GOP centrists' poll: Shun social issues

The Washington Times ^ | June 28, 2007 | Sean Lengell

[neverdem]

THE WASHINGTON TIMES - The Republican Party must temper its emphasis on moral issues like abortion and same-sex "marriage" if the party is to regain seats lost during the 2006 congressional elections, a new poll says.

Fifty-three percent of Republicans say the party "has spent too much time focusing on moral issues such as abortion and gay marriage and should instead be spending time focusing on economic issues such as taxes and government spending."

"The results of this poll confirm what we have long believed — that what holds the GOP together is a belief in core economic principles," said Charles F. Bass, president and chief executive of the Republican Main Street Partnership, one of four moderate and liberal Republican groups that helped fund the survey.

"Republicans want us to get back to the basics," he said.

Republican voters are most concerned with economic issues, and say the party should put greater emphasis on fiscal responsibility, said the national survey of 2,000 Republican voters by Fabrizio, McLaughlin and Associates, headed by longtime Republican consultant Tony Fabrizio.

Of those responding, 78 percent said they want a balanced federal budget, and 80 percent said the federal government spends too much money.

Sixty-nine percent said taxes are too high, and 66 percent think the government is too big, according to the poll that was also underwritten by the Republican Leadership Council, the Republican Majority for Choice and the Log Cabin Republicans.

"Rank-and-file GOPers want our party to be focused on issues that unite us, not divide us," said Mr. Bass, a former Republican U.S. House member from New Hampshire.

The study showed strong support for foreign policy that protects national-security interests and wins the war on terror. Seventy-nine percent of those surveyed said U.S. foreign policy should be based on protecting our own...

[neverdem]

"The results of this poll confirm what we have long believed — that what holds the GOP together is a belief in core economic principles," said Charles F. Bass, president and chief executive of the Republican Main Street Partnership, one of four moderate and liberal Republican groups that helped fund the survey.

IMHO, that's where they got that sample from.

[SierraWasp]

"one of four moderate and liberal Republican groups that helped fund the survey."

Here comes more of the politially expedient appeasers, trying to abort righteous conservatism!!!

[keepitreal]

Sixty-nine percent said taxes are too high, and 66 percent think the government is too big, according to the poll that was also underwritten by the Republican Leadership Council, the Republican Majority for Choice and the Log Cabin Republicans .

Oh, well I can understand that these folks would underwrite a poll finding that "most Republicans" don't want to talk about abortion and gay "marriage".

[donna]

If the federal courts can resurrect 50 million dead babies, restore marriage and let God back into public life, then maybe we can call a truce.

[Jaysun]

This is a steaming pile. Idiot leftist love to ballyhoo the “center” and “moderates” which are actually anything but. A move to the center is a move further to the left.

[goldstategop]

Republican Main Street Partnership = RINOs. I stopped reading right there.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[KarlInOhio]

If only they could find some issue that got the American people so worked up that the Senate phone system shut down from overload. Maybe the pollsters could look around for an issue like that.

[livius]

Yes, I think that tells us all we need to know.

Personally, I find GOP financial policy to be little different from Dem policy. The only thing that keeps me voting for the GOP is their “social issues” policy.

[SierraWasp]

Conservatives need to be "trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored!"

Too many people have given their lives for the Judeo/Christian/Anglo/American traditions!!!

What would we today die for??? Centrism? Mediocrity? Moderatism? Economic principles without moral principles?

[traviskicks]

“has spent too much time focusing on moral issues such as abortion and gay marriage and should instead be spending time focusing on economic issues such as taxes and government spending.”

I agree 100%. Defeat socialism first.

[Columbine]

Are you sure? They might have polled Wide Awakes.

[Lexinom]

The Republican Party must temper its emphasis on moral issues like abortion and same-sex "marriage" if the party is to regain seats lost during the 2006 congressional elections, a new poll says.

Pardon my languange, but why in the HELL doesn't the Democratic party ever have to tone down its "emphasis on moral issues like abortion and same-sex 'marriage'"?

[Lexinom]

Yep, and if that’s true, why did Webb, Tester, and Casey have to run as pro-life, pro-2A, anti-sodommariage candidates to WIN? That would seem to undermine the results of this poll...

[JSDude1]

THis POll is BULL! Frankly if we turn to social extremeism as propogated by the liberal Main Street Coalition, ect, all.. We will be the minority party for A LONG time...

Once again, an attack on religious voters..WHAT A SURPRIZE!

[techcor]

Hmm. If this study is saying that Republicans should be for less taxes and smaller government which will have these "moderate" and "center" groups then voting Republican (because these groups say that those two issues are the most important to them), then I agree. The Republicans could also be pro-life and anti-gay marriage so that "social conservatives" will vote Republican without losing the votes of the "centrists" and "moderates" (by definition of the poll these groups have declared those issues not as important as the taxes and smaller government issues).

But , of course, that's not what these "centrists" and "moderates" (i.e. liberals) really want. They want the Republicans to become pro-abortion and pro-gay while being for less taxes and smaller government. Most likely so that the Republicans will lose to the Democrats.

[JSDude1]

becuase as you so eloquently pointed to in your last post (H*LL)..the’re on the Side of SATAN!!

[Kuksool]

{The results of this poll confirm what we have long believed — that what holds the GOP together is a belief in core economic principles,” said Charles F. Bass, president and chief executive of the Republican Main Street Partnership, one of four moderate and liberal Republican groups that helped fund the survey.}

Oh Charlie, if moving to the Center is so great, then why did you lose your House seat?

[ex-snook]

Be a Democrat.

[HuntsvilleTxVeteran]

Without help from the “moderates” the left wing could pass nothing!