Posted on 08/10/2012 2:18:06 PM PDT by EveningStar
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Matt Hoagland, the county leader of a group of young North Carolina Republicans, is busy trying to ramp up enthusiasm for Mitt Romney at the grass-roots level. So there are a few things he avoids mentioning to prospective young voters he wants to woo, including the hot-button topics like abortion and same-sex marriage, which have dominated campaigns past.
“Social issues are far down the priorities list, and I think that’s the trend,” Mr. Hoagland, 27, said. “That’s where it needs to go if the Republican Party is going to be successful.” ...
Some young conservatives ... continue to oppose abortion and same-sex marriage but say they are playing down their personal views because they have made the calculation that such issues will not be a factor in this year’s races...
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Joe Bite-me got it partially right...
“this election will be about 3 words, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs, Jobs”
The GOP has zero intent to win the white house.
I must say I am stunned to see the majority of people under age 30 being so totally ambivalent on the issue of gay marriage.
Who taught these punks such nonsense? Have they never heard of Ronald Reagan?
The economy, no doubt, is paramount in this election.
Shying away from the truth that abortion is murder and holding a steadfast position that sodomy isn’t marriage is not a good idea.
Stand for what is right.
The young people in churches also demand no traditional music and certainly lots of programs that they are interested in but refuse to donate to anything, telling the rest of us they "can't afford to right now" or they "will just as soon as they get out of debt (the twelfth of never)."
These folk need to wander over to the dims for that is the group that panders to every group and demands the rest of the working country pay their bills!
What's more insulting is that these are the same folk demanding college loans be forgiven and think because they've been taught by 60's & 70's hippy socialist professors, that life should be the way they demand simply because they demand it!
If the GOP further abdondons their weak opposition to abortion and gay marriage, it will be time for a third party.
fiscal conservatism + no moral or social conscious = libertarian
Reagan really wasn’t much of a social warrior. He was about strong defense, defeat of Communism, lower taxes and smaller government. He was pro-life, but it wasn’t one of the core tenants of his Presidency by any means.
“I must say I am stunned to see the majority of people under age 30 being so totally ambivalent on the issue of gay marriage.”
They have been poisoned by incessant years of shows like “Glee” where homosexuality is made to look OK...as is premarital sex. Hollywood has trully corrupted our youth.
The suicidal GOP (and conservatives) that continue to include such social issues only lend credence to the false leftist belief they are the dominion of government.
Only when such issues are abandoned in the political arena and the individual is once again championed, conservatives and republicans.
The left thrives because it enshrines such issues into government control.
The right fails to explain such issues should not fall under anyone except the individual’s control.
Hence the hijacking of the term “pro choice”
Fiscal conservatives who claim to be social moderates always stab their inner fiscal conservative in the back.
“The GOP has zero intent to win the white house.”
That is correct and, for the life of me, I can NOT figure out why, and I have racked my brain.
“fiscal conservatism + no moral or social conscious = libertarian”
Boy you got that right. That is why Ron Paul was so popular with the young. In truth, these young ones aren’t really “fiscally conservative” either. They are the epitome of the “I’m entitled” culture. They are only “fiscally conservative” when it is someone else getting cut off the government feed.
Yeah, same. Quite frankly . . it is an issue I believe we have lost.
Good call.
“Only when such issues are abandoned in the political arena and the individual is once again championed, conservatives and republicans.”
My friend, that is just anarchy. That is the major flaw with libertarian thought...which is really libertine thinking.
If you are ok with a liquor store and a whore house opening up across the street from a high school and a church then you are a liberation. If you want to tax the church then you are a democrat.
If you wonder what might happen to a GOP presidential candidate who abandons social conservatives, you won’t have to wait too long to find out. In less than 100 days, Romney will be preparing to move into his new beach home.
Let’s hope that the elites in the GOP learn something this time.
“I realized I didn’t know what I would do in that situation, so I couldn’t judge someone else’s choices [about abortion].”
