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Conservative activists fear war dwarfing social agenda
Boston Globe ^ | April 7, 2007 | Susan Milligan

Posted on 04/07/2007 8:53:05 PM PDT by FairOpinion

Social conservatives seeking to ban abortion and same-sex marriage are worried that their agenda is increasingly being overshadowed by the war in Iraq, making it more difficult for their voices to be heard in Congress and the presidential campaign than at any time in more than a decade.

A poll released Thursday by Diageo/ The Hotline indicated that Iraq was by far the single most important issues to voters, with 30 percent of all respondents -- 21 percent of Republicans, 38 percent of Democrats, and 32 percent of independents -- naming their opposition to the war as the most critical issue facing the United States today. The issue was far ahead of healthcare, the economy, immigration, terrorism, and the environment, all of which scored in the low single digits on the importance scale.

Social issues ranked lowest. Religious and family issues were the most important for only 2 percent. Opposition to abortion rights was first for less than 1 percent. And same-sex marriage -- pro or con -- was first for less than 1 percent.

Meanwhile, conservative priorities such as abortion restrictions and constitutional amendments banning flag burning and same-sex marriage are not on the radar screen of Congress, where even leading GOP lawmakers have been distracted by war issues.

The current leaders for the presidential nomination aren't emphasizing social issues. Former mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York -- who supports the Iraq war and the "surge" of additional troops to Baghdad -- was asked frequently about the war during a recent trip to New Hampshire. He never mentioned social issues, nor was he asked about them.

(Excerpt) Read more at boston.com ...


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: conservativeagenda; conservatives; electionpresident; elections
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1 posted on 04/07/2007 8:53:05 PM PDT by FairOpinion
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To: FairOpinion

I think ‘dwarfing’ is a good candidate for one of the next words to be banned by lefty.


2 posted on 04/07/2007 8:55:04 PM PDT by Ieatfrijoles (Incinerate Riyadh Now.(Request shot splash))
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To: FairOpinion
"There's not a lot of difference between Rudy and Hillary and Obama and Edwards when it comes to social policy," Land said, referring to the leading Democratic candidates, Senator Hillary Clinton of New York, Senator Barack Obama of Illinois, and former senator John Edwards of North Carolina. "If the Republicans nominate a Rudy Giuliani, you will see a decline in voting among social conservatives."

To sum it up....social conservatives don't vote if Giuliani gets the (R) nod and the republicans go down the dumper.

3 posted on 04/07/2007 8:58:52 PM PDT by politicalwit (Family values don't stop at the border...but Federal laws do.)
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To: FairOpinion
"The way the presidential campaign is shaping up, it looks like a continuation of November's elections," when Republicans lost control of both chambers of Congress, Perkins said. "It was a disaster for Republicans because they had lost their way on [conservative social] issues."

No RINOs.

4 posted on 04/07/2007 9:00:48 PM PDT by SIDENET (Now selling carbon offsets. Get some today!)
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To: FairOpinion

I think it’s a greater fear among most conservatives that the war could dwarf the principles of small government and economic conservatism. Social conservative issues have advanced under the Bush presidency. Aside from the tax cuts, economic issues have not and the government is as bloated as ever.


5 posted on 04/07/2007 9:05:48 PM PDT by lqclamar ("That's it, Seth, you can't blame them. It's want of education. That's all it is.")
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To: SIDENET
No RINOs.

Unfortunately Conservatives are becoming the RINOs as the Republican party is gradually aligning more with the socialist ideology of the Democrat party.
6 posted on 04/07/2007 9:06:31 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: FairOpinion
Some points to remember about polls.

1. Polls interview only a tiny fraction of the population.

2. Questions can be structured to elicit a specific response.

3. Pollsters can target a group of people they know will respond in a certain manner.

4. Pollsters can eliminate any answers they deem undesirable to suit their own agendas and continue to ask people until they get the desired response.
7 posted on 04/07/2007 9:10:58 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: lqclamar
Social conservative issues have advanced under the Bush presidency.

Except for one insignificant one referred to as illegal immigration. Bush condoning millions of illegal aliens to violate our immigration laws and therefore put our nation's security at risk apparently is not factored in with all those other "social conservative issues".
8 posted on 04/07/2007 9:15:46 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: Man50D

Some points to remember about polls.

