R.R. Reno is editor of First Things.
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R. R. Reno
First Thoughts Articles
Marriage, Sex, and Politics
A few days ago I wrote a sharply worded attack on Ken Mehlman’s argument that supporting gay marriage is the properly “conservative” position. David Blankenhorn offered some thoughtful reflections about what’s at stake for me (and others). He raises a key question. Can those of us who . . . . Continue Reading »
Republican Party Illusions about Gay Marriage
Ken Mehlman is either deluded or disingenuous. The former chairman of the Republican National Committee is among those now trying to bring the Republican Party around to the cause of gay marriage. In today’s Wall Street Journal he made his case. Here is the most egregious paragraph. Some . . . . Continue Reading »
Rubio’s Creation Controversy
Marco Rubio was caught off guard during an interview by Michael Hainey for GQ. He was asked how old he thinks the earth is. His response: I’m not a scientist, man. I can tell you what recorded history says, I can tell you what the Bible says, but I think that’s a dispute amongst . . . . Continue Reading »
Are Republicans the True Marxists?
Good grief. In a phone call to donors, Mitt Romney explained his defeat by referring to the “free stuff” that Democrats give their constituencies. He said that Obama’s strategy was to “give them extraordinary financial gifts from the government.” I don’t deny the . . . . Continue Reading »
Frustrated with Republicans
I’m frustrated by the way in which the Republican leadership has largely suppressed debate about moral and cultural issues in this electoral cycle. Yes, the economic situation is very important. But in the long run a productive economy requires a healthy culture. I wish Karl Rove would put a . . . . Continue Reading »
John Rawls and the Progressive Totalitarian Temptation
Recently I was rereading Rawls on the notion of public reason. This idea is dear to Rawls, because it’s part of his larger vision of participatory democracy. We need to be “in on” the reasons behind public policies, because that’s necessary in order for us to be able to . . . . Continue Reading »
Absurd Republican Rhetoric
Mother Jones recently posted a video that captures Romney talking to some Republican Party donors. In response to a question Romney drew on a distinction that I’ve heard a number of people make. The future of the country is in the balance, this way of thinking argues, because nearly half the . . . . Continue Reading »
Douthat on Dolan and More
Joan Desmond at the National Catholic Register conducted a very useful interview with Ross Douthat . I find myself agreeing with what Douthat has to say about Catholicism’s realignment from Democratic to Republican (a very partial and complicated but real change). We face a challenge. Because . . . . Continue Reading »
From Gay Marriage to …
Well, lots more. This new report about a civil union between three people (a man and two women) in Brazil suggests that those of us worried about the slippery slope aren’t out of our minds. I should say that Brazil and South America in general has a much stronger political tradition on the . . . . Continue Reading »
Religion and Republicans
Times sure have changed. It wasn’t but a generation ago (OK, a long generation, but still) that the Republican Party was the party of moderately conservative mainline Protestants, while Jews and Catholics were solidly in the Democratic camp. Now the GOP will feature a rabbi giving the . . . . Continue Reading »
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