From the mouth of a babe.
Does this dimwit judge anybody’s choices? On anything? What kind of moral and religious instruction did she have growing up?
I remember my last “fiscal con/social mod” congressman. (Joe Schwarz) He’s dedicated his life to fighting the extremist conservatives who refuse to fund a woman’s “Right to choose”.
Running for President (and losing) as a GOPer is a sure way to get a job at Fox News™
You’re generally right about Reagan. He spoke and wrote eloquently about pro-life issues, which hopefully had some impact. But he didn’t do a whole lot otherwise. His wife was strongly pro-baby killer. Of course, she’s now for killing embryos, too.
“Social issues are far down the priorities list, and I think that’s the trend,” Mr. Hoagland, 27, said. “That’s where it needs to go if the Republican Party is going to be successful.” ...
Unfortunately, if things like gay marriage persist, then the nation won’t be successful, and then Republican party becomes irrelevant.
stabbing your inner self in the back sounds difficult. But your political point is quite correct :-)
Does Romney? And if not why?
Somebody needs to teach these young punks that if you don’t stand for something you’ll fall for anything.
We as conservatives shouldn’t hide what we stand for and if they don’t stand for what the party does they are nothing more than RINO libs who are playing at being conservatives.
In fact, they aren’t even trying to be conservatives. They are trying to be liberals running under the name Republican.
No thanks. There are enough of those in the Libertarian party. We also have enough RINOs of our own. We don’t need to water down conservative principles to appeal to those who don’t share our beliefs.
I agree. They're the kind of "fiscal conservatives" who riot when state universities raise the tuition a few dollars. At the philosophical level, they're no different from welfare drones: they want their free choice of behaviors, unconstrained even by disapproval, and they want someone else to pay for the outcomes.
Sure. But they had homosexual members in their Young Republican group and didn't know how to deal with them. Tough situation for some people.
Well - women generally DO have the right to choose to keep their knees together.
I think there is an argument that could be persuasive on the social front. Everybody talks about rights. Why isn’t the GOP talking about the fact that making people PAY for others’ so-called ‘rights’ is a deprivation of the payer’s own rights?
Under current law (bad law, but...), abortion is legal. But forcing someone who is morally and/or religiously opposed to pay for some other woman’s “choice” is deprivation of rights, pure and simple.
JMO.
This guys view is the EXACT OPPOSITE of the Founding Fathers’ view. The evil Republican Party Heads-—are as evil as Zero and are trying to destroy the VERY PRINCIPLES of America.
VIRTUE is the most important element in a free Republic. You can not have freedom if there is no public VIRTUE!!!!! That was stated since PLATO-—and repeated by all WISE philosophers, including our Founding Fathers!!!!!!!!!!!!
Which means the culture HAS TO PROMOTE public VIRTUE. That is what JUSTICE is—a Virtue-—that means VICE-—like killing babies-—promoting Sodomy-—A VICE-—and UNJUST—which is UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Since the Cultural Marxists have control of MSM and the schools they are corrupting the youth (DESTROYING VIRTUE) with lies and seductions into Satanic lives of drug and sex-—which will destroy all cohesive societies— and the possibility of Virtue.
Cultural Marxists designed Sex Ed in schools to destroy Virtue. They knew the secret of successful Republics-—like all WISE people.
We’ll see how that works out after the remainder of the default process. Social pathologies are supported by big government and other waste.
Funny, many polls have shown the youngest generation of voters to be the most pro-life.
This is merely more propaganda from the media and Republican establishment.
Romney can lose the election and Republican party can collapse before it gets away with abandoning social issues.
I'm sure they are getting that message from the Republican Presidential nominee.
I do agree with you - I neglected to predicate my point with the assumption morals were instilled at home - (not like today) - rather than mandated by law.
Free markets as we know will not function without that crucial (and missing) component.
