However, it’s wrong to think of this as either/or. Conservatism must embrace both aspects–social and economic–if it is to prevail. Just try to back off from the pro-life stance, for example, and watch the decisive portion of the coalition which blessed us with Reagan, Gingrich, W, etc melt away and abandon you. (Yes, W blessed us, at least because he saved us from–yuk!–Gore and Kerry!)

For myself, I am both. Almost libertarian in economic attitudes, while staunchly Catholic in matters of life, marriage, family, etc. (I would not have voted for Guliani!) These tendencies inside me are not pulling me, now this way and now that, but my sense is that the social and economic conservatism that I hold reinforce and complement one another.