Economic Conservative/Social Liberal. Social Conservative/Economic Liberal. Who Do You Trust?

Since Ronald Reagan and the Republican takeover of Congress in 1994, most Republicans, at least nationally, have been conservative both economically and socially.

There have, however, always been some Republicans who are conservative economically but are somewhat more liberal socially.

The race for the 2008 Republican presidential nomination is seeing the emergence of a Republican who is conservative socially but liberal economically.

Mike Huckabee has all the right positions socially. He is pro-life, pro-gun rights, and anti-gay marriage. But when it comes to economic issues, his conservatism seems to disappear. For example, he claims to be in favor of free trade, but what he says in his speeches is populist protectionism. While governor of Arkansas, he threatened investigations for price-gouging if gasoline prices went up too much after September 11. (See here and here.)

Economically conservative, socially liberal. Socially conservative, economically liberal. As between the two, I would pick the former. A president can have a bigger impact on things like government spending, taxes, free trade and regulation than he can on gay marriage, abortion and gun control.