By L.A. Williams, Correspondent
Christian Action League
April 2, 2014
While social issues are taking a backseat — if even allowed to ride along at all — in more than a few political campaigns this year, a recent resolution circulating in the Tar Heel state reveals a grassroots call for the Republican Party not to leave its socially conservative roots.
“Recently, I have seen more than ever in the newspapers, on television, in social media and blogs an increasing number of strategists calling for the quieting of those in the Republican Party who are concerned about social issues and for the removal of these planks from the platforms of the party and from individual candidate’s platforms,” said Garland Honeycutt, vice chairman of the Fork Mountain-Little Rock Creek Precinct of the Mitchell County Republican Party.
“In response to that I felt the need to raise my voice a little louder here in North Carolina to call for the Republican Party not to abandon those social issues.”
Honeycutt’s resolution, passed by the Surry County Republican Party March 22, and set to come before the party’s 11th District as well as a number of other GOP organizations and executive committees, is a reminder that the Party has historically championed “the sanctity of human life, the sacredness of traditional marriage, the importance of the Second Amendment and the value of all people, regardless of race, gender or creed.”
It calls on the North Carolina Republican Party to revisit its platform, which clearly addresses each of these four areas, and to “affirm its commitment to championing social issues as indispensable” not only to the platform, but to the “message and identity” of the NC GOP.
Honeycutt pointed out that the document, which has circulated in many parts of the state via its supporters, is not revolutionary in the least.
“The title of the resolution makes it clear that it is about ‘Affirming the Social Issues of the Republican Platform,'” he said. “We are simply calling the Republican Party to stand firm on what they are already resolved to be and to not waiver from their platform.”
“These things are not included in our platform just to sound pretty or take up space, but they are core to the identity of what we believe as Republicans,” he added.
Honeycutt, who serves as director of development for the Christian Action League, sent his initial draft of the resolution to the League’s executive director, the Rev. Mark Creech, as well as to GOP leadership including N.C. Sen. Joyce Krawiek (Forsyth), former vice chairwoman of the state Republican Party, to have it thoroughly vetted for content and style before promoting it statewide.
Not only does he hope that it will encourage party leaders, elected officials and rank and file Republicans to recommit to the social values “that made our state and nation great,” but he also asks, via the resolution, that the secretary of the NC GOP’s executive committee submit a copy of the document to the Republican National Committee.
“This is not something I brainstormed overnight and published,” Honeycutt said. “I wanted to make sure it was done properly and effectively.”
Dr. Creech said the resolution reflects issues important to conservative evangelical Christians across the state, and urged them to hold their political leaders — no matter what party — accountable on these matters that must not be abandoned politically.
“Pragmatists can say all day it’s the economy and its jobs and social issues need to be cast aside for the sake of unity,” he said. “But in truth, the sanctity of human life, the sacredness of marriage and basic founding liberties are keystones without which a society will ultimately collapse, no matter how much attention is given to financial issues or anything else.”
For a copy of Honeycutt’s resolution, click here.