What Do Conservatives Believe, Part Two: GOD Is The Cornerstone of Our Republic

I am thrilled to have found the book, "The Conservative's Handbook (Defining the Right Position on Issues from A to Z)", by Phil Valentine, a few weeks ago. It is chock-full of "facts, not emotions", and it is the study on which I am basing this series of posts on conservative principles.

One major difference between liberals and conservatives is this:

"the writings of our Founding Fathers leave [absolutely] no doubt that belief in GOD was, and is, the cornerstone of our republic".  

Want to hear something that I would venture to say most Americans do not know?

"There is NO such thing as separation of church and state in the U.S. Constitution. It is nowhere to be found in the entire document. The First Amendment simply states,"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof". It articulates a freedom OF religion, not a freedom FROM it."

Now, to understand the original intent of the founding fathers, it's necessary to do our homework, and in The Conservative's Handbook, Valentine has done it for us. I encourage you to get a copy for yourself and study it--you will be amazed. In short,

"the individual state constitutions laid down the law regarding church and state"

and in fact, many states required that if a man was to become a politician, he must first be a man who believed in God.  It wasn't until the courts began to completely disregard or misinterpret the U.S. Constitution that such a fuzzy line was drawn, and so many people were led to believe that, according to the Constitution,  God-and anyone professing to be a practicing Christian- is to be left out of any government entity. Not so. In fact, our founding fathers "were protecting the states from an overbearing federal government".  Guess what constitution DOES mandate separation of church and state? That would be the Soviet Union Constitution, chapter 7, article 52, section 2, which states:

"In the USSR, the church is separated from the state, and the school from the church."

Interesting, don't you think? Does this mean that every conservative is a born again Christian? No. It means that conservatives believe that the idea of inalienable rights is exclusively a biblical idea. The right to be free is given by our Creator--there's a reason why there are no naturally occurring Islamic or Buddhist democracies. GOD is the cornerstone of our republic. HE is our foundation. 

The Moderate Myth

Much has been made of the Moderate Republican. He is touted as the future of the Republican Party and enjoys the approbation of the Rockefeller Republican clique. The moderate floats in an enigmatic strata of Washingtonian society, assuming the form and language of the conservative while prostituting himself to the Washington elite. During the last election cycle, this new breed of Republican manifested itself, the deformed offspring of a thoroughly liberal left and of a pandering, apostate right. Wrapped in a utilitarian pseudo-intellectualism, the moderate felt no cognitive dissonance at aping the cause of conservatism in public but within the marbled halls of Capital Hill actively propagating and establishing a liberal socialist agenda. This wretched alliance, between Moderate Republican and Liberal Democrat, produced the 700 billion dollar welfare check written to the banking industry. Sadly, the Republican presidential candidate, John McCain, was infected with this moderate mentality. McCain was, therefore, compelled to waffle on issues and failed to effectively confront Barack Hussein Obama, Jr. on traditionally conservative points. BO, essentially, won the election on a conservative issue: lowering taxes. Given the clear weaknesses in BO's position early in the campaign (i.e. the potentially devastating relationship with Rev. Wright and BO's blatant socialism), it was McCain's election to lose. And, as a good moderate, McCain lost. But, not as big as some would have you believe. About five million more votes were cast in this election year than in 2004. However, the 127 million votes fell short of even McCain internal estimates of 130 million. This is the moderate legacy.  It is a failure to ignite interest by failing to define principals and to defend them. Simply, it is a failure to take a stand. For many conservatives, there was no compelling reason to cast a vote. 

I remember the languid years of the Carter presidency. I remember, vividly, the national shame during the Iranian hostage crisis. I can still feel the blush of embarrassment on my cheeks as I watched American citizens paraded through Iranian streets on television, while an impotent Carter looked on. I remember the gas lines, the skyrocketing inflation, and interest rates which spiraled out of control under liberal democrat economic policy. (Mark these words: Obama will make Jimmy Carter look like a Reagan conservative. Even now, the DOW plunges in preparation for Obama's capital gains tax hikes. American businesses move into defensive postures, laying off tens of thousands in anticipation of Obama's corporate tax hikes. And, America's enemies will be emboldened by Obama's perceived naivete and gutless weakness. Don't forget, BO has already promised to close Guantanamo Bay! What buffoonery!) Then, Reagan changed it all. He, quite simply, did what he promised. He stood for an ideal, for conservative principals, and didn't back down. The American people responded by handing him a landslide victory. The American people responded to a Republican who stood for capitalism, the free markets, lower taxes, smaller government, and a powerful national defense without apology or reservation. Reagan did not equivocate, did not pander to the left but battled their insidious ideology. He made us proud again and projected a national image of economic and military power. America's enemies quailed. 

Reagan and Governor Sarah Palin share something essential in common: a deep commitment to conservative principals and a willingness to take a stand. Examine the exit poll data, Sarah carried McCain. Without her, and her uncompromising stand on conservative principles, the Republican base would never have mobilized in any appreciable numbers. This much is clear, the American people have no stomach for the vacillation of the moderates, the Republican Center. The American people desire a conservative leader with no proclivity to capitulate to left wing socialism or centrist notions of euro-centric values. The myth of the moderate is that they can be all things to all people. The truth of the matter is that, in their efforts to offend no one, moderates fail to impress anyone.   

