Has the Conservatism of the Republican Party Been Overestimated?

[Slander and/or Libel]

The party has been very good at fielding candidates who toed the line on economic issues, thereby fostering the illusion that the voters motivated by social issues were also doctrinaire on economic issues. But their support on those issues was a mile wide and an inch deep, and motivated only by the fact that those particular economic and social issues were coupled. I think the base is far, far less motivated by core GOP economic issues than anybody is comfortable admitting.