[GSlob]

"Being strong on national defense and being fiscally responsible is basic REPUBLICANISM, not CONSERVATISM. "
Wrong. these qualities are falling squarely within a conservative framework and thus are parts of it, even basic parts. there are other parts to the framework as well. Hence one could be speaking of conservatism deficiency, but not of conservatism absence.

[TitansAFC]

Christie Todd Whitman was a what Republican?

Liberal Republican.

There are endless examples. i won't bother posting 100 Liberal/Moderate Republicans.

My statement is correct, Conservative is a social label.