RSS Feed MenuSo, occasionally people ask me, “Joe, you’re a social conservative. So, why are you posting on FrumForum.com?”
By “people ask me”, I mostly mean, I ask myself.
I’m a social conservative, but not just a social conservative. I’m still for the usual conservative Republican positions: less government, lower taxes, freer trade; fighting radical Islam, containing Russia, peacefully annexing Mexico, and so on. I’m certainly not in the position of many Catholics, who agree with the Democrats’ position on everything but the social issues . I want the Republican party to succeed, and if that means getting Republicans with positions I don’t like elected in places I don’t vote, then I’m all for that. That’s politics.
Also, I want to make the case for social conservatism in a productive way. I want social conservatism to be a successful part of a successful Republican coalition, and I find that many of my fellow social conservatives do not share that goal. Rod Dreher is a good example; his position is that social conservatives should abandon the Republican ship, and… basically float around until the Democratic party lets us clamber on to theirs, whenever they feel it is in their interest to do so. David Kuo said the same thing when he said that evangelical Christians should abandon the whole political game, and said it just in time for 2006 . The popular Catholic apologetics blogger Mark Shea has taken an interesting tack; he has spent five or six years now saying that to support Republicans is morally suspect at the very least, and then complains when Republicans say it’s social conservatives’ fault Republicans lost.
I can see why many socially non-conservative Republicans would say, enough with these people already!
Now, I do think that the bad economy and the mismanaged war had much more to do with Republican losses than Terri Schiavo or stem cells, and I’m not sure many people would argue with that, as far as it goes. But social conservatives bear some of the blame for the losses still, because they didn’t show up in sufficient numbers for the most socially conservative electable candidates in 2006 and 2008 (can you back me up, Gelman?). I want them to show up in 2010, and I want enough social non-conservatives to show up to get us to 51%. Is that so wrong?
Fitz // Jan 31, 2009 at 1:38 pm
joemarier – Well congratulations. You seem to know that social conservatives are a indispensable part of the republican coalition and that their policy preferences are reasonable and obtainable. In this thread you seem to have several instances of ostensible republicans who have an Ax to grind against social conservatives on a personal opr philosophical (rather than a political) level.
As the Obama administration continues it will inevitably overreach on FOCA or they agenda, or feminism, or education of the youth. With this will come the inevitable backlash of the moral majority in this country (like we have seen with same-sex marriage) The hard won gains of years of pro-life and social conservative activism wont be given up easily. These same people will man the telephones, walk the streets and get involved in local and national politics. Foreign policy and small government conservatives just dont have the passion to make the difference.
Its important that you keep writing insightful columns about the reasonableness of social conservatives. From defending marriage to waiting periods and parental consent for abortions the S.C. have wide popularity on a variety of fronts. It perennially important to keep reminding the rest of the republican base that social conservatives dont live in bubble . The cultural left is indeed the aggressor on all these fronts, and they to have an radical agenda that turns off moderates.
Chekote // Jan 31, 2009 at 4:53 pm
Fitz. My mother taught me that “Everybody is useful but no one is indispensable”. So please don’t make the mistake of thinking that the GOP will never be able to win without the SoCon.
Chekote // Jan 31, 2009 at 5:00 pm
Jane. I have lived both in NYC and rural Texas so I understand your point about gun control. However, you need to be aware of something. Criminals will always get guns. I lived in Europe where gun control laws are very strict. Guess what? The mafia never experienced a gun shortage. Also, there is a little thing called the US Constitution. The right to bear arms is part of the Bill of Rights, and thus just as valid as freedom of speech. Disclosure: Never held a gun in my life and no plans to do so.
0Tolearance // Jan 31, 2009 at 11:34 pm
“They want veto power over all judicial appointments and constantly demand that everyone fight for their ridiculous cultural issues. As a result, they have alienated virtually all the regions in the country except the South and turned the GOP into a Revival Tent instead of a big tent.”
“Ridiculous cultural issues?” What – faith in God, respect for the dignity of human life, belief in the role of religion in shaping national ethic? I always considered those…I dunno – principle (aka ‘moral character’ for the non-secularists).
McRINO lost this past election because: 1) the economic crisis in October made running on a Republican ticket difficult 2) His campaign advisors were incompetent 3) He lacked the enthusiastic support of many conservatives, especially considering his prevous attacks on social conservatives 4) He was outspent by a ridiculous margin by a ruthless enemy obsessed with regaining party. Of those reasons, I’d say 1, 2, and 4 were most important: whoever heard of a viable Republican presidnetial candidate running out of money – during a PRIMARY??? The only way you can blame social conservatives for that mess was by not turning out ENOUGH – and that enough of them DID show up to vote Republican should put to rest any doubt of their ability to negotiat or compromize.
I just pray that our country holds together long enough for 2012 when our party finally reunites around the ONE candidate who can save us from the Communist messiah Obominatoin we’ve just elected – just hope she is not so disgusted by the drive by politics and media that she turns away…
jarhead // Feb 1, 2009 at 5:05 am
You are wanting to “peacefully annexing Mexico”???? Why? Have you ever been to Mexico City or the rural towns in Mexico? (take a weapon and surgical mask) Have you been to any of the enclaves that Mexican nationals live in here in America? (take a weapon and surgical mask)
The truth is Mr. Marier that Mexican’s are annexing America one city at a time. Get a clue home slice?
joemarier // Feb 1, 2009 at 6:48 am
Jarhead — I actually don’t want to annex Mexico. That was a little joke. One of the first things that ran on this site was a little commentary by Newt Gingrich about the possible security threat from Mexico, so I had it on my mind when I wrote the piece. The US Bishops have been pushing for a massive anti-poverty effort in Mexico for a while now, and I’m as clueless as anyone on how to accomplish that short of my joke suggestion. Also, J, I actually live in a largely Hispanic neighborhood. And, my dad’s a retired Marine. ***This thread’s going to be bumped off the front page soon, so I’m probably not going to be doing much monitoring. I’m thinking my posts will become the Oldest Established Permanent Floating So-con Throwdown on Newmajority.com, so keep an eye out, and keep commenting.
Fitz // Feb 1, 2009 at 12:20 pm
Chekote (wrote) “Everybody is useful but no one is indispensable”. i agree with your mother. That is why I am merely against the direction this thread has taken about up or down on the SoCo’s. Yes, in any practical sense I do believe they are indispensable but that is not the same as unreasonable. The question is how to use those issues most effectively to win back power. Right now you see a huge push by Obama to capture the religiously moderate center with style rather than substance. It can work.. Please (ALL) read this to get an idea about the stakes involved.
http://rossdouthat.theatlantic.com/archives/2009/01/ending_or_winning.php
aw // Feb 12, 2009 at 6:37 pm
How hard is it to keep your religion out of politics? Sure, you may believe that if you’rey you’re going tol and homosexuality is evil, but not everybody does! Additionally, it’s none of the government’s business who you marry! I am not gay, but I can tell how infuriating it must be for those who are not to have the right to settle down and live with whoever they want just because some people think it’s evil to be born so that they are naturally attracted to different people than most.