With all this talk on the Democrat's HR 3200 proposed health care bill, many Republicans are left not knowing how to respond. One thing is for sure, we keep getting labeled as right wing radicals. What should the Republican response be?

Should we try to "reach across the aisle," a phrase that many politicians like John McCain have made popular, and compromise? Should we give in a little on health care to make everyone happy, so as not to be overly ardent? After all, in his speech Wednesday night Obama basically labeled all Republican congressional objection as "partisan spectacle" and "scare tactics."

I was encouraged to hear Tony Perkins, President of Family Research Council (FRC), address this issue today at the Heritage Foundation's blogger's briefing. He confirmed my gut feeling that Rebulicans, instead of shrinking back in fear of being antithetical, need to be as vocal as we can about why we believe what we believe. 

The answer for our party is to not believe the lies the Democrats are intimidating us with. We need to stand for small government in all issues, including health care. Tony Perkins said today that the, "2010 election will be helped if republicans stick to siding with the American taxpayer. Republicans are treading on thin ice if all we do is trim it (the proposed HR 3200 health care bill) and do not oppose government health care completely."

This is a crucial time for our party, and more importantly, the ideals that shaped our country. Today, they are known as "conservative." But weren't we founded on principles of small responsible government? Tony Perkins reminded us of the need to hold republican members of congress to these principles.   

The FRC and The Heritage Foundation are two of the sponsors for this weekend's Value Voters Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC. Perkins said that the goal of the summit is for everyone to work together and send a message out for conservative values in all areas of government. "Americans are looking for conservative leadership," Perkins said this afternoon. I hope this conference gives the American people and members of congress the confidence to be unashamedly conservative.