Posted on 11/06/2008 10:05:26 AM PST by truthandlife
Social conservative leaders in Washington, D.C., say that Tuesday’s sea change election doesn’t spell the end of the conservative movement. But it will mean a thorough “shake-out” -- and the Religious Right needs to re-think its relationship with the GOP.
“I don’t think the conservative brand is damaged,” Tony Perkins, president of the Family Research Council told CNSNews.com.
“I think conservative values continue to be something that a large number – if not a majority -- of Americans identify with,” he said. “I think the brand problem is a Republican problem. And I do think they are going to have to do some rebuilding. I think part of that is reaching out to young people, and part of it is a return to the conservatism of Ronald Reagan.”
There will always be a conservative movement in the United States, Perkins said.
“I think that as long as there are people in this country who care deeply about the values that dictate the environment in which their children grow up, the conservative movement will be strong,” Perkins told CNSNews.com.
But Tuesday’s election results were clearly a setback.
“You know, it comes and goes, and there have been some setbacks in recent years because, I think, the conservative movement has clearly been identified with the Republican Party,” he added.
Perkins said that some in the GOP have “kind of fallen off the wagon” and have done things “which have brought discredit to the conservative movement” – a reference, he said, to scandals and allegations such as those that surfaced just before the 2006 election, as well as last week’s conviction in federal court of Alaska Republican Sen. Ted Stevens on ethics charges.
Perkins said that social conservatives have invested a lot of time and money in the Republican Party in the last few elections, with questionable returns.
“When you look at the investment that was made by conservatives into the Republican Party in the last few elections -- and the return -- there is some question whether or not the Republican leadership has actually delivered on some of these key issues – in particular, on the issues of life and marriage,” Perkins said.
Conservatives and Republicans made advances in minority communities in 2004 primarily on social issues, Perkins said, especially the issue of marriage – gains that have all but been erased.
“What the Republican leadership delivered in that area was marginal,” he added.
Connie Mackey, who works with Perkins as senior vice president of FRC Action but is a well-known conservative in her own right, said conservatives may need to reassess their relationship with the GOP.
“For conservatives, the Republican Party is simply a vehicle in which we ride. When that vehicle cracks up, which it looks like they have done in so many ways, we need to look for another vehicle,” Mackey told CNSNews.com.
Mackey predicted the conservative movement will face a “difficult time” of readjustment. Already, she said the “bloodletting” is beginning – with some blaming Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, a conservative Christian, for the ticket’s loss.
“Unfortunately, there are those who will want to blame Sarah Palin, which of course, is absurd,” Mackey said. “She was a boost to McCain. I don’t think he would have gotten as far as he did without her. And there are those who will look to the Christian Right to blame for what’s happened.”
In fact, some would like to “throw social conservatives under the bus,” she said.
“It always happens, to a degree,” Mackey said. “They always look to the Christian Right to say, ‘If you people weren’t aboard, we could have this Big Tent, in which case we’d win.’ And of course, nothing could be further from the truth.”
Mackey, like Perkins, however, is hopeful for the future.
“I do think that there is a definite, wonderful future for conservatives,” she said. “Looking at (Louisiana Gov.) Bobby Jindal and (Rep.) Mike Pence (R-Ind.), and (Gov.) Sarah Palin (R-Alaska), we’ve got some great people to get behind, but it’s going to take some serious planning.”
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Don’t you know the godless Left would have a coronary should there be a new Christian Conservative Party with Sarah Palin running at the top of the ticket? It would certainly serve the Republican Party right for continually disparaging Christians, as Sarah is being maligned by the “moderates” on McCain’s staff today.
“If a man will not work, he shall not eat.” 2Thess. 3:10
Great verse IMO to win on.....
Unfortunately too many SoCons were happy to have Big Government so long as it promoted their agenda. There’s nothing conservative about that.
Actually, I assume the left would be delighted to see a permanent split in the conservative vote.
