Anyone who thinks a McCain presidency would have been fundamentally morally different than Obama’s would benefit from reading this article. We know McCain was set to spend all sorts of money to prop up the mortgage industry, and it appears that his cabinet would have included strong gay marriage backers. Peter Schmidt, a former top McCain adviser, assures us that Republicans will adjust their values to wherever American public opinion is headed: “I’m confident American public opinion will continue to move on the question toward majority support, and sooner or later the Republican Party will catch up to it.” Oh good. For a second there, I thought they pretended to stand for something.

McCain’s daughter is also an outspoken advocate of same-sex marriage and claims this position is one way to attract young voters. Schmidt sees same-sex marriage as part of conservative values. “There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage.” “I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one’s liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage.” What requires more responsibility than marriage? For that matter, what about two marriages? Can anyone think of anything insisting on more responsibility than providing for two wives?

This insanity is just the sort of thing that true and potential conservatives need to know about. Those with no allegiance to a fixed standard will have to go this way, and now our culture is drifting enough to make it plain. Hopefully those who believe what they do for a reason other than political power, being fashionable or relevant have enough conviction left to stand up against those who don’t.