Seriously, folks, there is a real discussion going on in the Party of Family Values about what they need to do about all these pols among them who just can't behave. Are they going to have prayer meetings to help their flocks realize the error of their ways? No. Are they going to get strict, and kick people out of office when they behave like randy school-boys? No. Are they going to do some soul-searching and try to be better? No. They are going to
change the subject because all that "family values stuff" is coming back to bite them in their collective butts.
Some musings:
...by resorting to that kind of moral values rhetoric," said Mike Maslansky, CEO of Luntz Maslansky, a predominantly conservative communications firm. "I don't say rhetoric as a means of demeaning it. Talking in those terms is a way to appeal to the base. In an election season they find it is a significant advantage to talk in those terms. Maybe for the other three years out of their term they wish that they hadn't."
The GOP, to be certain, will never get to a point where it willfully cedes the moral high ground to Democrats. The social and religious conservatives who comprise a large and vocal portion of the base won't permit such a drift.
"Look, of course, we are the conservative party and we are going to have a conservative message," said Donatelli. "But I do think by talking a little bit more about economic opportunity that we as a party want to offer both at the national and state level, that is what we can do I think to broaden our ranks."
Could it be that they finally have reached the capacity to feel shame? No. I think it is just that they realize they might get called on it.
