In the '60s and '70s, I was a pretty typical young Republican. I believed in balanced budgets, limited spending, limited government and a strong defense, in addition to the 2nd amendment. Guess what? That's still what I believe in. In '60s, the Republican Party started to be taken over by religion. I detested abortion, but my belief in individual liberties trumped that. At that time, through the 70s, even the Baptist church, as a whole didn't have a position firmly against abortion. If you don't believe me, brush up on your history. First, the Republican party made abortion a cornerstone, then prayer in school and finally down to absurdities like 10 commandments monuments on state grounds. (#11 - Thou shalt not stalk teenage girls got left off.)
Now, the Republican party seems to be about immigration, race and religion. Sound fiscal practices went out the window a long time ago. It seems to me that, today, people who want to wear that label are "RINO." It's certainly no longer the party of Lincoln. I've been accused of being leftist by people who are profoundly and abysmally ignorant of the history of their own party...