[MEGoody]

Also termed "RINOs", even if their views are overwhelmingly in line with traditional GOP values

As far as I can tell, traditional GOP values have included social conservatism. It is only of late that some have attempted to remove social conservatism from the 'list' of GOP values. If you have some documentation that says otherwise, I'd be interested.

[SolidWood]

"Social Conservatism" as a politcal force within the GOP is something rather recent, really starting with Reagan.

Before that it was not a particular "GOP pillar", with foreign and fiscal issues being far more characteristic of the GOP. The reason not at least being that the US society as a whole was more traditional/religious. When in the 1960's, 1970's the Dems drifted increasingly leftwards and social "liberalism" became stronger in the US, there emerged a political "social conservative" force in the GOP. However even the "arch-Conservative" Goldwater, was not "socially Conservative" by 1980's or current standards.

[AnotherUnixGeek]

As far as I can tell, traditional GOP values have included social conservatism. It is only of late that some have attempted to remove social conservatism from the 'list' of GOP values. If you have some documentation that says otherwise, I'd be interested.

I have no documentation on the subject, but my perception is that the driving force for social conservatism in today's GOP comes from southern Baptists who left the Democratic Party (or saw the Democratic Party leave them) during the '60s and '70s. Social conservatism is not all there is to traditional GOP values - strong foreign and defense policies, espousal of free markets and capitalism, and skepticism and opposition to big government are also pillars of GOP values.