Opinion of Barack Obama

[DC Al Fine]

No respect for civil liberties HP

[DC Al Fine]

1. DC Al Fine has like a 1.39 S rating.  Sure, it's pretty right wing for this forum, but I wouldn't go as far as to call him a "social conservative".

DC Al Fine plainly is a social conservative.

Not at all by American standards, which I will always be the first to criticize.

I wasn't intending to criticise his stance - just clarify it. He can probably do it better, but I'd be surprised if he didn't self-identify as one.

To clarify: I'm a social conservative but it tends to inform my thinking on economic issues more than anything else. With the exception of abortion, I don't really care about GOP socon issues, which is why I show up as a social centrist on the atlas test.

Besides one can be a socon and defend civil liberties. Paranoia about religious persecution really helps in this regard. The fear of the state enforcing religious views is enough to make me be against drones, NSA etc.

[DC Al Fine]

To clarify: I'm a social conservative but it tends to inform my thinking on economic issues more than anything else.

Interesting. Can you expand on that? Fear of atomisation/community breakdown etc, or?

Sure. I view 1950's style families as a very desirable goal, and my fiscal views reflect that. (wage subsidies for low earners, cheap housing policies etc.) Also I'm skeptical that people will look out for their long term interests, even at the best of times, so I support forced savings/pension programs and universal healthcare.

With the exception of abortion, I don't really care about GOP socon issues, which is why I show up as a social centrist on the atlas test.

IIRC you've said before you're opposed to gay marriage, but don't really advertise it to avoid the protracted arguments that'd ensue. Beyond abortion and gay marriage, what socon issues do GOP grandstand over (obviously immigration, but excluding that) that you're not interested in?

Mandatory minimums, death penalty, teaching evolution in schools, drug war etc.