Yeah, I know, I was shocked he was still in it, too, but, despite going a wee bit overboard, he makes some sense. I found this first over at the Iowa Independent, but, I’m going to use the blog posting at his 2012 presidential website.
In a speech Friday at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, presidential candidate and former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson criticized the “social conservative fringe†of the Republican Party, saying “There is no majority in America that can be built on hypocrisy and inconsistency.â€
Johnson said, “Social issues are not going to win the White House in 2012. When I see Republican Presidential candidates discussing morality as if the government were some type of watchdog and moral compass for America —then I see the American electorate being turned away. America does not want its government dictating behavior the bedroom, we do not want a government invading personal lives. The Republican Party is about efficient management of the government pocket book. We are the party that can restore economic prosperity to this county. However, if continue to get sidetracked by the social conservative fringe of the party—we will never get that chance.â€
He goes on in that vein for a long time, and, while a bit over the top, especially with that “social conservative fringe” crack, which a. won’t help his bid, and b. demeans those who do care about those issues (PS: I really do not consider Social Conservatives to be true conservatives), he makes some sense. Too often, Republicans push social issues at the Federal level. I was heavily against the Defense of Marriage Act, because things like that do not belong at the federal level. If a State wants to do, that’s fine, but, still, American Conservatism, based on Classical Liberalism, should mean that our side butts out of private lives as much as possible. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’m not a big proponent of the gay lifestyle, but, doesn’t affect my life, and, this being America, if it isn’t harming me, why should I care? It’s none of my damned business. Plus, I know folks who are gay, both male and female. They’re humans, and downright good people. I’m not going to judge them on being gay. Though, guys kissing kinda grosses me out. Sorry!
Obviously, we do need to get involved in some social issues, in just that we need to stop some of the Liberal agenda. And there is nothing wrong with saying what you believe. I have no problem with, say, a Rick Perry being heavily religious and possibly being a Creationist. Same way I have no problem with someone being an Atheist. But, I do not want either pushing their beliefs on me, especially through legislation. This is one of the reasons I like Michele Bachmann: she is a good fiscal conservative (not perfect, but, are any of us?). She also has many social conservative leanings, but, she doesn’t attempt to push most on people, especially though legislative means.
And this election needs to be about fiscal matters. Do I care that Mitt Romney is probably still a believer in the anthropogenic global warming hoax? Not as long as he makes no attempt to foist those beliefs on me and the American public by force of law. And folks like Perry and Bachmann, who say they are not True Believers (Perry is reformed, like myself), really need to couch that belief in economic terms, such as how so many of these man-made global warming policies would be seriously damaging to the economy and to economic growth and jobs.
They need to stay on topic, and avoid getting into social issues, and stick to the economy, foreign policy, and other similar issues.
