“Cultural/moral “wedge” issues could arguably be our best shot at winning the presidency. With economic issues, you’re also taking the risk that the economy is doing better or gas prices are lower by November, in which case Obama has all the credibility in the world to claim that his economic policies are the right ones. But what’s morally right doesn’t change.”
But what’s “morally right” has a wide variety of definitions by people of all political stripes. I think “wedge” issues could arguably be seen as costing Santorum as many or more votes than he gains...particularly by those who are bothered, rightly or wrongly, by the perception that he wants to legislate his particular definition of morality.
I could just as well argue that we should push for more big government socialist programs in our campaign because we don't want to lose the votes of people who are afraid we'll cut off their welfare bennies. Why you or me should argue against promoting conservative principles in order to get votes is a mystery to me. And you're darn tootin' the Republican party should be in the business of legislating morality. We want Roe vs. Wade overturned and we want a federal definition of marriage amendment for two things. We're not libertarians, thank God. Nor are we liberals. The desire of too many RINOs to saw off the social conservatism plank of the Republican party all of a sudden is insidious and dangerous and must be rejected if either the country or the party is to survive.