely non-religious point of view, IF the baby is human life then letting people kill them compromises the first right of liberty the right to life. Compromise on the first liberty will bring the downfall of all liberties.
Anything between willing adults is their problem. I might personally preach at them, but I will not use the govt to force them, I will stand by and let God sort it out.
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Eastinfection
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:49pmit’s irrelevant unless you change the current legal definition of “personhood”…
Currently, a fetus is not considered a person, much less a citizen with Constitutional rights.
They are legally “property”….
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jagnote
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:43pmI believe that abortion is the murder of an unborn human being…..however, I realize that most of the self centered people in this country want to have “free” sex, ie., pleasure with no resulting responsibility. I think we, as conservatives, are making a mistake if we try to force individuals to avoid abortion. That is not going to happen. WHAT I DO object to is the government using my hard earned tax dollars to pay for the abortion. I live by my own moral convictions and pay for what I believe in (Red Cross, Catholic Charities, etc.) What gives other Americans the right to force me to pay for what they believe in? Abortion has been cast as a “women’s health issue”. That is baloney. Pregnancy is the natural result of the sex act. If you follow this “logic” then I really should have to pay for every child born in the US. That also is part of women’s health. Conservatives should be fighting to keep individuals from having to use their own money to pay for other peoples immoral actions. That is what real freedom is about.
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sparkyrules
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:43pmConservatism is Patriotism.All others are either uniformed or suckers.
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LOJ
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:42pmQuite the opposite…many evangelicals did not vote…some voted for the President, and God has told us as long as (we sacrifice our values and morality, and do not acknowledge him and his commandments)..we are doomed to failure and misery. Back to God..or we face destruction…it is as simple as that!
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Margyt
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:41pmFor me, this election forces me to double down on my positions. Just as a few clear voices stood against Nazism in the late 1930′s and are now heroes of history, I need to be on the right side of God, not part of the majority of the expedient. Conservatism be damned. Societies have drifted to Godlessness since the beginning of time. God has recalibrated the world many times. Never has drifting to Godlessness been the right decision. It satisfies in the short term and the short term can be really uncomfortable for people who stand against the popular. Abortion and gay marriage didn’t suddenly become ok. I thought Tues was our deciding moment. It was not. Our deciding moment is now.
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Monty
Posted on November 9, 2012 at 12:39pmNo!
It is time for real conservatives to stand-up.
Not republicans, not libertarians, not moderates –
Americans. Stop being wimps.
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