Establishment Republicans surrender on social issues to protect their incumbency

Mark Twain

In a recent interview with KSL radio, Senator Orrin Hatch—a member of the G.O.P. Hall of Shame for abandoning conservative principles for political benefit—added to his lofty hall of shame credentials when he decided that being a supporter of traditional marriage was simply too passé to demand any more of his attention:

“Let’s face it: anybody who does not believe that gay marriage is going to be the law of the land just hasn’t been observing what’s going on,” said Hatch. “Sooner or later gay marriage is probably going to be approved by the Supreme Court of the United States, and certainly as the people in this country move toward it, especially young people. I don’t think that’s the right way to go, on the other hand, I do accept whatever the courts have to say.”

Using that logic, Hatch should stop trying to defend the unborn. After all, the courts have made murdering your unborn baby the law of the land. Why bother being pro-life when the issue has been settled? Actually, that’s a rhetorical question, because John McCain—another G.O.P. Hall of Shame enshrinee—already has that one covered, as we reported when we selected him for enshrinement. If you’re talking about votes, McCain thinks it’s best to keep your distance from the abortion issue.

“And as far as young women are concerned, absolutely — I don’t think anybody like me, I can state my position on abortion, but to — other than that, leave the issue alone when we are in the kind of economic situation and, frankly, national security situation we’re in.”

In a Washington Post interview, Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) has adopted the Orrin Hatch “it’s inevitable” approach to dealing with social issues:

“Life is too short to have the force of government stand in the way of two adults whose pursuit of happiness includes marriage,” says Dent. “In future generations the label same-sex marriage will be abandoned, to be replaced simply by marriage.”

Of course, when there is only one side to a fight, it tends to end in the favor of the one doing the fighting. Maybe if these invertebrates actually engaged in the fight, the outcome might not be as pre-determined as they think.

During the Reagan revolution, the Grand Old Party made traditional family values a part of the party platform. There was no timidity concerning social issues. And shocker of shockers, Reagan was elected and re-elected without abandoning them. Something the current batch of R.I.N.O. W.I.M.P.S. fail to understand is that people who hold these traditional family values are vital to their chances of winning elections, and they often stay home on election day when they feel the candidates don’t hold the same values.

As the primary season continues down the road toward the November elections, Conservatives owe it to America to get rid of every establishment Republican who has compromised our values . . . and that includes our social values.

Because an America without those values will fail no matter how many “Rs” we put in Washington.