# What will conservatives blame for a Romney loss? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [October 19, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242 "2012-10-19T16:48:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/1 "2012-10-19T16:48:43Z")
If Romney loses, conservatives will have to find a scapegoat that allows them to continue believing their platform was sound, and a loss was the due to some other reason that doesn’t threaten their right wing dogma. Two that come to mind: 1. Voter fraud or some other kind of election impropriety, even in the absence of any evidence. 2. Romney was not conservative enough, as if a more conservative candidate would have gotten more votes from Democrats or independents. Any others? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/2 "2012-10-19T16:51:57Z")
> [@Fear\_Itself](#): > > If Romney loses, conservatives will have to find a scapegoat that allows them to continue believing their platform was sound, and a loss was the due to some other reason that doesn’t threaten their right wing dogma. > > Two that come to mind: > > 1. Voter fraud or some other kind of election impropriety, even in the absence of any evidence. > > 2. Romney was not conservative enough, as if a more conservative candidate would have gotten more votes from Democrats or independents. > > Any others? I agree with both of those, and suggest “America is losing its Godly foundation and turning to Satan” as conservative explanation #3. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/3 "2012-10-19T16:52:27Z")
1. Self-reflection on how their party has become too radical and emboldened to the plutocratic class. How their social policies are archaic and their fiscal policies are too inflexible and…haaa, I’m just kidding, they’ll blame Romney for running and incompetent campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Sicks\_Ate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/258eb7/32.png) [@Sicks\_Ate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sicks_Ate)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/4 "2012-10-19T16:53:37Z")
#2, but I’m not entirely sure that a Romney loss is in the cards. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/5 "2012-10-19T16:58:31Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I agree with both of those, and suggest “America is losing its Godly foundation and turning to Satan” as conservative explanation #3. Or the flip side of that: “God’s punishment for \_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_” ---
**Author:** ![bengangmo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@bengangmo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bengangmo)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/6 "2012-10-19T17:01:35Z")
Sympathy for the terrorist attack that Obama refused to call terrorism? ---
**Author:** ![Tarwater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/9de0a6/32.png) [@Tarwater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tarwater)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/7 "2012-10-19T17:05:06Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I’m just kidding, they’ll blame Romney for running and incompetent campaign. Yep. In addition to this, they’ll put forth the claim that had the Romney campaign not so badly bungled the election, Romney would have won in a landslide. They’ll use the fact that the election was so close to spin a narrative that Americans are yearning for traditional conservative values, and they’ll push harder than ever against Obama and the Democrats in the Senate. There’s a very real possibility that this claim will find purchase among the electorate, and Republicans gain enough seats in the Senate during Obama’s second-term to have a majority. Obama might get to nominate some justices, keep at bay any attempts to repeal Obamacare, and use executive power to end the war in Afghanistan and avoid any catastrophic international conflicts, but he won’t be able to push any new legislation through congress. ---
**Author:** ![Skammer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skammer/32/143_2.png) [@Skammer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skammer)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/8 "2012-10-19T17:28:18Z")
I can’t wait to see what happens if Romney wins the popular vote but loses the electoral college. I’m seriously considering watching the election returns on Fox just for that reason. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/9 "2012-10-19T17:33:10Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > 1. Self-reflection on how their party has become too radical and emboldened to the plutocratic class. How their social policies are archaic and their fiscal policies are too inflexible and…haaa, I’m just kidding, they’ll blame Romney for running and incompetent campaign. Romney actually did run an incompetent campaign though so it will be hard to argue for any other reason. ---
**Author:** ![Spiff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiff/32/9852_2.png) [@Spiff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiff)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/10 "2012-10-19T17:34:15Z")
They might privately blame him for not being Christian enough. Yes, I know Mormons consider themselves Christians, but there are plenty of Christians who don’t think Mormons are Christian. Such as Evangelical Christians, who are a large part of the GOP base. So, if his loss is due to to a lower-than-expected turnout among EVs, then I guess the GOP leadership could blame the loss on nominating a Mormon. ---
**Author:** ![Enkel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/df705f/32.png) [@Enkel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enkel)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/11 "2012-10-19T17:45:17Z")
Carl Rove. I bet he’s scrambling right now and working out how to justify that a billion dollars wasn’t enough to put a ‘monkey with enough digits to sign bills’ in as POTUS (just in case Romney doesn’t win). IF Romney fails, I think it will be a setup for someone like Huckabee next time around. IF Romney wins, we are so F\*\*KED. ---
**Author:** ![Fiddle\_Peghead](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fiddle_peghead/32/3506_2.png) [@Fiddle\_Peghead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fiddle_Peghead)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/12 "2012-10-19T17:48:59Z")
Obama’s mean old campaign commercials? ---
**Author:** ![Sinaptics](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/278dde/32.png) [@Sinaptics](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sinaptics)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/13 "2012-10-19T17:54:31Z")
And don’t forget media (and moderators) in the tank for Obama. ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/14 "2012-10-19T17:57:28Z")
The Media, of course. Even if he wins but it’s just a squeaker. And yes, “we need to run a ‘REAL’ conservative” if a loss. ---
**Author:** ![drewtwo99](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/d07c76/32.png) [@drewtwo99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewtwo99)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 6:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/15 "2012-10-19T18:02:33Z")
They will blame the media. They will blame the polls being skewed. They will blame Romney for not being a True Conservative. They will blame Obama for lying constantly and tricking the poor American people into voting for him. They will probably run Santorum or another right-wing crazy person in 2016 who will win the primary to make up for it. ---
**Author:** ![Jas09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d07c76/32.png) [@Jas09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jas09)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/16 "2012-10-19T18:07:29Z")
Yup, the media. There is basically no doubt about it. ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/17 "2012-10-19T18:08:11Z")
Maybe we can gain insight into this question by examining what the Democrats did after Kerry’s 2004 loss. > [@](#): > > 1. Voter fraud or some other kind of election impropriety, even in the absence of any evidence. Yup. “Ohio was stolen!” > [@](#): > > America is losing its Godly foundation and turning to Satan Yup. (Well, the liberal mirror image; [The United States of Canada and Jesusland.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=285530)) ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/18 "2012-10-19T18:20:27Z")
Eh, claiming the voting machines were rigged isn’t a claim of voter fraud, is it? It’s a silly conspiratorial claim. But not nearly as silly as claiming that people committing voter fraud can alter the results of an election. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Bridget\_Burke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7cd45c/32.png) [@Bridget\_Burke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bridget_Burke)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/19 "2012-10-19T18:22:25Z")
> [@Spiff](#): > > They might privately blame him for not being Christian enough. > > Yes, I know Mormons consider themselves Christians, but there are plenty of Christians who don’t think Mormons are Christian. Such as Evangelical Christians, who are a large part of the GOP base. > > So, if his loss is due to to a lower-than-expected turnout among EVs, then I guess the GOP leadership could blame the loss on nominating a Mormon. Heck, some of those old bible-thumpers are not happy about Ryan’s Roman Catholicism. (I was raised Catholic in the Bible Belt.) ---
**Author:** ![Nazarene](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c57346/32.png) [@Nazarene](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nazarene)\ **Post date:** [October 19, 2012, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242/20 "2012-10-19T18:22:48Z")
I think scapegoat #1 is always the media. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-will-conservatives-blame-for-a-romney-loss/638242.md?page=2)