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It is an issue like gun control, gay marriage, and abortions. But the key characteristic is that you lose a very small number of votes if you take one position, but a critical group of hard-core zealots will vote for you if you take the other position. Politicians--and especially Republicans--love these types of asymmetrical issues.
The fact is, that the people who support abortion rights, stem cell research, etc. are intelligent enough to realize that they are minor issues in the overall picture of choosing for whom to vote.
Those who oppose these issues are far narrower minded--far more likely to make voting decisions based on one or two simple positions.
Easy choice for a conservative Republican. Yes, brilliant tactician.
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