Extremism Cost Conservatives the U.S. Presidency

Thank you HG for your new post.As we are still arguing over whether an extreme position would have some effect on the election, I will not introduce evidence for the effect all the other “extreme” positions that conservatives hung on the RR ticket. If they all had “no effect,” then adding 5 or 10 (or infinity:) more extreme positions would also have no effect.If we had agreed that a “down ticket” (to possibly misappropriate a term usually applied to candidates), issue would have some effect, then I would introduce at least the following statistically extreme (“radical”) positions, and provide evidence both that they are "radical" and how much effect they might have on the election: gun control taxes immigration the UN and possibly foreign policy in general I could add the issues that HG mentioned as the next most important: Dissatisfaction with the Government: 15% Healthcare: 5% Ethics: 3% I would make a case that on a fairly large number of issues, the conservative movement was unnecessarily extreme in their messaging, and cumulatively cost the RR ticket the election. [Extremism on Dissatisfaction with the Government might be the exception that proves the rule, though.:)]Several of HG’s points are interesting and I will address them in turn. 1. “...while the GOP has given no exceptions to the abortion issue, Romney can be seen as more moderate on the issue of abortion...” Many would argue that Romney’s personal position became almost moot due to the extremism of: his running mate; the Republican Platform; several high profile TEA Party candidates who shot themselves [and the party] in the foot on the issue. [Those of us who are relatively pro-choice know that a presidential candidate and his/her team have the ability to make a HUGE difference in the party platform. And we remember that extremist Supreme Court candidates can be appointed by relatively moderate presidents.]Since my statistical evidence has not convinced my opponent (though I hope the DDO voters will be convinced), I will say anecdotally that I considered Supreme Court appointments enough to sway me away from Romney, even though he and Obama are not that different on the economy, IMHO. 2. “Important Issues" Dissatisfaction with the Government: 15% Healthcare: 5% Ethics: 3% Immigration: 3% Poverty: 2% HG states “None of these issues can be considered radical and these are the five most important in other issues according to gallup.”The question is not whether an issue itself is radical of mainstream, but rather wether the person or party’s position on it is. On all these issues (with the possible exception of Ethics) the recent conservative movement has taken extreme positions. 3. "The 15% that would disqualify on abortion are Democrats” This is a faulty assumption for which HG provides no evidence. The 15% number applies to the universe of people polled, not only to pro-choice or Democrats, etc. In fact, since 27% of Republicans are pro-choice [5.1], about 4% of Republicans, may have voted against Romney on the basis of his connection with the absolutist position.I will not address in detail his argument about Obama’s Victory, as it rests on faulty reasoning concerning the president’s popularity, especially as it applies to the electoral college and winning swing states.As my very esteemed opponent has not successfully countered my central argument that “extreme” positions had a statistically significant effect in losing swing state electoral votes for the Romney/Ryan ticket, I ask DDO voters to vote Pro.[5.1] http://www.gallup.com...