# Young Republicans More Likely To Be Socially Moderate **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [August 10, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054 "2012-08-10T04:51:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/1 "2012-08-10T04:51:30Z")
[http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/us/politics/young-republicans-erase-lines-on-social-issues.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/us/politics/young-republicans-erase-lines-on-social-issues.html) Interesting article on how young Republicans (and Millenials in general) are more likely to be socially moderate. Speaking on a personal level I find this more or less accurate-the only issue I’m really socially conservative on is abortion. However I’m not a Ron Paul style neo-isolationist or an Austrian school laissez-faire advocate though. In addition I find that at least on a national level Republican administrations have failed or simply not pursue socially conservative policies-although its true that some socially conservative measures have been passed on the state level. ---
**Author:** ![IceQube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/dfb087/32.png) [@IceQube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IceQube)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/2 "2012-08-10T05:07:51Z")
I think there is a growing faction of \*corporate \* (economic) conservatives - e.g. Mitt Romney. It’s not limited to the young. However, the social conservative part of the Republican Party is still very vocal. You can see this during the primary, in which Romney was running well to the right on social issues. His record says liberal on social issues though. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/3 "2012-08-10T05:11:10Z")
…Yeah. Read that the other day. I wonder what’s wrong with this picture? I’m totally reminded of the almost the EXACT same piece written a few years ago. Let’s see if I can find it. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/4 "2012-08-10T05:36:49Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > In addition I find that at least on a national level Republican administrations have failed or simply not pursue socially conservative policies-although its true that some socially conservative measures have been passed on the state level. One reason for that is that states rights are a big part of the Republican platform in regard to social issues. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/5 "2012-08-10T06:10:25Z")
That’s really nothing new. Been that way at least since I was an undergrad during the '84 election. The student body voted for Reagan 80-20 in a mock election on campus, and weekend parties could make \*Animal House \*look tame by comparison. Lots of drugs, sex, and rock & roll going on. Ahhhh…college. ---
**Author:** ![Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/7ba0ec/32.png) [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omg_a_Black_Conservative)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/6 "2012-08-10T06:10:31Z")
> [@Omg\_a\_Black\_Conservative](#): > > I’m totally reminded of the almost the EXACT same piece written a few years ago. Let’s see if I can find it. Bah. I’m far too lazy to keep looking for this now. In the meantime, I don’t care for the article (obviously), but two things I just have to respond to. > [@](#): > > Younger Republicans are also the most likely members of the party to say that “more people of different races marrying each other” and “more women in the work force” have been changes for the better, according to a separate Pew study conducted last year. So are younger Democrats. And Independents. In fact, younger people are more likely to say those are changes for the better, period. > [@](#): > > Republican leaders also hope to tap into what they see as a growing libertarian streak among young conservatives — the same energy that Representative Ron Paul of Texas rode with some success through the early primaries, with a strong emphasis on minimalist government and individual freedoms. Okay. So pro-gay marriage, anti-abortion, pro-second Amendment, pro-states rights. Obviously, Susan didn’t fully think this one through when writing her article. (BTW\> I’m not sure how you get “many” from three, but okay. Whatever makes you happy.) ---
**Author:** ![waterj2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/858c86/32.png) [@waterj2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/waterj2)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/7 "2012-08-10T06:32:48Z")
I’ll believe it when I see results. These aren’t people fighting for moderation on social issues. They’re people who don’t want to look like bigots in front of their gay friends while still supporting a party that campaigns on outright homophobia. So they personally disavow those views. They say “I’m really more of a libertarian than a conservative.” And in the privacy of the voting booth, they vote for whatever socially conservative candidate the Republicans put up. The GOP brand is largely toxic to millenial college students, and those that support the party try to distance themselves from it. But they aren’t doing much of anything to change it. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/8 "2012-08-10T14:09:34Z")
I have to imagine that this is usually the case. Young people are generally going to be more socially moderate then their parents. There are exceptions, of course. I’d say the one generation that bucked the trend would be the Baby Boomers. They, as kids in the 60’s where arguably more socially moderate than their Gen X children in the 90’s. 60’s stereotype: Long haired hippy with daisy. 90’s stereotype: Chinos and button down shirt wearing kid who graduates college early to get in on the dotcom boom. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/9 "2012-08-10T14:18:04Z")
