The conservative ethos distilled.

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14. Republicans tend to be terrible on issues that don't affect them personally; usually pretty good on those that do.

A prime example of this is Meghan McCain's late father, John McCain. I disagreed with him on almost every political stance he took, except one -- torture. He was great on the issue of torture because he himself had been tortured.

Is it an empathy deficit? I think so. But I also think an important part of it is a lack of imagination. Republicans just can't imagine themselves being in the shoes of those who are less fortunate.