If Gore were a serious pro-lifer and pledged to overturn Roe, he'd be president. I don't necessarily agree with that. If Gore had been a serious pro-lifer and pledged to overturn Roe . . . 1) He would have never received the Democrat nomination, and 2) Even if he did, many of his voters would have gone to Nader, allowing President Bush to win with a bigger margin.
The pro-life position of the GOP is the main reason for their success.
While the pro-life plank is definitely a huge factor for much of our success, I wouldn't call it the "main reason". I think the main reason is that we are the party that advocates individual responsibility.
He would have never received the Democrat nomination, OK. I'll grant we must assume the Dems were not fanatical pro-deathers and gave him the nod :-)
I think the main reason is that we are the party that advocates individual responsibility.
There are obviously a lot of factors -- tax cuts, crime, the military. But a big-government Dem who was socially conservative -- like Truman or even Kennedy although he supported tax cuts -- would win, I think.
Actually, the more telling point is that GOP voters are voting on principles & ideals. We want to do what's right for the country, not necessarily what's convenient or best financially for us.
While the pro-life plank is definitely a huge factor for much of our success, I wouldn't call it the "main reason". I think the main reason is that we are the party that advocates individual responsibility.
since we are offering opinions here:
the ONLY reason W won the election was because he was perceived to be the more aggressive protector of Americans against RELIGIOUS extremists who want to blow things up here.
that's it.
pro life (anti abortion) comes WAY down the list as to what were the FIRST and PRIMARY reasons Americans (not conservatives) voted him in for a second term. And even then only for a subset of largely religious conservatives (the catholic reagan democrats).
He's the national security president that just happens to be more prolife than previous presidents have been...
Moral values are also NOT the primary reason MOST americans voted W back in either. IMPORTANT? perhaps yes, but NOT THE PRIMARY REASON they pulled the lever.
The top three issues in the vast majority of americans minds: National Security, National Security and National Security.
Nobody is throwing the prolife agenda overboard. But to this president, this term, the issue seems to be social security reform and judgeships. His own agenda... not mine.
Mine would be:
illegal immigration (National Security)
war on militant Islam (National Security)
energy supply (largely National Security)
Like I said, MY PRIORITIES... but clearly NOT his.