Brain Trust - Kathryn Jean Lopez

Kathryn Jean Lopez is the editor-at-large for National Review Online, where she has written and edited for over a decade. She is a frequent speaker on topics such as faith and human life, the dignity of human life, and feminism. She joined The Matt Friedeman Show today for the Brain Trust feature. Below are the highlights of her interview.

What are we learning from the Republican lineup right now?

I don't think we learn all that much until the next debate, because right now all we're looking at the frontrunners.

Some people would debate what that really means, and if you can really talk about frontrunners this early.

Rick Perry and Mitt Romney squaring off in a debate is going to be the first real test.

This lineup will be the first one that will really gives us a sense of what's going on.

At this point, Rick Perry is still getting a feel for what's going on.

Will Rick Perry suffer for some of his impulsive remarks?

I would contend that early on, you can get some of the kinks out.

People can be forgiven for things that happen early on in the race.

I think he sort of benefits from the fact that most of the country isn't really paying attention.

I do think, frankly, that he needs to preserve a little of his real-ness.The Tea Party section of the electorate is looking for authenticity.

I think that was Tim Pawlenty's biggest problem.

Rick Perry should preserve who he is.

What do you think about Joe Biden's refusal to condemn China's one-child policy?

It's one thing to go over there and not say something morally courageous.

But he went over there and gave this muddled endorsement of the one-child policy.

It was a shameful moment for him.

He talks about being a Catholic so often, that was kind of a humiliating moment for me as a Catholic.

How about Bloomberg's omission of the clergy and First Responders?

The First Responder thing I don't understand at all.

With the clergy, he's trying to avoid inviting the Muslim clergy.

He's trying to avoid a headache.It's a very unfortunate thing.

Brain Trust - Kathryn Jean Lopez

Kathryn Jean Lopez, Editor-at-large for National Review Online, came on the Matt Friedeman Show today to assess the GOP presidential contenders from a social conservative viewpoint.

Who are the viable possibilities for social conservatives in 2012?

It's really hard to tell.

I don't think it's an implausible possibility that Tim Pawlenty could win.

But I don't think that's a given by any chance.

There are plausible scenarios where Romney could the the nominee. And I think there's a reasonable amount of evidence that he would be a social conservative.

The way that Trump talks about being a prolifer is so hard to believe.

People are talking about Mitch Daniels, but he's driving people crazy, including myself, by talking about calling a truce on social issues.

It could be a chaotic primary. It could also wind up being a fairly mundane primary.

George Will was on Meet the Press, saying it could be Obama, Daniels, or Pawlenty. Do you agree?

No, I don't.

I think Pawlenty is very plausible. I think Daniels, if he got in could be plausible too.

I sort of worry that a Chris Christie candidacy could be like a Fred Thompson candidacy.

I wouldn't be as confident as George Will, saying it would be Pawlenty or Daniels, though I think that's plausible.

Is there value of Herman Cain being in the race?

I predicted before the debate started that he'd win, and that's how it turned out.

There's just a serious experience problem.

He's a good man, a successful businessman. Nothing hurt by having him in the mix.

Rick Santorum, I think, adds a lot to the race. I don't know if he's going to win in the end, but he brings up issues that others wouldn't normally deal with.