I’m all about social issues. But I’m also about property rights, gun ownership, free speech, states rights, taxes, and fiscal responsibility, i.e the Constitution.
There are more issues than just abortion and gay marriage.
I don’t think we need a Big Tent GOP, but we do need Big Tent Conservatism. Social conservatives need to understand their issues are part of the spectrum.
The vast majority of American citizens are ashamed to be seen publicly as opposing gay marriage.
The tide has turned. It used to be that we didn't even talk about abortion or homosexuality because we all pretty much agreed these were horrors too disturbing to discuss.
Now mentioning that you are pro-life or anti gay marriage will bring up the same reactions as mentioning that you are an axe murderer.
If the Republican Party wants to survive going forward they need to completely disassociate themselves from the religious right.
If the conservatives want to survive going forward they need to create a strong advocacy group that can put its weight behind specific issues and candidates. It would be something like the Christian Coalition, but without any specific religious affiliation.
I believe that for the short run the Republican Party and conservatives need to part ways.
Maybe those who remain stalwart Republicans will start to refocus on balancing budgets and reining in big government.
Meanwhile the conservatives can start supporting positive positions such as adoption as an alternative to abortion and homeschooling in opposition to state indoctrination via public schools.
They can come together on occasion when their interests align, e.g. eliminating the Dept. of Education.
A “Christian Conservative Party” would not win. As to 3rd parties, think how much impact Ross Perot had. Not much in the long run, huh?
The reality is that most Americans are Christians in name only. To have moral ideas that are informed by faith is fine, but to be overtly theocratic will not go. Sorry, but those days are over, like it or not. The urbanization and secularization of American culture is too far along to reverse. Meanwhile, “give to Caesar, what is Caesar’s.” What we CAN do is to re-join the conservative coalition of national security/foreign policy conservatives, social (religious) conservatives, and fiscal conservatives. In that path lies strength, purpose AND numbers. What that means in practice that the three sources of the conservative strength don’t get all they want, but do better than they could alone. Like it or not, that’s what is.
Asking Tony Perkins to comment on the future of the conservative movement is like asking Captain Edward John Smith to comment on the future of the Titantic.
Snatched the words right out of my mouth. Alright, I understand all that the SoCons have to say, but what about FISCAL CONSERVATISM? Mentioning Reagan, and only talking about social conservatism but ignoring fiscal conservatism, is a falsehood. Look at Bush ...followed the script more or less when it came to religious issues, but when it came to things like immigration, or better yet, FISCAL ISSUES, he was worse than a Democrat!
I support a strong moral center, but that alone only makes us ‘heaven bound LIBERALS!’
You’re right. The social issues were not the main issues of the Reagan revolution or in ‘94. It was getting gov’t _out_ of our lives, not into it, that was the driving idea.
The primary issue in this campaign can be summed up in two words: George Bush. The election was a referendum on how he performed in office. Many conservative felt betrayed by Bush and his Republican allies in Congress.
If the Bushites and McCainiacs think that they have redefined the Republican party, they are hugely mistaken. And now is the time for conservatives to take back the party that their leaders lead in the wrong direction. The Republican party can and will find the leadership it needs to get back on track.
The only problem with Sarah Palin is that she came on the national scene about a year later than we needed her. She did an outstanding job given the poor state of the Republican party under the flawed leadership of Bush. She brought many people back to the Republican party. She energized the base of the Republican party. If any of those Republican stuffed shirts like Karl Rove think they have any further role in the party, they are mistaken.
Snatched the words right out of my mouth. Alright, I understand all that the SoCons have to say, but what about FISCAL CONSERVATISM? Mentioning Reagan, and only talking about social conservatism but ignoring fiscal conservatism, is a falsehood. Look at Bush ...followed the script more or less when it came to religious issues, but when it came to things like immigration, or better yet, FISCAL ISSUES, he was worse than a Democrat!
I support a strong moral center, but that alone only makes us ‘heaven bound LIBERALS!’
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