Because in all of America, the only issue that matters is illegal immigration, right? That is the only issue that defines who is or is not a conservative.
Support of small government and individual freedoms is just the left's trojan horse to make GOP dupes forget about the only *TRUE* issue. Jobs, the deficit, the economy, Islamic terror... all completely irrelevant to true conservatives.
For illegal immigration IS THE ONLY TRUE MEASURE of Conservativism.
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Yeah, and pull the other leg while your at it.
It's part of what makes a conservative a conservative, but not the end all and be all. And if you've got a candidate that's meeting all the rest of the issues except this... you've got a strong conservative, but not a perfect one.
And if that's not enough for you; well, enjoy your hunt for the perfect candidate. I think you'll have quite a chore finding one.
You miss the point. True conservatives do care about those issue, but realize that amnesty would result in 10s of millions of new leftists voters, followed by total leftist control, and the end of any hope of small government, freedom, or a strong economy and military.