“With a core belief in the primacy of individuals, the Republican Party, since its inception, has been at the forefront of the fight for individuals’ rights in opposition to a large, intrusive government.”
That clear declaration, found on the “Our History” section of the Republican National Committee’s website, is the closest thing the 2012 version of the Grand Old Party has to a mission statement. It encapsulates what the party has been for a century and a half, and outlines how the party will be most successful today.
To the extent that the statement functions to guide the Republican Party, it couldn’t be much more perfect.
That one sentence provides Republicans with three guiding questions to determine if a policy proposal is in line with Republican values, namely:
1) Does it allow individuals to make decisions about the issues that impact their lives and the lives of their family?