Hopefully, sometime today, the N&R's Doug Clark will see fit to post his Wednesday column online so I can link to it and urge you to read it and just see if you can find many holes in his assertions. Although Clark's jumping on point was columnist Leonard Pitts recent argument that black ministers should resist being wooed into the Republican tent, I found it difficult to argue with much of what he says.
He lists eleven "...characteristics (which) apply to the broad mainstream of Americans who might call themselves social conservatives..". In my opinion, his list is pretty much a litmus test not just for 'social conservatives' but for thinking moderate Americans in general who are not purely blue or red, but are many shades of purple.
The only one of his points I might take much issue with is: "They'd like to wipe out pornagraphy, clean up the entertainment industry and police the Internet for the sake of their children..." because, hey, I like a good skin flick now and then just as much as the next Republican. Also, I learned how to use my TV's remote control and internet filters a long time ago.
Other than that, he is correct when he states, "... For the most part, social conservatives are doing their best to build decent, healthy communities for everyone..." That, my friends, is called common ground.
To me, that is the goal of every decent American and not just 'social conservatives'. Within his listed characteristics, even a flaming liberal can recognize their (gasp) conservative leanings. Of course, the devil is in the details of how we accomplish Clark's identified goals and with which party we align ourselves to get the job done.
8:41:37 AM 
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