North Carolina just recently overwhelmingly voted down same sex marriage. A lot of those votes were from Christians who happen to be black. To say that is not an issue is simply the ignorance of youth. Among voters in NC it is indeed an issue and one that redounds in Romneys favor.
The last Survey USA Poll out of Minnesota shows those 18-34 in favor of a marriage amendment 50-45%.
I'm not so sure I believe everything the media wants us to believe on the issue.
As our understanding about human development becomes deeper, we are learning that conception produces more than just disposable cells. Young people seem to be more aware of these advances in our science and understanding. Liberal views of pregnancy are sinking in their own quicksand.
The more we learn of these things, the closer we come to understanding and appreciating God.
Just Law-—can never promote evil-—it makes it Unjust Law (unequal law) because Virtue is necessary for Justice-—which is the first Virtue.
Laws which don’t prevent killing—and abortions can be proven to kill—are Evil-—hence, they are Unjust Law-—unconstitutional because they contradict with the Natural Rights FROM GOD for ALL HUMAN BEING!-— that are stated in the Constitution.
Sodomy is a Vice and so “sexual orientations” which are contrary to the Laws of Nature-—the very words in our Founding Documents——can never be made into a “Right”-—because our Natural Rights come from GOD—ONLY-—not from Barney Frank or Satan. THAT is the FUNDAMENTAL MEANING of our Founding Documents
AND we need to get back to The Constitution as being the SUPREME LAW of the LAND ===WHICH IT IS!!!!!!!!!!!
The Republicans HAVE to fight for the Supreme Law of the Land-—it is the most logical—REASONED—political document ever written beside the Federalist Papers-—which only point to the REAL THINKING of the FOUNDERS—which can’t be made CLEARER!!!
It is simple:
Sodomy is evil so sexual orientation can NEVER be protected by law—(special rights for an evil behavior).....
Abortion is killing and can’t be sanctioned.
Kids CAN and WILL understand the logic if it is given to them....but Marxists hide the TRUTH and keep the Truth hidden. SO ARE THE REPUBLICANS!!!!
I don’t see the under 30’s as ambivalent about ‘gay marriage.’ I see them rather strongly supporting the concept. Especially if they’ve been public schooled.
That's makes no sense. Why would the GOP want Obama to win?
“I must say I am stunned to see the majority of people under age 30 being so totally ambivalent on the issue of gay marriage.”
The left has been conducting a cultural campaign in the popular media... TV, Music, Movies, etc... for decades now. This was bound to have a cumulative effect. The right hoped that things like church attendance would shield their kids, but the church is losing this fight right now. People in general, and kids in particular, are susceptible to peer pressure. If you see “religion = ‘hate’ “ on TV screens, then eventually it’s going to have an effect.
Not that social issues are not important as they are the most important thing next to taking back the presidency. Mitt can do the social issue boggy once in office.
Reagan was the social warrior that more than any other individual in politics, led voters to decide which issue of good and evil that they were on.
You are trying to sell bull waste, Reagan was the greatest social warrior of all presidents.
Do you really think that the millions of Americans, including democrats who flocked to his social message were just imagining things? Reagan made millions of lifelong democrat voters realize that the GOP was the home of traditional values and of the faithful, Reagan drew the lines that endure today.
What’s the point of winning when you still have power on the sidelines where you can accuse as the disaster continues. The majority of the GOP voters are firmly on the plantation and aren’t going anywhere. Besides, its not like Romney has what it takes to do any heavy lifting anyway.
Well at least I know the people of North Carolina did more to stop gay marriage than Mittens did. As for it ‘redounding’ in his favor — I don’t think so. If everyone knew what Mitt did to bring about gay marriage in Massachusetts, it would not reflect favorably on Romney at all, except in the homosexual community. As much as he wishes it were different, I doubt that particular 1% of the population will ever help him.
Guess you never heard of the War on Drugs and the war on pornography then.
Wouldn't put it past him to be campaigning just to meet girls.
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