I maintain that most Republicans are economic conservatives first, and social conservatives second. Arnold Schwarzenegger, for example, was well-regarded by most Republicans even though he was a social liberal from the start. It was only when he also bailed on fiscal conservatism that he lost favor. Jennifer Dunn was and is still revered even though she was at least mildly pro-choice. Mike Huckabee ran in the primaries as a social conservative/fiscal liberal and fell flat.

As far as gay-rights, even most social conservatives don't want a return to sodomy laws. Many don't even object to the idea of civil unions. When the smoke clears, all that is left is the trivial issue of whether gays will get to use the word 'marriage.'

What else is there? I don't consider gun-rights to be in the domain of social conservatism. Libertarians are pro-gun-rights, but are not social conservatives. That leaves abortion as the only issue of significance. With regard to such traditional vices as gambling, alcohol, drugs, pornography, and prostitution, these days we are more likely to see interdiction from nanny-state liberals than from conservatives.

For the Republican party to move ahead, I say it is time to advertise what is already the reality. It isn't necessary to be a social conservative to be a Republican, and vice-versa. With the possible exception of abortion, these should be personal, not political matters. The political reality has been moving in this direction for some time; it is only the political rhetoric that lags behind.