For 2012 candidates, social conservatism a given

Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney did his best to convince voters at the Values Voter Summit in Washington Saturday that he'd advance their socially conservative agenda as president

/ AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta

In a year like this, social conservatives may be worried that the issues that matter to them will fall to the wayside as the economy dominates the presidential contest. But this year's Values Voter Summit in Washington proved two things: Republicans are far from close to choosing their 2012 presidential candidate, but they can rest assured all the viable candidates represent their social vales.

Like he often does, Republican Rep. Ron Paul ran away with the straw poll at the Values Voter Summit, even though he's arguably the least socially conservative presidential candidate who showed up to the event. Paul's supporters are notorious for bussing in students who support the libertarian candidate to vote in straw polls.

But when asked if there are any candidates that aren't conservative enough for his liking, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins, whose group FRC Action hosted the conference, didn't seem too concerned about the matter.

"I'm pretty encouraged by the field we have," he said. "We've got a pretty conservative field of candidates."

Indeed, even Paul has demonstrated his conservative values in ways such as signing the Susan B. Anthony "pro-life" pledge, promising to take actions like promoting a law banning abortions at the point at which a fetus is capable of feeling pain.

The main questions about conservatism, however, were reserved for Mitt Romney, whose evolution on social issues is well known.

Perkins said that Romney "still has to connect with the values community" but said the former Massachusetts governor gave a good speech to the Values Voter audience that should help him make that connection.

Conservatives are aware Romney once called himself "pro-choice" and that in the 1990's he said equal rights for gays should be a "mainstream concern." But in his speech Saturday, he promised to eliminate federal funding for Planned Parenthood and said it is critical to "preserve traditional marriage, the joining together of one man and one woman." Romney has promised to work to advance all of the National Organization for Marriage's key goals, including supporting a constitutional amendment defining marriage as between a man and a woman.

The key to Romney's campaign, however, may be the argument he's the most electable candidate -- even at a conference like the Values Voter Summit.

"I voted [in the straw poll] for Romney largely as a protest vote because [Texas Gov. Rick] Perry can't debate," said Chris Ring, a 20-year-old sophomore at George Washington University. Ring, however, said he wouldn't characterize himself as a "values" voter; he was at the conference to see the candidates.

Chris Balkema of Channahon, Illinois, however, is dedicated to the cause of the conference. He's attended the Values Voter Summit for four years in a row and said an important issue for him is the defense of marriage.

Still, he said, "What is very important this year is the independents and moderates in the middle who are far less concerned with social issues than the economy."

Romney conveyed a sense of mainstream appeal at the Values Voter Summit, condemning intolerant speech at the conference. Romney's remarks alluded to the fact that a Texas pastor supporting Rick Perry called Mormonism - Romney's religion - a "cult," but Romney also took a specific jab at hateful remarks from the American Family Association's Bryan Fischer. Fischer was on the docket to speak that the conference after Romney.

While Romney may seem like a mainstream candidate to some voters, he has yet to really excite people.

Voters respond to things like "passion" and "personality," Perkins said. While Perry and Romney still have "work to do," Perkins said, "Herman Cain had people on their feet, Rick Santorum connected with people."

Businessman Herman Cain came in second place in the straw poll, winning 23 percent of the vote. Perry, meanwhile, took in 8 percent while Romney won 4 percent. Rep. Michele Bachmann also only garnered 8 percent in the straw poll.

Bachmann's campaign has largely been grounded in her socially conservative views, and she's pressed voters in recent weeks to resist the urge to "settle" for a less conservative candidate.

Jim Matthews of Gaithersberg, Maryland said that Bachmann's message is "redundant" in the GOP primary.

"I don't think people want to settle," he said, suggesting they won't have to. "I think people will choose the candidate that is appropriate to lead the ticket." Matthews said he currently favors Cain and former Sen. Rick Santorum.

But, he said, "I don't think the race is anywhere near settled in any way at all."

