Current Events > Why do so many conservatives refuse to identify as a conservatives?

(+) Yeah! (+)

So many of them call themselves Libertarians, but defend conservatives on pretty much every single issue and whine almost exclusively about the left.
---

Because conservative has a strong negative meaning behind it at this point, and has been aligned with "racist." So they can't identify as that without people dismissing them. Calling themsleves libertarian helps get a foot in the door for discussions, but they're not actually libertarian.
---

Probably because they aren't, and are just being labeled by ignorant, hateful libs. Because if you're not liberal, you're clearly a Nazi or conservative.
I get called conservative all the time, even though I

- support gay marriage/rights
- have no problem with immigration and hate The Wall
- support abortion

there's a lot of "independents" and "libertarians" who never hold any leftist positions and always defend republicans/conservatives at every turn. it's strange tbh. just say you're conservative. it's more honest
---

ThyCorndog posted...

there's a lot of "independents" and "libertarians" who never hold any leftist positions and always defend republicans/conservatives at every turn. it's strange tbh. just say you're conservative. it's more honest

But if that person really doesn't have any conservative values or positions, why should they? I think the only conservative viewpoint I have is healthcare, in that I don't feel it is a right nor are people entitled to gold level plans for free/next to nothing with their 20 hour per week McJob.

because there's vocal, annoying-ass conservatives that they wish to distance themselves from.

same with liberals, tbh.
---

Conservatives want government to be your father.
Liberals want government to be your mother.

Libertarians want government to leave you the hell alone. It's essentially the "rebellious teenager" political philosophy.

I have a very complicated mix of liberal and conservative beliefs that mean I can't truly fit into either one. the problem is people see just one opinion about a single issue and then judge that person without asking them for their opinions on every other facet of the world. you don't do your research and you just decide what someone is based on a tiny piece of evidence. just about everyone on CE thinks I am a republican and I am not. but I am also not a democrat.

Because a lot of fiscally conservative people aren't socially conservative.
---

libertarians are conservatives who are too cowardly to call themselves conservatives
---

mario2000 posted...

libertarians are conservatives who are too cowardly to call themselves conservatives

Facepalm
---

yea libertarians make me facepalm too
---

Probably for the same reason that a lot of communists identify as socialists, because they want to avoid the stigma.
---

Waluigi7 posted...

So many of them call themselves Libertarians, but defend conservatives on pretty much every single issue and whine almost exclusively about the left.

Because there is nothing good to say about the left.

s0nicfan posted...

Probably for the same reason that a lot of communists identify as socialists, because they want to avoid the stigma.

That is probably over ten times as rare.
---

Annihilated posted...

Waluigi7 posted...

So many of them call themselves Libertarians, but defend conservatives on pretty much every single issue and whine almost exclusively about the left.

Because there is nothing good to say about the left.

Do why won't they identify as conservative then?
---

Waluigi7 posted...

s0nicfan posted...

Probably for the same reason that a lot of communists identify as socialists, because they want to avoid the stigma.

That is probably over ten times as rare.

You're probably right.
---

I'm conservative and I have no problems saying so. I'm gay. Christian. Conservative. I am probably the most hated combo by any liberal.
---

Waluigi7 posted...

Annihilated posted...

Waluigi7 posted...

So many of them call themselves Libertarians, but defend conservatives on pretty much every single issue and whine almost exclusively about the left.

Because there is nothing good to say about the left.

Do why won't they identify as conservative then?

Uh, they do. Conservative is not a party.

Libertarians are more socially liberal than liberals, and more fiscally conservative than conservatives.
---

Vindris_SNH posted...

Libertarians are more socially liberal than liberals.

No they aren't.
---

s0nicfan posted...

Probably for the same reason that a lot of communists identify as socialists, because they want to avoid the stigma.

There should be a stronger stigma for this.
---

Suchomimus posted...

s0nicfan posted...

Probably for the same reason that a lot of communists identify as socialists, because they want to avoid the stigma.

There should be a stronger stigma for this.

Maybe there would be if communists actually existed in large numbers in the United States.
---

Waluigi7 posted...

Vindris_SNH posted...

Libertarians are more socially liberal than liberals.

No they aren't.

You can desire smaller government but still push for very left-leaning social stances.
---

Waluigi7 posted...

Vindris_SNH posted...

Libertarians are more socially liberal than liberals.

No they aren't.

...whut?

Fiscal conservatives don't want to be labelled with the far right racists and the religious right who have gone off the deep end on social issues.
---