Promoted from diaries – Martin A Knight.

One thing has been consistently missing in the internecine warfare over the future of the GOP:  responsibility.

As in “We get it that you don’t like how things are going – - – - what’s your program for going forward?” responsibility.

The “moderate” camp accuses “social conservatives” of spoiling the party for everyone, claiming voters “in the middle” don’t like divisive social issues, don’t like all the talk about abortion, gay marriage, etc. and are punishing Republicans for bringing it up.  The “social conservative” camp accuses the “moderates” of ignoring the issues that matter most to them & of turning tail on the party when hard votes need to be cast.

Both have a point (though they seem loathe to admit it):

• for the moderates – - no, conservatives can’t win elections on their own; and, yes, winning requires building a majority around some common principles, and governing for any length of time requires compromise amongst members of your majority coalition.
• for the conservatives – - no, the moderates can’t win elections without you – at least, not as Republicans; and, yes, the party has to stand for something or what’s the point?

The challenge for the moderates – and it is their challenge, because they’re the ones agitating for a wholesale rethinking of what Republicans stand for – is to lay out the program which is both “moderate” and capable of generating the excitement, passion & allegience of a majority of Americans.

1. What is the moderate position on taxation & how does it differ from the ‘conservative’ and ‘liberal’ line?
2. What is the moderate position on deficits?  What makes it unique from what others put forward?
3. What is/was the moderate position on Obama’s budget plans?  What makes it unique?
4. What is the moderate role for the United States Military?  Its budget?  How is it unique?
5. What is the moderate position on regulation?
6. What is the moderate position on AGW?  How is it different from “Democrat-lite” or “Conservative-lite”?
7. What is the moderate position on health care reform?  There’s a lot of sentiment on the Democrat side for a single-payer system, not so much on the Republican side – where do you come down?  If you don’t favor single-payer, how will you insure your ‘reforms’, if adopted, won’t take us further down the road toward a single-payer system?
8. What is the moderate position on abortion?  How is it different from the Democrat position?  At what point do you say “this far and no farther”?
9. What is the moderate position on same-sex marriage?  How is it functionally different from the Democrat position?  Where is your “this far and no farther” point?
10. What role – if any – should social conservatives have in the Republican Party?  Make the case that you’re not asking them “Give me your vote and then shut up until the next election.”
11. How do the ‘refinements’ you’ve made to the Republican platform add votes to Republican totals?

Until that happens, there’s really no reason why any conservative should see the moderate carping as anything more than (yet another) attempt to purge the party of the people of those icky social conservatives.

So – how about it, moderates?  Show us the flag we’re supposed to rally around, and not just with platitudes and generalizations – tell us what hills you’re prepared to die on for the moderate banner.