# If Iraq doesn't become an issue again in 2012 then what will become an issue? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [January 10, 2012, 5:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059 "2012-01-10T17:22:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/41 "2012-05-22T17:44:00Z")
Obama: “This is not a distraction. This is **what this campaign is going to be about**.” That’s what the President said at the NATO press conference in Chicago in response to Mayor Cory A. Booker of Newark criticizing the Obama campaign [going after](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLatxTzVE4w&feature=plcp) Mitt Romney’s record at Bain Capital. Romney: “\*\*What this election is about \*\*is the 23 million Americans who are still struggling to find work and the millions who have lost their homes and have fallen into poverty.” That’s what Mitt Romney said in response to the President. (Mitt Romney fails to mention that this happened _before_ 2009.) ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 7:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/42 "2012-05-22T19:11:37Z")
They are both wrong. They one key issue in this election is _perception._ Whichever candidate wins the perception issue will win the White House. Mark my words. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/43 "2012-05-22T19:39:10Z")
Perception of what? ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 8:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/44 "2012-05-22T20:53:11Z")
Right, if one candidate wins because he’s perceived as being better for the economy, that means the economy was the key issue. If he wins because he’s perceived as being better on national security, that means that national security was the key issue, etc. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/45 "2012-05-22T23:08:53Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Right, if one candidate wins because he’s perceived as being better for the economy, that means the economy was the key issue. If he wins because he’s perceived as being better on national security, that means that national security was the key issue, etc. Well, this ain’t gonna be a national-security election. Economy all the way. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/46 "2012-05-22T23:10:46Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > Perception of what? Just “perception.” We’re settling the presidential election by which candidate can better read an eye chart. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [May 22, 2012, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/47 "2012-05-22T23:23:00Z")
> [@Really Not All That Bright](#): > > So, it turned out the correct answer was contraception. > [@Kozmik](#): > > And same-sex marriage. And the fanatical devotion to the pope. Everybody forgets that part. The Birthers haven’t shut up yet, so they WANT that to be an issue… ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/48 "2012-05-23T00:23:15Z")
It ain’t gonna be a social-issues election either. Economy all the way. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/49 "2012-05-23T05:06:25Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > They are both wrong. They one key issue in this election is _perception._ Whichever candidate wins the perception issue will win the White House. > > Mark my words. Yes. > [@John\_Mace](#): > > Perception of what? Perception. > [@BrainGlutton](#): > > Well, this ain’t gonna be a national-security election. Economy all the way. Yes, economy all the way. Which is why Barack Obama, in his political genius, held the NATO summit in Chicago where he said, “This is not a distraction. This is what this campaign is going to be about.” That is something Mitt Romney could _ **never** _ do. Because Mitt Romney is not President, because Mitt Romney is not hosting a NATO summit in his home town (does he even have one?). Because only the President - Barack Obama - could frame the issue of the economy at a national security setting during an election year. In other words, the President, at a national security setting, said what 2012 is going to be about. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [May 23, 2012, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/50 "2012-05-23T17:49:19Z")
If Republicans do not have an issue they will manufacture one. Some are beginning to grumble about the Rev. Jeremiah Wright again. Expect to hear about Bill Ayers, and the President’s presumed birth place in Kenya. Haters gotta hate. ---
**Author:** ![Kozmik](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/8dc957/32.png) [@Kozmik](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kozmik)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/51 "2012-06-30T01:54:27Z")
> [@BrainGlutton](#): > > It ain’t gonna be a social-issues election either. With the health care ruling, looks like it will be. > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > So, it turned out the correct answer was contraception. Who saw _that_ coming? > [@Kozmik](#): > > And same-sex marriage. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/52 "2012-06-30T15:07:44Z")
The health care thing is as much of a fiscal argument as a social one. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/53 "2012-06-30T23:10:30Z")
> [@Kozmik](#): > > With the health care ruling, looks like it will be. What, you think the health-care realing means a non-social topic like health-care reform won’t be an **issue** in this election?! Rather the reverse, I should think. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/54 "2012-06-30T23:11:55Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > The health care thing is as much of a fiscal argument as a social one. It is not a social issue at all, in the sense that abortion and gay marriage are social issues. It is an economic issue, which is a broader topic than “fiscal” and includes it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 30, 2012, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059/55 "2012-06-30T23:14:54Z")
Those are solely social issues. Healthcare is both, because it involves two questions: (1) how do we spend less money, and (2), should we cover everyone? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/if-iraq-doesnt-become-an-issue-again-in-2012-then-what-will-become-an-issue/609059.md?page=2)