The same can be said with regard to the marriage issue. Candidate Romney never made the case for why marriage should be between one man and one woman. He never articulated the distinct and unique roles that moms and dads play in shaping the identities of their children, in modeling how they are to live and act, and in collaborating on how they are to be nurtured and disciplined. While his own family was a beautiful example of the benefit of the intact two parent family, examples aren’t arguments. Romney never made the case for why this family structure is the foundation of civilization and essential to the transmission of cultural values, and so he was left wide open to the accusation that he had developed a newfound (and opportunistic) antagonism towards the homosexual community, a demographic whose agenda he had once supported.
The bottom line? Mankind is not one dimensional. Despite what Ayn Rand might tell us, we are more than self-interested, economically-driven creatures. We are spiritual and emotional and relational beings who seek community in civil society. Yes we have individual rights, but we also have obligations to our fellow citizens. Government does have a role to play in our lives, and it is more than just to create an environment in which everyone can have a job. Sometimes it must extend a helping hand to those in need, to those who need protection. Mitt Romney and the GOP ignored this reality. Terrified of alienating the critical “swing voter,” they sang the same verse over and over: “It’s the economy stupid.” Not surprisingly, conservative Americans did not join the chorus.
This article courtesy of Center for a Just Society
