I think that conservatives do themselves a disservice by not shouting down the radicals at the far spectrum of their ideology. What do you expect people to think when the only message we hear is that of the far right?
Blame the media all you want, but here's what we've seen lately:
You could see how trapped Boehner looked when the tea-baggers and Cantor had him by the bags over the past two years. He was scared though, and chickened out and let the extreme be the voice, even though he obviously wanted to cut some sort of a deal.
Dick Luger among many others gets primary-ed because he isn't far
enough to the right.
State legislatures pass numerous laws restricting birth control and mandating invasive, non-neccesary medical procedures for women seeking abortions along with other social issues. Somebody (majorities) voted those people into power.
Akin will still get a significant number of votes, even though he's a whack-job.
The continuing traction that birthers get.
Trying to pass constitutional amendments to
outlaw gay marriage. Really? This is worth an amendment to our Constitution?
Voter ID - don't try to justify this. It's only for suppression. You'd have to be an idiot to not see what the motivation for this was regardless of whether you agree with the policy.
Having candidates for the Presidency of the United States of America declare that they don't believe in evolution. Do they really believe that or are they scared of their base? Either answer to that is bad.
Having candidates for the Presidency of the United States of America declare that they don't believe in global warming. (Of course many have adjusted this to "man made" global waring in the face of the evidence.
)
These are just a few examples of what many would see as extreme behavior or beliefs. If this is only a small, vocal portion of your party doing these things, then why doesn't the majority take the reigns back? Isn't it possible to be a conservative without believing that the world is only 6000 years old? Of course it is, but no one will stand up to that segment publicly for fear of getting
themselves primary-ed.
I think the list of fascist factors that was shared fits the far right quite well and unfortunately, it appears that the far right is formulating your party's message and policy.
People will say that Republicans need to stick together right now despite their differences in order to defeat Obama, but I've seen no evidence that the less extreme (there don't appear to be moderates any more) elements of the GOP will ever actually stand up to the far right, even should they gain power.
That's why I can't ever see voting for a Republican again, or at least right now, even though I very nearly despise the typical weak-kneed Democratic politician - who get very little done. But I'd rather have little get done than far too much of the wrong things done.
Now some will undoubtedly say that conservatism does not equal being a Republican and that I'm over-generalizing, but based upon voting in congress and general public voting in elections, they are effectively interchangeable.
Look, I don't doubt that there are reasonable Republicans, and lots of them, but they aren't currently calling the shots. Not standing up to the extremists is essentially the same as agreeing with them. That's why you get painted with broad strokes.
