05-05-2008, 09:26 PM
"That's why I said that the word "moderate" is a political weasel word"
How so? As a label, it's as useful or non-useful as any other. It doesn't automatically signal cowardice, convenience, misdirection, or dishonesty. For some, it's a valid, accurate identifier.
Broadly speaking, moderate just means non-extremist, non-Ideologue. That's probably the majority of American voters.
I agree that labels are only useful up to a point. Most people, in reality, aren't easily classifiable. They may have primarily conservative or liberal views, but have those odd disqualifiers. Maybe a voter is a Red-Meat Republican, but for personal reasons he's pro-gun control, pro-affirmative action, or favors government regulation. Something that doesn't fit the profile. Or maybe someone's a Leftist-Liberal, but they're disinterested in environment issues, lean hawkish on foreign policy, or has unlikely views on abortion, or free trade.
There's a lot of micro-distinctions. Labels are easy, people are complicated.
How so? As a label, it's as useful or non-useful as any other. It doesn't automatically signal cowardice, convenience, misdirection, or dishonesty. For some, it's a valid, accurate identifier.
Broadly speaking, moderate just means non-extremist, non-Ideologue. That's probably the majority of American voters.
I agree that labels are only useful up to a point. Most people, in reality, aren't easily classifiable. They may have primarily conservative or liberal views, but have those odd disqualifiers. Maybe a voter is a Red-Meat Republican, but for personal reasons he's pro-gun control, pro-affirmative action, or favors government regulation. Something that doesn't fit the profile. Or maybe someone's a Leftist-Liberal, but they're disinterested in environment issues, lean hawkish on foreign policy, or has unlikely views on abortion, or free trade.
There's a lot of micro-distinctions. Labels are easy, people are complicated.