''Those who don't appreciate the importance of the social agenda should consider that when Reagan was elected in 1980, 18 percent of American babies were born to unwed mothers. Today it is 40 percent. This kind of family disintegration is incompatible with a free and functioning society.''
RNC Chairman Michael Steele and the New York Yankees can look back on a good week. Maybe Steele deserves extra credit.
No one was writing obituaries a year ago for the Yankees as was the case for the Republican Party.
Now we have a different picture. Borrowing from the words of Mark Twain, reports of the death of the Republican Party were greatly exaggerated.
The operative question today for Mr. Steele and his party, in the wake of winning governorships in Virginia and New Jersey, both Obama states in 2008, is "Now what?"
Will voter discontent that led to these Republican victories be parlayed into a genuine Republican renaissance?
As independent voters move away from Democrats and lean back toward Republicans, which is what happened in Virginia and New Jersey, and what polling over the year has shown to be happening nationwide, will Republicans build a solid new tent?
Will they rebuild their party with values critical for restoring a sick nation to health?
In order to genuinely rebuild, Republicans must successfully take on two big challenges – one internal and one external.
It's not too late to rescue the nation! Read how in "Save America Now! The New Revolution to Save Freedom and Liberty"
First, a notion that has divided the party – that free-market economics and the social "values" agenda are separate cards to be played – must be purged. The more libertarian stream – Republicans whose principal concerns are limited government, low taxes and free markets – have viewed Christian social conservatism as dead weight in the party. This is a mistake. http://www.wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=115241