[rayz28-2009]

So it has come to this America! Police siding with the Rich & Powerful over the poor and middle class. Beating Americans citizens who are exercising their constitutional rights to March and hold demonstrations. They (police) who are paid to protect the innocent and ensure justice, has itself become corrupted and blinded by the rich & powerful, paying their fees to protect and muzzle the voices yearning to breathe free. The law enforcement has been blinded by the greedy, like the Mafia or communists, who use their police forces to shut down the peoples voices overseas, and what happened in our own past as the French & British tried silencing the Americans, and taxing them and sending troops in to stop the Mobs. We have become Mobs to Eric Cantor and the Police Departments around the USA. Mobs, Not Americans protesting the injustices, the stealing, the corruptions, the holding Americans Hostage, the political corruptions. Really? To these political terrorists we are just Mobs, not Americans! It is our fault that we allowed this to happen, as we trusted these elected officials to protect us. It is our fault that we didn't research more about these candidates backgrounds and allows them to remain in office, because they had communistic agendas. Mr. Cain says it is our fault that we are poor and lazy, and brainwashed. It is our fault (according to Mitt Romney) that we are opening our boarders and not the secure Nation. (Of course he blames it on the Black President). SO it will be our fault that we don't stand against these racists, bigots, liars, cheats, political & financial greedy terrorists. United States of America stands for truth, justice and the American spirit. What will you stand for? Who will you stand up to? When? Now is the time to take a stand, and make your voices be heard, against the terrorists, injustices, and lies being told and twisted to bolsters the differences between the classes. The Class warfare started long ago, but we were blinded by the lies; we were blinded by the truths that justice would prevail. What they forget is that History is on our side. Our ForeFathers, who have gone this way before, stood up and fought these same injustices and corruptions and won us our freedoms. Are you prepared to do the same for your future, your children's futures and their children's futures? These politicians need to be impeached now and run out of office and out of the country, and if the police (law enforcement), or even if they resort to troops killing Americans to protect these corrupt politicians and corporations, then "We the people" need to go the way of our forefathers. We need to stop them now! They say we don't have an agenda, we are just lawless Mobs. Really? I am an American (A Vietnam Veteran) and just as the Mobs on the high jacked planes, I say "Lets Roll"! They (political terrorists) have become the pilots of those high jacked planes and we are the passengers. So are you going to just sit there and do nothing? I swore to defend the constitution against enemies Foreign and Domestic and these people (using the term loosely) have become Domestic Terrorists. It is that simple! Let's show them what true America Mobs can do just as our ForeFathers did. "Leave No American Behind" "WE are the 99%" "Human Need over Corporate Greed" Yes WE Can Change the way things are, But we have to Take a Stand Now!

[rayz28-2009]

This guy is so Un-American, Un-Patriotic and any person that even remotely votes for this guy or any of the people running for the GOP & Tea-Party (Communists) needs their head examined! They are the Future Communists trying to run the United States of America. These Bigots, Liars, Cheats and Corporate Stuges are the ones misguided. Their Ideologies are so out of touch with reality it sickens me and millions of others. The Eric Cantors, Boehners, and Romneys, and now Cain need to be put out of America for good. Take their communistic, socialists views and terrorists way and leave.

[jamessimson]

Funny thing about straw polls:

When it's an establishment candidate win:
-Straw polls are a good indicator of who is top tier.
-There are 40+ headlines indicating the establishment candidates win.
-such and such "Had an amazing group of supporters come out for their candidate"
-"it's straw polls like these that allow us to see who America really supports"

etc, etc, etc...

When Ron Paul wins,

-These straw polls really hold no meaning and are not a good indicator of a candidates support.
-on a good day maybe 2-4 headlines ie. California straw poll, NH straw poll, Ames straw poll, Georgia straw poll(Paul came in second 3 votes from beating Cain in his home state.), Texas straw poll(oh, sorry forgot that was canceled due to the gargantuan Paul support that Perry didn't want to make public), and the list goes on and on.
-"Ron Paul and his cult followers(meaning the growing majority of americans) stack the polls with their meaningless votes"
-and as always these articles will end with "Ron Paul is a crazy kook whose ideas of common sense, sound money, anti-imperialism, anti-patriot act, anti-stealing of american freedoms, anti-authoritarianism, will NEVER get the GOP nomination because we tell you he won't!"

I think that sums it up.

[mrsherman]

Does Ron Paul have an agenda of forcing me to go to the church of his choice?
I may be a Christian, but I'm not a dominionist like everybody running on the Grand oil party ticket. I can work with others of a different faith. These people can't even work with each other, except to bash the President.