JD Vance’s Bold Promise To Conservative Christians

He’s reassuring Christian voters.

After accepting the Republican vice presidential nomination, Sen. J.D. Vance reassured conservative Christians that their values remain a vital part of the Republican Party, despite recent platform changes that have raised concerns. Speaking at a breakfast organized by the Faith & Freedom Coalition during the Republican National Convention, Vance addressed worries that the party’s new platform, which moderates its positions on issues like abortion and same-sex marriage, might marginalize social conservatives.

Vance assured attendees that social conservatives continue to hold a significant place within the party. He emphasized that, despite recent shifts in the party platform, the values and concerns of social conservatives are still respected and will remain integral to the party. He expressed confidence that both he and President Trump support this commitment.

He explained that Trump’s approach to politics focuses on achieving incremental progress and addressing immediate goals, rather than radically altering positions. Vance urged social conservatives to trust in Trump’s dedication to their causes, highlighting his record of supporting conservative issues.

Recent updates to the Republican platform included a softer stance on abortion and same-sex marriage, such as removing support for a pro-life constitutional amendment and not opposing the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same-sex marriage. These changes sparked criticism from conservative leaders like Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, who felt the revisions betrayed core conservative principles.

Despite these criticisms, Vance and others have argued that the platform still maintains a strong opposition to abortion compared to the Democratic platform. Groups like the National Right to Life have acknowledged the platform’s commitment to protecting preborn children, while some activists continue to push for more explicit language on pro-life issues.