Self-descibing yourself as a Conservative to a pollster is not the same as being a Conservative.
It’s like people who call themselves Christians, but they don’t really believe in sin, or hell, or the divinity of Christ, or that God really exists. They just like the idea of Church and wedding and funerals having a Minister there.
If someone is a self-described Conservative but wants universal healthcare paid for by taxes and wants universal education with no standards and wants peace without a military... well, then they just like the idea of lower taxes and less governmental interference in daily life, but they don’t really believe in the things that will get them there.
Excellent analysis. Barna polls show just this: 40-60% (depending on the question and age) of self identified Christians don't believe in Satan...Hell...a sinless Christ...Salvation in Christ alone...or other various orthodox Christian teachings. Hard to be a Christian when you don't follow the teachings of Christ/scripture.