What differentiated the Founders from most of the current generation of politicians was the almost universal conviction that government was founded on immutable moral principles derived from either natural law or divine revelation. Whether Christian or not, the Founding Fathers would have been aghast at the arguments of pseudo-conservatives that we must bend our moral principles and our standards based on public opinion and popular tastes.
Finally, an intelligence argument on this thread. Thank you.
A)There is the implication that the Founding Fathers (and some of our current pols) are somehow above the muck and mire of struggling with moral issues in their own lives just like the rest of us common folk. They weren't. They put their pants on one leg at a time, just like everyone else.
B)The issue comes into play when the immutable laws of government -- if they are immutable -- intrude on private issues. Should government be the guardian of morality? And if so, how far should it go in regulating? We already regulate all manner of moral issues, so that line is somewhat fluid. That's why the debate is.