It is just a soft and fuzzy way of saying; "Authoritarian". It is not a movement to preserve a way of life, but to impose one.
I just wish they were labelled properly for what they are, bible thumping puritans that seek to impose their beliefs on everyone; and personal freedom is the last thing on their agenda.
To women.
You are of secondary importance: You will bear that child; if you seek to avoid pregnancy, you are wicked in god's eyes. We will make it as hard as possible for you to access unbiased health care. Marriage is your only salvation, and you will submit.
To the LGBT community.
You are an abomination in god's eyes. Your practices will be made illegal, you will conform, or you will be persecuted. The choice is yours.
To other religions.
You are heathens in need of conversion. America can have only one religion.
To the rest of the world.
You will submit to America's god given right to interfere.
Some may argue with this characterization but I have heard nothing from the Republican side of the aisle to soften this view.
How many times have they sought to overturn women's rights in the last year alone?
How many times have they decried the sanctity of marriage and degenerated the LGBT community?
How many times have they proclaimed their faith in such a way as to devalue any other?
How often have you heard about American exceptionalism used as a pardon for all our actions?
The soft fuzzy phrase "social conservative" is a thin veil that hides "social programming", and it is a phrase I refuse to use.