Conservative evangelicals and other social conservatives have been far more loyal to the Republican Party than have libertarians. Santorum and Huckabee loyally support the Republican Presidential candidate, even as Ron Paul will not. In fact, the current Libertarian Presidential candidate, Gary Johnson, is a former Republican governor, as their 2008 nominee was a former Republican congressman. Yet they feel, and not without reason, that they have ridden in the back of the GOP bus for decades. Roe v. Wade remains in effect, and the courts have not been much help in fighting the steady secularization of the public arena, despite GOP control of the White House for 20 out of the last 32 years. Most of the radio talk show hosts and columnists calling for Akin's withdrawal are secular or non-evangelical conservatives.
Akin's remarks were stupid and ill-considered. However, the pushback from the social conservatives is significant. The cost of further alienating them is too high. He may well lose his race against the Democrat incumbent. That will possibly cost the GOP the drive to control the Senate. Nevertheless, maintaining evangelical enthusiasm for the Republican ticket, which consists of a Mormon and a Catholic, is important if Romney is to win Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and Ohio.
As I've said in the past, if Todd Akin pulls the pin (petitions court to remove his name from ballot) I'll gladly donate $100 to FR. But it ain't gonna happen...
Anyone in Missouri who is pro-life needs to vote Akin
Anyone in Missouri who is pro-RKBA should vote for Akin
Anyone in Missouri opposed to Kenya-care should vote for Akin
Anyone in Missouri opposed to tax hikes should vote for Akin
To do other, is to commit political suicide...
LOL!!!!
You mean the OPC opinion, the PCA opinion, the ARP opinion, the EPC opinion, the RPCNA opinion, the KAPC opinion, the FPC opinion, the FPC(c) opinion, the URC opinion, the RCUS opinion, the CanRC opinion, the PRC opinion, the FRC opinion, the NRC opinion, and the HNRC opinion?
(Insider joke for Calvinist “split-Ps”)
85 posted on Mon Aug 27 2012 12:26:09 GMT-0500 (Central Daylight Time) by Wallace T.: “Conservative evangelicals and other social conservatives have been far more loyal to the Republican Party than have libertarians. Santorum and Huckabee loyally support the Republican Presidential candidate, even as Ron Paul will not. In fact, the current Libertarian Presidential candidate, Gary Johnson, is a former Republican governor, as their 2008 nominee was a former Republican congressman. Yet they feel, and not without reason, that they have ridden in the back of the GOP bus for decades. Roe v. Wade remains in effect, and the courts have not been much help in fighting the steady secularization of the public arena, despite GOP control of the White House for 20 out of the last 32 years. Most of the radio talk show hosts and columnists calling for Akin’s withdrawal are secular or non-evangelical conservatives. Akin’s remarks were stupid and ill-considered. However, the pushback from the social conservatives is significant. The cost of further alienating them is too high. He may well lose his race against the Democrat incumbent. That will possibly cost the GOP the drive to control the Senate. Nevertheless, maintaining evangelical enthusiasm for the Republican ticket, which consists of a Mormon and a Catholic, is important if Romney is to win Virginia, North Carolina, Florida, and Ohio.”
You are absolutely right on this.
Social conservatives have been loyal Republicans, except where there is an old-style conservative Southern Democrat on a local election ballot, or (in the case of Roman Catholics in urban areas) an old-style ethnic Catholic who is pro-life and can make a valid claim to reflecting Roman Catholic values.
In return, we've been maligned, abused, and accused of losing elections for the Republicans. We've been treated like the crazy aunt you can't avoid inviting to family gatherings, but who you don't want to introduce to friends.
Akin blew it. I've said that dozens of times here on Free Republic and even more times elsewhere. But years of pent-up resentment are a factor fueling the defense of Akin, and the Republican Party ignores that at its peril.