So mostly this post is just me paraphrasing a Huffington Post article and Gallup poll results.
A May 2010 Gallup poll asked respondents to identify themselves as conservative, moderate, or liberal. The results:
42% Conservative
35% Moderate
20% Liberal
With all the attention Glenn Beck, Sarah Palin, and the Tea Party have been getting, you might think that sounds about right, but if you look at a breakdown of the issues in the very same poll, most Americans take moderate or liberal positions.
47% referred to themselves as “pro-life” but only 19% oppose abortion in all circumstances.
65% believe civil liberties should not be violated in efforts to prevent terrorism.
Half believe protecting the environment should have priority over economic development.
70% say gays should be allowed to be to be out in the military and 67% support giving same-sex domestic partners the same employee benefits as spouses.
Only 12% want less strict firearms laws.
59% believe research on stem cells from human embryos is “morally acceptable.”
In separate Gallup polls this year:
Even 32% of those identifying as Republicans think the Bush tax cuts should expire for people making over $250K/yr.
67% think it’s a “good idea” to tax ALL income for Social Security rather than setting a cap.
So maybe the Republicans have succeeded in making “liberal” a dirty word, but liberal ideals are alive and well in the American people.
