Cruz: Obama is an "unmitigated socialist"

[CountryClassSF]

He will be our next President unless the establishment RINOs hand it to the Democrats again!  Cruz will be able to get the millions of real conservatives that have stayed home

[CountryClassSF]

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Then let's give it a try and we'll just see, won't we?

[CountryClassSF]

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But, many who identify as politically conservative (up to 10-15% per exits, I think I've seen it as high as 20% in some races, but I may be mistaken) vote Democrat. That's a problem isn't it? Don't you think we should try to get  those voters back? Or at minimum analyze why they're voting Democrat?

[CountryClassSF]

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I think you make a good point.  Republicans spend a lot of time thinking about "independents" when "moderates" go Democrat by double digits.  But what more can Republicans do? They've ignored social issues since 2004, possibly alienating the conservadems. The obsessive socially liberal left has shown unwillingness in federal races to support non-Democratic candidates. Yes, it's true, in your state for example, that Bruce Rauner had a lot more support in the collar counties-maybe it has something to do with being pro-abortion but maybe it also has something to do with being a better campaigner and fundraiser.

We're losing moderates, there's no doubt about it.  But we're running moderate candidates, by most measures.  Candidates who likely won't seek to overturn Roe or overturn SSM.  What more do social liberals want?

[CountryClassSF]

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By getting Supreme Court justices confirmed that would overturn them and return the issue of marriage to the states.  The pro-life issue is feasible if we win the presidency in 2016. It's not if we don't.

Although I'd prefer marriage be left to the states, even I would be reluctant to overturn a ruling in favor of national SSM, on the basis of dignity

The best option now is  20 week bans which are popular with the electorate

[CountryClassSF]

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I think you make a good point.  Republicans spend a lot of time thinking about "independents" when "moderates" go Democrat by double digits.  But what more can Republicans do? They've ignored social issues since 2004, possibly alienating the conservadems. The obsessive socially liberal left has shown unwillingness in federal races to support non-Democratic candidates. Yes, it's true, in your state for example, that Bruce Rauner had a lot more support in the collar counties-maybe it has something to do with being pro-abortion but maybe it also has something to do with being a better campaigner and fundraiser.

We're losing moderates, there's no doubt about it.  But we're running moderate candidates, by most measures.  Candidates who likely won't seek to overturn Roe or overturn SSM.  What more do social liberals want?

Let's look at Mitt Romney, the 2012 nominee

Did he ignore social issues? No. While he was careful to not bring up SSM on the campaign trail, his website stated his opposition to it, and the party platform supported a constitutional amendment banning it. As far as Abortion goes, Romney not only advocated overturning Roe vs. Wade on the campaign trail, he also advocated ending planned parenthood.

Let's look at John McCain, the 2008 nominee

Did he ignore social issues? Not sure about SSM, but he was definitely very vocal on his pro-life position on Abortion on the campaign trail, culminating in a moment during one of the debates where he supported banning abortion under all circumstances, even when it is done to save the Mother's Life.

So, yeah, so much for republicans ignoring social issues.

But they do.  Romney pretty much had the same view as Obama did on SSM other than personal opinion.  Neither proposed federal legalization. I'm saying that relentlessly avoiding these issues cost them conservative voters.

The truth is that these social activists would not even vote for a socially liberal Republican. They're going after a demographic they think are swing voters but aren't.