The difference between Democrat and Republican voting habits is that single-issue Democrats come out and vote; single issue Republicans stay home and sulk.
Call it positive single issue voting, versus negative single issue voting.
Gays come out and vote because of their one issue, regardless of the other positions the candidates. Same with various frightened “ethnic minorities”, abortion advocates, “women’s rights advocates”, and on and on. So they all add up their votes and win. Positive.
Republicans (conservatives) reject a candidate who doesn’t match their views 100% on all issues. So if they disagree with him on a single issue, they stay home. Negative. I’ve never been able to figure out what this is supposed to accomplish, except to perpetually had the reins of power to the other side.
The numbers in this election bear this out more than in any previous one. And how is that working out?
Republicans (conservatives) reject a candidate who doesnt match their views 100% on all issues. So if they disagree with him on a single issue, they stay home. Negative. Ive never been able to figure out what this is supposed to accomplish, except to perpetually had the reins of power to the other side.
So, so true, and so rarely stated. This is the reason for Republican electoral defeats!
Kudos!
What do such voters accomplish? A misguided sense of moral superiority.
You see it here frequently: "Yeah, we got Obama again, but at least I didn't vote for that @#$^% Romney!", or words to that effect.
Such moral absolutists -- single issue, or even 2 or 3 issue, stay-at-homers -- are a definite roadblock to conservative victories. Politics is all about choosing the candidate who most closely matches your own ideas and then supporting him/her strongly! Staying at home and pouting over the 10% (or even 40%) of a candidate's mis-match is a vote for the other guy, who's a 90% mis-match!
As Reagan said: The person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and an ally, not a 20% traitor!
Those who hated Romney and would have rather had Newt should note that Newt campaigned his butt off for Romney after he won the primaries. That's the right way!
Well, to be fair, Romney probably had bad breath.