[Daveinyork]

Please describe “social conservatism” and how it differs from just plain, ordinary conservatism.

[mongrel]

Ordinary conservatism is to keep historic platforms in the US in place: limited government, sodomy and abortion illegal, and a preferred place for Christian values in society.

We have common ground with libertarians on limited government.

On social conservative issues (the rest of the list), we have moved from government activism to make these historic values the norm, to government activism to punish and displace those who hold those values.

We have common ground with libertarians on not having government funding for abortions, on having freedom of practice for Christians and others, and possibly on getting government out of teaching sodomy to school children.

[chuckles]

I went to the Texas Repub Convention as a delegate, way back when Allan Keyes was running. When he got up to speak, of course he mentioned abortion and about 20% of the crowd got up to get coffee or go to the restroom. The 2 women sitting next to me said " If I wanted a sermon I would have gone to church."

That's the difference in a social conservative and a conservative. They aren't the same animal.