"Since half of the population of the United States consider themselves conservative, if you asked one of them what he or she believed conservatism was, what might he or she tell you?"
Now watch the blank expression on the progressive's face. They have absolutely no idea. It would be funny if it wasn't so tragic. Progressives talk politics only with other progressives. They think conservatives are evil, and never connect the dots that then half the population of the United States would by their "logic," be evil.