[11th Earl of Mar]

They are not calling for socialized medicine. They are only talking about the next "small" step... government mandated healthcare benefits for all employees, etc.

Hillary, even at the height of her popularity, never called for an outright socialist medical system.

Yes, they want it. But they know enough to keep their mouths shut as to what their end game is.

Conservatives on the other hand, constantly talk about the ultimate objective [prolifers are guilty, Newt was guilty, etc.] and all they do is provide fodder for the enemy and energize voters from the other side.

[inquest]

Conservatives on the other hand, constantly talk about the ultimate objective [prolifers are guilty, Newt was guilty, etc.] and all they do is provide fodder for the enemy and energize voters from the other side.

Which conservatives would these be? Not the ones who are actually in power, and that is indeed why they fail conservatism.

The conservative politicians who were most successful at advancing the cause - I'm particularly thinking of Goldwater and Reagan - most certainly did not talk around the subject. They weren't afraid of criticism, and so they were able to stare it down. The nice guys won't get anywhere.