Should the Republicans call a culture-war truce?
A gay conservative group wants the GOP to avoid social issues. Would such a move compromise the party's commitment to "traditional" values?
![GOProud co-founders Jimmy LaSalvia (L) and Christopher Barron (R) want to focus on fiscal conservatism and limited government.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/NG5wnuLBvtp9kb2aLndW5Q-415-80.jpg)
A gay conservative group called GOProud has teamed up with prominent Tea Partiers from groups such as the New American Patriots to urge the Republican Party to avoid tackling social issues during the coming Congress. The collective signed a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell advocating that the GOP stick to limiting the size of government instead of focusing on "any social issue." Should the GOP call a "culture-war truce" or would that compromise traditional Republican values?
An internal battle is brewing: The idea of a "truce" was first suggested by Indiana governor Mitch Daniels (R), says Steve Benen at Washington Monthly, and "that didn't go over too well with much of the traditional Republican Party base." It's hard to think this will, either. Expect an "intra-right fight" between libertarians and social conservatives.
"More calls for a culture-war truce"
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Listen to the voters: The Tea Party leaders seeking to avoid social issues are "out of touch with their own movement," says Joe Carter at First Things. Polls consistently find that a majority of Tea Partiers oppose abortion and same-sex marriage. If this is the way the Tea Party is heading, "it's time we social conservatives threw this weak tea into the harbor."
"Are Tea Party leaders destroying the movement?"
Truce advocates are right — finances must be the focus: "If the country goes belly up, the social issues become moot," writes Melissa Clouthier at Liberty Pundits. So Americans should unite in trying to limit the size of government. "Smaller government, less taxes, less spending will help achieve the social conservative ends" by eliminating funding for "egregious socially repugnant issues."
"The needless division between social cons and fiscal cons"
The GOP can't do anything on social issues anyway: Pro-life policies are bound up with "constitutional limitations," and proposing a federal ban on gay marriage would sacrifice the party's "new-found advantage among independents," says Allahpundit at Hot Air. So what's left to push politically?
"GOProud, tea partiers urge GOP leadership: avoid social issues"
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
The lab-made meat that 'could kill the EU'
Under The Radar Concerned at 'unintended consequences for farming' some farmers are 'turning rabid' over the rise of cultured meat
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
Magazine solutions - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court rejects challenge to CFPB
Speed Read The court rejected a conservative-backed challenge to the way the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is funded
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published