1. Polls interview only a tiny fraction of the population.

2. Questions can be structured to elicit a specific response.

3. Pollsters can target a group of people they know will respond in a certain manner.

4. Pollsters can eliminate any answers they deem undesirable to suit their own agendas and continue to ask people until they get the desired response.”

Exactly. And this early, mean less than nothing : )


9 posted on 04/07/2007 9:17:53 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! Or Rudy/Hillary if you want to murder conservatism)
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To: Man50D

When someone tells me that a Rudy for POTUS slot in the “R” ticket will cause conservative voters to stay home, I remind them that zero of the Rodham-rodents social issues will align with conservative principles and she will most definitely not fight the war against radical Islam so her social issues perspective will dominate and destroy America in the end without conservative voters retaking the House and Senate, regardless whether Rudy gets elected. 2008 is possibly the last chance conservatives will have to keep this nation from sliding finally into the socialism pit which will be bombed into submission by the radical Islamic terrorists.


10 posted on 04/07/2007 9:18:06 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you've had life support. Promote life support for others.)
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To: MHGinTN

Tell it to the RNC, and quit telling conservatives to vote for a open borders, gun grabbing, baby killing lifelong liberal!

Rudy & Hillary are almost equally bad.


11 posted on 04/07/2007 9:22:35 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! Or Rudy/Hillary if you want to murder conservatism)
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To: FairOpinion

if we win the war only to have the troops come home to a depraved, immoral society, we’ve won nothing.


12 posted on 04/07/2007 9:24:04 PM PDT by balch3
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To: FairOpinion

Rarely does one read/hear about Social Conservative agenda in the MSM.

Of course Iraq/Afghanistan would be priority pro and con in peoples minds. It’s pumped into their homes, offices, cars, gyms, etc. via all MSM sources constantly.

If Political campaigning doesn’t prioritize the war efforts, the campaigner is accused of minimalizing National Security, so the campaign is about the War On Terror, Iraq/Afghanistan pro or con.

There is room for values, and our side needs to become aware that in spite of the WOT, we have another enemy to defeat. Dem/Lib/Socialists are at work.


13 posted on 04/07/2007 9:27:50 PM PDT by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists...call 'em what you will...They ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: balch3

The country has been called depraved and immoral by people since it was founded. Why should it stop now? Stopping Islamists is more important than making noise about an abortion ban that will never happen anyway.


14 posted on 04/07/2007 9:31:52 PM PDT by Democratshavenobrains
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Comment #15 Removed by Moderator

To: stephenjohnbanker

My message is, vote the “R” ticket yet leave the POTUS vote blank if you cannot vote for the “R” candidate, but vote the dnc out of power or our nation will be in the shitter!


16 posted on 04/07/2007 9:36:01 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you've had life support. Promote life support for others.)
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To: FairOpinion

30 percent of all respondents — 21 percent of Republicans, 38 percent of Democrats, and 32 percent of independents — naming their opposition to the war as the most critical issue facing the United States today.

Isn’t this the dramatic news. Only 38 percent of Democrats think Iraq is the most critical issue??? Amazing. Why is Congress in a stampede?


17 posted on 04/07/2007 9:38:09 PM PDT by sgtyork
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To: MHGinTN

I agree with that wholeheartedly.


18 posted on 04/07/2007 9:38:35 PM PDT by stephenjohnbanker ( Hunter/Thompson/Thompson/Hunter in 08! Or Rudy/Hillary if you want to murder conservatism)
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To: MHGinTN
2008 is possibly the last chance conservatives will have to keep this nation from sliding finally into the socialism pit which will be bombed into submission by the radical Islamic terrorists.

Staying home would be the worst response to their disgust for Guiliani and the Republicans. Conservatives can show their disapproval with the increasing socialism infecting the Republican party and still vote by establishing a Conservative party.
19 posted on 04/07/2007 9:39:08 PM PDT by Man50D (Fair Tax , you earn it , you keep it!)
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To: Hamza01

How utterly absurd! Will you awaken when Iran has the nuclear bomb and dictates the flow of oil in the M.E. because democrats cannot muster the will to fight Islamic radicalism? I doubt it, because you fail to realize a nation so radicalized as Iran can cancel our power with dnc complicity!


20 posted on 04/07/2007 9:40:58 PM PDT by MHGinTN (If you've had life support. Promote life support for others.)
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