In the final hours of the Values Voters
Summit, social conservative icons like former Pennsylvania Senator
Rick Santorum and Family Research Council President Tony Perkins
expressed optimism about the libertarian influence on the
conservative movement and Republican politics. 

Santorum has
never had kind
things to say about libertarians, and his speech at the Values
Voter Summit mentioned them only once.

“So economic conservatism—libertarian types can say, oh, well,
we don’t want to talk about the social issues. Without the church
and the family, there is no conservative movement. There is no
basic values in America in force, and there is no future for our
country,” he said.

When Santorum was leaving he said to reporters that he thinks
the libertarian influence in the Republican Party isn’t necessarily
a bad thing, contradicting several statements he has made
before.

“I think it can be very positive but you have to understand I am
a conservative not a libertarian,” he said.

When asked who is a bigger threat to social conservatives he
said, “Liberals, hands down.”

During a press conference Perkins went so far as to suggest
Santorum has played a large part in this alleged libertarian-social
conservative alliance.

“I think Rick Santorum, I think his candidacy, was a large part
of that by making the economic argument for marriage and the
family,” said Perkins, standing outside the Values Bus, a touring bus for the
FRC.

“If you look at the libertarian viewpoint, which I
share in terms of a wanting a smaller government, I want less
government, well how do you do that? You strengthen the American
family. Because if you look at the government that has expanded, it
has expanded to make up for where the family is in decline and that
is a large part of the large deficit,” he said.

Perkins added that this is a key point of agreement for
libertarians and social conservatives.

“So, right here is a good starting point to bring libertarians
and social conservatives together. It’s an economic issue, but it’s
a cultural and moral issue, too,” he said. 

Pete Bond, an attendee from Delaware said he’s sees common
ground with libertarians on things like opposition to
Obamacare.

“Obamacare is a big one because it infringes on religious
freedom,” said Bond, 65.

He added that it forces taxpayers to pick up the tab for
abortion and sterilization.

“The legalization of drugs, though, is something I can’t
condone,” he said.

Not all though were excited about this chummy libertarian-social
conservative alliance.

“You libertarians and us conservatives side with each other on
85 percent of everything, however we don’t on life,” said Jim
Yarborough, an attendee from Texas.  

Yarborough isn’t impressed with the pro-life libertarian
arguments because they don’t come from the Judeo-Christian
perspective.

“The sanctity of life trumps all other decisions. Sanctity of
life is the key issue,” he said.