Posted on 09/15/2010 4:17:45 AM PDT by iowamark
The nation's social conservatives may have ceded center stage to economic conservatives and the "tea party" movement for the midterm elections, but they're not keeping quiet.
Even as the fiscal tea party movement grabs the headlines, social conservative leaders are getting out their own message to selected audiences via e-mail, newsletter and pulpit - trying to ensure their followers flock to the voting booths in November.
Eagle Forum President Phyllis Schlafly, a leading voice for pro-life social conservatives for decades, sends a monthly report to subscribers, authors a weekly column and airs a live radio show. Family Research Council President Tony Perkins is hosting his annual Values Voter Summit this week in Washington, with conservative stars such as Sen. Jim DeMint, South Carolina Republican, Rep. Michele Bachmann, Minnesota Republican; and Fox News talk-show host Sean Hannity on the agenda...
"Yes, I believe there has been a disturbing silence by some leaders in the GOP concerning social issues," said Steve Scheffler, an RNC member from Iowa. "Without question, jobs and excessive spending by the Democrats are paramount in many voters' minds. But social and economic issues are tied together."
Mr. Scheffler said candidates put social issues "on the back burner at their own peril and threaten the GOP's potential to be a majority party. History shows us that activists will surely abandon candidates who pooh-pooh social issues."..
"There is suspicion among our social-conservative base that the new tea party/libertarian Republicans might soon view restrictions on abortion as they would any government proscription of private conduct," said former Oklahoma Gov. Frank A. Keating...
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
Social and fiscal conservatism are connected. They cannot be separated. A case in point, In Richmond Virginia they are using taxpayer money to fund “Rainbow Over Richmond”. It is a campaign to attract homosexuals to Richmond and is funded by taxpayer money. The two issues are a whole cloth.
Bull****. A “social conservative” who does not believe in smaller government is no conservative. There is no such thing as a purely social conservative whose beliefs are completely divorced from the so-called economic conservatism of smaller government and individual liberty.
Correct. The case for that is easy to make. Social libertinism leads to illegitimate kids leads to an expansion of government to serve as “Daddy” to the fatherless.
I do not see how “social” and “fiscal” conservativism can be separated. You can’t be completely for responsibility and independence in one area while eschewing the same in another area.
The pro-abortion, pro-gay “marriage”, etc., socially liberal positions are all about promoting irresponsibility and self-indulgence at the cost of others. That goes hand-in-hand with the irresponsible fiscal liberalism currently being practice by our politicians.
The connection is obvious to everyone except “social” liberals.
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