To the Editor,

In his July 15 column, “New Republicans need new ideas,” Mason Herron is… To the Editor,

In his July 15 column, “New Republicans need new ideas,” Mason Herron is right to implore Republicans to present a coherent policy platform to effectively oppose President Barack Obama’s march toward socialism. To do this, however, Republicans must discard their affections for the Religious Right. The Religious Right, by seeking to impose a Christian theocracy, has poisoned the Republican Party and pushed Republicans into restricting reproductive freedom, championing “intelligent design” and abstinence-only education, and opposing same-sex marriage. If Republicans advocate freedom consistently in all realms ­— including reproductive and religious freedom — Democrats would not stand a chance.

Amesh A. Adalja, MD

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center