June 19, 2006 | By Nathaniel Ward

Conservatives back traditional values

A new survey from The Heritage Foundation indicates that conservatives support traditional American values like limited government, rule of law and a strong national defense. By overwhelming margins, conservatives surveyed backed President Bush's tax cuts, oppose cuts to defense spending and support both tough enforcement of our immigration laws and reforms to out-of-control entitlement spending. What's more, these conservatives reported that the liberal media are distorting the truth about what's going on in the world.

Issues overview

Make current tax cuts permanent.

Enact more tax relief for working families.

Continue tax relief for small businesses.

Implement more tax relief for seniors.

Raise taxes on families, seniors and businesses.

Cut wasteful government spending.

Eliminate unnecessary “corporate welfare.”

Reduce needless government regulations.

Create legal right to Social Security benefits for current and soon-to-be retirees.

Let younger workers invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in personal accts.

Invest in new weapons technologies.

LContinue to deploy missile defense systems.

Raise military pay & benefits.

Water down anti-terrorism measures such as the Patriot Act.

Give the U.N. more control over U.S. foreign policy.

Secure America’s borders.

Crack down on illegal immigrations.

Give amnesty to illegal aliens.

2. Tax relief

Have you heard liberal politicians in your state claim that tax cuts benefit only the rich?

Have you heard the liberals’ “class warfare” rhetoric reported by the news media?

In general, do you agree with liberals who think tax cuts are bad for the U.S. economy?

Is it being reported in your area that tax relief has helped create almost 5 million jobs since 2003, and helped shrink the federal deficit by $108 billion in 2005?

Given the economic stimulus they’ve provided, do you want Congress to make permanent the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003?

3. Social Security

Do you agree with liberals who claim Social Security does NOT need to be reformed?

According to the Social Security Board of Trustees, the system faces an unfounded liability of $12 trillion.  Is this being reported by the news media in your area?

Did you know that, without significant reforms to the system, saving Social Security could require a 50% increase in taxes or a 27% cut in benefits?

Do you agree with Ted Kennedy and other liberals who believe tax increases are the best way to keep funding Social Security?

4. Border Security

Do you agree with Hillary Clinton that cracking down on illegal immigration is “a rebuke to what America stands for”?

Do you share Sen. Clinton’s concern that fighting illegal immigration will turn America into a “police state”?

Is it being reported in your area that, according to recent estimates, there are currently anywhere from 12 million to 20 million illegal aliens hiding out in the U.S.?

Do you believe securing America’s borders and fighting illegal immigration should be top priorities for President Bush and the U.S. Congress?

5. NATIONAL SECURITY

Do you agree with liberals who want to cut $60 billion from the U.S. defense budget?

Do you believe America’s troops deserve more funding for their efforts to defend our nation?

Liberals are trying to frighten the American people into believing that anti-terrorism measures such as the Patriot Act are a threat to freedom and liberty.  Have you heard these liberal “scare tactics” repeated in local and national news outlets?

Do you believe the right anti-terrorism policies can make America both safe AND free?

6. Survey registration

Do you think the media in your area are biased toward liberals?

Do you think the national media favor liberal policies?

Do you trust liberals to be honest about their policies?

Nathaniel Ward is the Editor of MyHeritage.org—a website for members and supporters of The Heritage Foundation.