[shhrubbery!]

from Frank Cannon: "...it is critical that the GOP get the social issues right. The truce strategy is the most politically ineffectual position possible. Republicans this election cycle adopted pro-life, pro-marriage, and pro-religious-liberty positions while showing voters they would not publicly promote or defend them. "

Exactly!

My worst disappointment with Romney came when he immediately condemned Todd Akin. This was just after Akin's comment that was caricatured as the so-called "legitimate rape" statement.

Yes, Akin's phrasing was clumsy. And yes, he should have realized he was being hooked into a "gotcha" situation. But beyond that, Akin's statement was not malicious, nor woman-hating, nor "offensive" (to any fair minded person). In fact, what Akin said was 100% correct (and I can say that 'cause I'm a woman /s) .

What would Ronald Reagan have done in that situation? I believe that Reagan would've done the opposite of Romney -- i.e. he would have seized the opportunity to explain to the public what being pro-life really means.

And thereby he would've won the hearts and minds, the respect, and the VOTES of many women -- even if they didn't agree entirely with his pro-life position.