A recent New York Times "Room for Debate" series asked: Is the Republican ideal of family outdated or still a worthy goal in public policy?

On The Daily Circuit Tuesday, we'll look at family values and what they look like today. Kevin Noble Maillard, associate professor of law at Syracuse University, will join the discussion.

"'Family values' talk is literally fantastic, because it is utterly improbable," Maillard wrote for the NY Times. "Just as we place hope in winged horses and caped crusaders, the rally cries of "protect marriage" and 'preserve decency' only work to stir the troops. Will campaign speeches curb the divorce rate? Does a party platform make couples think twice about the morality of living together? Is prayer a reliable form of birth control? Answer to all: No, no and we wish."

Michelle Bernard, chairman, founder, president and CEO of the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy, will also join the discussion.

POLL: Are "family values" outdated?

KERRI'S TAKEAWAY

Policies don't seem to be keeping up with the changing definition of family values. The term "family values" still has a lot of cultural and linguistic baggage.

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