In your own words, please explain the difference between a liberal Republican and a conservative Democrat. Two co-workers are arguing about this subject and since I was browsing the board I thought I would bring the debate here.
Liberal Republican: coastal, white collar, more concerned with macro-economics and national security issues Conservative Democrat: blue collar, union, pocket-book economics issues, more socially conservative than his liberal republican counterpart.
Its the difference between Bill Clinton and John McCain. They both lean to their respective sides but reality makes them go towards the center. I consider myself a conservative democrat/liberal. I believe the focus of our country should be to help the average citizen and the working man. I think everyone should have the same opportunities to succeed regardless of how sucky their parents are. I also think that everyone should get the best health we as a country can provide. But I also know that as a country we can't afford to do everything for everyone so I we need to set our priorities and be realistic. BTW, I'm very socially liberal. I think the government should stay out of moral, religious and personal issues.
I think since fiscal issues typically affect the middle class white voting majority moreso than social issues, most politicians choose their party based on tax and economic platforms. To the extent that someone moderates from their party, it's probably on social issues. Liberal Repubs: Nelson Rockefeller, Thomas Dewey (!), Prescott Bush(!!), Colin Powell, Arlen Specter. Conservative Dems: Richard Daley, Ed Koch, Zell Miller. Liberal Republicans like low spending/taxes/non-union labor and minority rights/abortion. Conservative Democrats don't. -Northern (Yankee) Republicans helped originally push for civil rights. Then JFK won, and they just changed their party affiliation overnight. -Southern Democrats, historically, were probably the best defenders of social conservatism in the '60s and '70s. LBJ and Jane Roe probably pushed them to the GOP.
I'm too liberal for one (liberal dems) and too conservative for the other (conservative repubs). So....there.
i think of a liberal republican as one who is still for smaller govt (but strong defense) but open on social issues, such as abortion, gay marriage, legalized weed. conservative democrat, obviously the opposite.
The Conservative Democrat is one who's religion won't let him go the whole hog of true liberalism. Because his faith in God is the most important thing in His/Her life. A liberal Republican is one who is religious and remembers that God made everyone equal in His Eyes, thus preventing HIm/Her from following the dog eat dog mentality of staunch Republicans.
You actually sound pretty liberal. True conservatives believe in letting the market sort it out-- big time winners and losers. Trickle down. They assume if you are not a winner in the market, you deserve it. Can't afford health care, well that is just the way it is. Your parents suck, pull yourself up by your boot straps. Realistically they will say we can't afford to spend government money on just about anything but a huge military.
If you look at where the party names come from, fundamentally, a republican should believe first in republican ideals, namely, the rule of law. The concept of Constitutional supremacy, and all of the values from the Constitution: federalism, separation of powers, and protection of liberty. A liberal republican is someone like Tom Ridge or Mitt Romney that wants a larger government role in social welfare or other liberal ideals, but tries to achieve it within the constructs of federalism, separation of powers, and protection of liberty. A democrat is someone who believes first in the supremacy of majority opinion. They believe that if the public wants something, the government should give it to them, and law shouldn't interfere with that. A conservative democrat is someone like Al Green or Heath Shuler, who fundamentally believes in the supremacy of majority opinion, but represent conservatives who want government to play a smaller role in their lives (or at least a role that is increasing slower than it currently is).
Maybe I am pretty liberal but I find most extreme left wingers as annoying as extreme right wingers. I'm didn't mention in my previous post that I'm fairly anti union, and pro free trade. I also don't believe anyone is "entitled" to anything except for what is in the constitution.