Conservatism and Women's Rights/Feminism

by John

The nomination of Sarah Palin as the Republican vice presidential candidate provides an opportunity to highlight the role that Christian principals have played in the conceptualization of women’s rights.

From the perspective of world history, women have been viewed with a quiet disdain or, in the worst cases, as possessions to be bought, sold, or discarded. The historical record is replete with examples of women being relegated to subservience and abuse. Sadly, women still suffer under oppressive societies to this day. However, in this country, informed by Christian principals, women enjoy a status equal to their male counterparts. Though this nation may have been slow in acknowledging the true status of women, the seeds for this enlightenment were always there.

Despite what pundits may say, this country is still rooted in Christian tradition. Perhaps, then, we should begin at the beginning. The book of Genesis is about beginnings. The first verse begins with the only rational epistemological presupposition possible, “In the beginning God.” More to our point, Genesis describes God’s view, in the Christian tradition, of woman. God made woman from man and God made woman in his image just as man was made in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26, 27) This single statement carries profound implications. In an age where men ruled in absolute, the statement that women were created, just as men, in God’s own image was positively revolutionary. Here we find the basis for the concept of individual rights. Individual rights, not granted by the state, but individual because of mans’, and womans’, inherent value as bearing the image of God. This concept forms the theoretical basis for all of our founding documents. It is the essence of our national way of life. Without individual rights, the Bill of Rights cannot exist. The rights we commonly know, freedom of speech, press, etc., would not exist apart from the concept set forth in the book of Genesis. No other religious tradition can claim it, the enlightenment thinkers didn’t invent it, nor did the ancient Greek democracies understand this essential truth.

The political struggle we see unfolding is not about race or sex but about the eons old struggle between humanism and Christian principal. The conservative movement finds its guiding tenets in Judeo-Christian principals, where God is understood as the first principal. The left operates from a worldview that is humanistic, where man has formed a golden image in his own likeness. Humanism has produced all of history’s twisted philosophical horrors. Humanism produced the barbarism of the French Revolution; biblical principals produced the free republic of the American Revolution.

While the Democratic party flounders in the cesspool of humanisms’ philosophical detritus, the Republican party clings to some of the Divine principals that made America possible and which enable a woman to ascend to the high office of Vice President. The left would attempt to highjack Christian principal to suit their agenda, while the principals of the right form the basis for a woman’s inherent right to stand in equal position to her male counterparts.

More support from conservative moms!

From Anna in Alaska:
As the Mom of 2 Marines, and MIL of a soldier - all of whom have been to Iraq (& back, thank God) - I relate deeply to Sarah Palin. She has joined a huge sisterhood as a military mom. A sisterhood that overcomes all political lines for the sake of the mission... to see our loved ones through and back... all the way back.
The McCailin ticket is the BEST one, bar none, for the best interests of our military, and of ending this war in a way that we won't have to go back again in the next decade. I know they want it done... but they want it done RIGHT.

From Jen in Texas:
I, too, am a Christian, proud mom & wife and conservative republican and I have been HORRIFIED by the treatment of this amazing woman by the left-wing media and others... thank you for taking the time to get this information together - I plan on letting all my mommy friends know about your blog so we can get the truth out! We NEED Sarah Palin as VP (prior to her nomination I was pretty apathetic towards Mccain - he hasn't been the best representative for conservatives lately...) BUT I so love Sarah! :) The hypocrisy of the left is staggering and, in addition to emailing Us Weekly and cancelling my subscription, I will in turn NEVER have Oprah on in my house again!!!...I wholeheartedly agree with you about Sally Quinn and others (did you hear Howard Gutman the other day on Laura Ingraham's show? I almost crashed my mini-van I was so ticked!!) :) Conservative women haven't ever had a REAL woman representing us - one who believes in the sanctity of life, in smaller government, in working hard and yet raising a family... I've been thinking all day about the Proverbs 31 woman - she was a BUSY LADY!! :) She worked with her hands, sold her wares, clothed & fed her family - she was a shrewd business woman who provided for her family, in every way - spiritually, emotionally and physically! Just like Sarah Palin! I am blessed by the fact that I have been able to stay home with my babies and be involved in every aspect of their daily lives - but I hold nothing against those who financially cannot, or who feel called to a career outside the home! There were several days when I would have given my left arm for a career outside the home, away from diapers, snotty noses, etc. :) I am outraged by the hypocrisy of those who are claiming she's not a good mother and that she needs to be home - I am so impressed with Todd Palin and the obvious love their kids have for each other and their parents (Piper Palin is the cutest little thing!!) I was sad to hear about Bristol's pregnancy, but SO PROUD of her for choosing to keep the baby and take responsibility for their actions - something of which the left has no concept!! It says nothing about Sarah and her ability to parent or her ability to govern! Kids make mistakes! Mine sure do! :) But, I love them and support them no matter what and it is wonderful to see Sarah Palin do the same!!


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I couldn't say it better myself. I thought the comparison to the Proverbs 31 lady was brilliant! When Sarah lost her first race for a state governmental position (Lt. Governor), she went home and resumed her position as mommy, hockey mom and wife. To quote Kaylene Johnson in "Sarah", "she [Sarah] believed that all things happen for a reason, and that there was a greater plan at work." I thought that was very telling...it isn't that she is unhappy being an at-home wife and mommy. Sarah "believes that every life has a higher purpose. She holds that life's meaning is found in serving something larger than one's self." (from "Sarah")