This is exactly the same rationale that must be pounded onto the liberals when they try to engender their own grassroot enthusiasm. Kids having great schools and higher test scores won't matter if the schools are rubble. Abortion on demand is a pretty silly priority if the cities where the clinics are have their population erased by nerve agents. Total prescription drug coverage for Medicare isn't very compelling and compassionate if the drugs won't cure smallpox.
Everything takes a backseat to the war on terror. It has to. There is no society to become conservative or liberal if the population is dead.
The war on terror justifies a lot of government spending but not closing open borders where terrorists can come in. Social programs spending is at an all time high, it's Socialism that will likely destroy this country faster than terrorism.