TL;DR Some of us do.

There are still some of us conservatives, believe it or not, who embrace the ideals that originally defined Republicanism, not this egocentric, grandstanding, self-righteous monstrosity that has completely bastardized what being a Republican involves.

If we're going to call ourselves a party established on the platform of liberty, it makes zero sense to go around saying, "this person can get married, this person can't." There is no basis to justify something like a "Defense of Marriage Act" on purely Republican principles, and I wish that the prominent politicians calling themselves Republican would quit acting like denying of basic rights to parts of the population is somehow a responsibility inherent to Republicanism. In fact, it should be quite the opposite.

Take a look at these snippets from the Republican Oath.

I believe that the proper function of government is to do for the people those things that have to be done but cannot be done, or cannot be done as well by individuals, and that the most effective government is closest to the people.

So how, then, did we Republicans get the idea that adults are unable to determine, free from government interference, who they want to marry? This is something that individuals can and should do themselves. The very idea of the government imposing itself upon the rights of the individual, particularly in something so significant as the decision of one's spouse, should be offensive to true Republicans.

I believe that good government is based on the individual and that each person’s ability, dignity, freedom and responsibility must be honored and recognized.

I checked over and over, and no matter how hard I try, I can't find anything in there that says "unless the person is gay."

I believe in equal rights, equal justice and equal opportunity for all, regardless of race, creed, age, sex, or national origin. I believe that persons with disabilities should be afforded equal rights, equal justice, and equal opportunity as well.

So how in the hell did "all" become "some?" How did "equal" become "equal for the majority, while oppressive to the minority?"

I believe we must retain those principles worth retaining, yet always be receptive to new ideas with an outlook broad enough to accommodate thoughtful change and varying points of view.

I think it would be fair to say that, particularly among Western civilization, there has been a substantial change (over the past three decades especially) in the cultural mindset having to do with marriage on a number of levels, not just with regard to same-sex marriage. But where is the accommodation of thoughtful change and varying points of view? Instead, it's all "hurr-durr-destroyin-Merica." There is total obstinacy and a flat-out refusal to budge. Real Republicans should have no problem discussing the issue thoughtfully, while being open to the need to change their minds.

I believe that Americans value and should preserve their feeling of national strength and pride, and at the same time share with people everywhere a desire for peace and freedom and the extension of human rights throughout the world.

Words like "strength," "pride," "peace," "freedom," and "human rights" aren't just convenient buzzwords to throw around at opportune moments. They're ideals to be embraced. And yet, at every turn, I feel like the bigots masquerading as our most prominent Republicans are working AGAINST the freedom, the rights, the pride, of a growing segment of the population that refuses to be marginalized.

Conservatives should, and some of us still do, believe that Big Government should stay out of marriage altogether. Regardless of what I think as to the morality (as defined personally, based on my own beliefs) of gay marriage, the government should not pick and choose who can marry and who can't. That entire mode of thinking is ANTI-Republican.

The modern Republican Party is not Republican. It is a party that has abandoned its ideals, that cares little for liberty, that embraces bigotry, and that completely contradicts at every turn (and with the most unbelievable hypocrisy) the foundations that the party itself is supposed to uphold.

I dropped my Republican affiliation several elections ago and have simply been a registered "independent," but that's not enough for me any more. I want my political party reclaimed from the high-dollar, bottom-line-focused, special interests that have absolutely sabotaged and undermined it. I want the Real Republican Party back.