When conservatives attempt to direct themselves in a better light through GPS (General Positive Spin)

Perhaps this is a very common defense mechanism, but I'll often times see or hear conservatives face criticism for their stance on a specific issue by going what I call the general positive spin (GPS) route. Let me give you an example.

When confronted with their stance on universal healthcare and wanting to repeal Obamacare, I've heard conservatives say, "I believe in personal responsibility. I guess that makes me a right-wing extremist!"

See what was done there? They took the claims that they lacked empathy and understanding, that they didn't care about other people's well-being, about Obamacare as a specific piece of legislation, by countering that with claiming they believe in personal responsibility, before attempting to place the other side to shame by exaggerating their general-positive-spin point and saying, "I guess that makes me a right-wing extremist!"

This kind of strategy is clever on one hand, yet ridiculous on the other. It's clever because regardless of the numbers and facts that were thrown in their direction, this general-positive-spin statement essentially ends the argument. How is the other to respond to it? On the other hand, it's ridiculous, because it's a red-herring argument - diverting attention away from the main topic at hand and attempting to focus said attention on another, which shows they likely don't have many numbers and facts to counter the other's argument.

I see conservatives do this all the time. Another example is with regard to the recent gun control debate, where they'll counter another's argument by saying, "I believe in the Constitution/freedom/the Founding Fathers. I guess that makes me a right-wing extremist!"

When it comes to being against gay-marriage rights, I've heard them say, "I believe in The Bible. I guess that makes me a right-wing extremist!"

What these general-positive-spin arguments also attempt to do is place the opposing side in a poorer light. If one supports universal healthcare, then they obviously don't believe in personal responsibility according to these people. If one believes in expanded background checks on gun purchases, then I guess this person doesn't believe in the Constitution. If someone believes gays should have the right to get married, well then, he or she is anti-Bible.

The thing is, it doesn't make a person a right-wing extremist if he or she believes in "personal responsibility," "the Constitution/freedom/the Founding Fathers," or 'The Bible." What makes a person a right-wing extremist is to think a single mother working three jobs shouldn't be guaranteed healthcare. What makes a person a right-wing extremist is to think convicted criminals, including felons, shouldn't be obligated to undergo a background check at gun shows or when making firearm purchases off the internet. What makes a person a right-wing extremist is to think in a country which possesses the separation of church and state, a common interpretation of a scripture in a religious book should be reason enough to prevent certain people from getting married. When people use GPS (General Positive Spin) in an attempt to place themselves in a better light, it's simply to deny listeners and viewers from the clearer picture. If one can only defend their positions through generalities, he or she likely doesn't know the specifics to defends their positions, that or knows the specifics will run counter to their generalities which will place themselves in an even poorer light than before.