It’s about as sad to see a young Republican as it is to see a young smoker. Racism and homophobia are not unheard of in the younger generation, these are the primary attitudes that bend one toward Republicanism. That some may harbor some socially moderate views isn’t that encouraging. They’re still voting for the American Taliban. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 2:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/10 "2012-08-10T14:24:31Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Racism and homophobia are not unheard of in the younger generation, these are the primary attitudes that bend one toward Republicanism. So, the 48-52% or so of voters in the upcoming election that vote Republican are all racist and homophobic? It must be tough for you, living in a country so surrounded by by hordes of evil people. Or maybe, just maybe, not everyone who disagrees with you is a Hitler youth. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/11 "2012-08-10T14:30:27Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > So, the 48-52% or so of voters in the upcoming election that vote Republican are all racist and homophobic? > > It must be tough for you, living in a country so surrounded by by hordes of evil people. > > Or maybe, just maybe, not everyone who disagrees with you is a Hitler youth. As I’ve said many times, you don’t need to be racist to be a Republican, but you nearly have to be a Republican to be racist. ---
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/12 "2012-08-10T15:57:17Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > So, the 48-52% or so of voters in the upcoming election that vote Republican are all racist and homophobic? > > It must be tough for you, living in a country so surrounded by by hordes of evil people. > > Or maybe, just maybe, not everyone who disagrees with you is a Hitler youth. Ah, argumentum ad absurdum. Haven’t seen that one in a while. ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/13 "2012-08-10T16:46:04Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > [http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/us/politics/young-republicans-erase-lines-on-social-issues.html](http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/09/us/politics/young-republicans-erase-lines-on-social-issues.html) > > Interesting article on how young Republicans (and Millenials in general) are more likely to be socially moderate. Speaking on a personal level I find this more or less accurate-the only issue I’m really socially conservative on is abortion. However I’m not a Ron Paul style neo-isolationist or an Austrian school laissez-faire advocate though. > > In addition I find that at least on a national level Republican administrations have failed or simply not pursue socially conservative policies-although its true that some socially conservative measures have been passed on the state level. Let’s talk again after the Republican Party Platform is finalized sometime next month, and then we’ll play “Spot the young Republicans promoting socially moderate positions in the Convention hall.” You take socially moderate signage and I’ll take electric scooters. The most spotted wins. Deal? ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/14 "2012-08-10T17:19:32Z")
> [@waterj2](#): > > I’ll believe it when I see results. These aren’t people fighting for moderation on social issues. They’re people who don’t want to look like bigots in front of their gay friends while still supporting a party that campaigns on outright homophobia. So they personally disavow those views. They say “I’m really more of a libertarian than a conservative.” And in the privacy of the voting booth, they vote for whatever socially conservative candidate the Republicans put up. The GOP brand is largely toxic to millenial college students, and those that support the party try to distance themselves from it. But they aren’t doing much of anything to change it. Except that the socially ultra-conservative candidates aren’t winning the youth vote. I don’t see many young people being enthusiastic for Rick Santorum or Michele Bachman or them making up the ranks of the Tea Party. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/15 "2012-08-10T17:25:31Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > As I’ve said many times, you don’t need to be racist to be a Republican, but you nearly have to be a Republican to be racist. Nowadays, at any rate. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/16 "2012-08-10T17:39:06Z")
Nm ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/17 "2012-08-10T17:45:37Z")
> [@Lightnin](#): > > Ah, argumentum ad absurdum. Haven’t seen that one in a while. Hey, he said it. I don’t need to twist or expand upon his statement to make it absurd. It was already there. I just pointed it out. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/18 "2012-08-10T17:54:53Z")
If the YRs are true to their economic convictions - ie: to what’s called free market policy today - they will, I am pretty certain, _become_ socially conservative. Economic darwinism - the idea that help for the weak hurts everybody - is now a core principle of fiscal conservatism. If one strives for consistency in one’s beliefs, social darwinism almost inevitably follows economic. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/19 "2012-08-10T18:39:54Z")
Which is ironic, given how many Republicans reject real Darwinism. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [August 10, 2012, 6:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054/20 "2012-08-10T18:45:33Z")
Science is like the Bible. You pick and choose while defending the supreme authority of the whole. The end - getting people to stop questioning - justifies the means. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/young-republicans-more-likely-to-be-socially-moderate/631054.md?page=2)