The Center-Right Myth

We have been hearing pundits saying this is a center-right country on television for the last couple of weeks, despite all available evidence (check out this video for a sample). Newsweek even did a whole cover story on it. CNN even did a poll a week after the election to ask people if they wanted the country to head in a Democratic direction. We already had that poll -- it was called Election Day!

What is it going to take to get through the dunderheads in DC -- this is not a center-right country! In the last two elections the Democrats picked up over fifty seats in the House. They also took commanding control of the Senate and have now taken the White House. How much clearer did the American people have to be?

There is a reason for this talking point that America is center-right -- it is a way for the Republicans to control the agenda even though they have been voted out of power. It is a warning to Democrats by the DC establishment -- you better not actually be Democrats.

They would have to be foolish to fall into this trap. So, it is likely that they will fall into this trap. You know how the Democrats are; they never miss an opportunity to miss an opportunity. The right time to buckle is always now. They're already doing it. After huffing and puffing, it looks like they are going to let Joe Lieberman keep his chairmanship of the Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee.

Someone needs to send the Democrats a memo that they won the election. But the media is sending them the exact opposite one -- you better behave like Republicans because... this is a center-right country.

By the way, one more thing -- this has never been a center-right country. Of course, there are pendulum swings in the political spectrum and the country is more conservative at times and more progressive at other times. But overall, we built the United Nations, we started the idea of human rights, we expanded voting rights and civil rights for everybody, we spread the idea of individual rights throughout the world, and we even rebuilt our enemies after World War II. It is no exaggeration to say that America is one of the most progressive countries in the history of the world.

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Comments

[DavidBlackburn]

It's the center that has moved. It's called progress!

[RobLTaylor]

The U.S. is always a "Centre" country - just like every country. Every country's political centre is determined by the balance of its people's opinions. It is only when political leanings are considered from an international or historical perspective that a country can be anything but "Centre".

As a Canadian, I won't try to speak to your history better than Americans can, but I can provide a bit of an international perspective:

As Euranya suggests, compared to Europe, America is definitely a centre-right country. When compared to Canada, America is also a centre-right country (at least!). If you took Obama's policy positions and tried to align them with a Canadian party, he would line up most closely with our Conservative party (our furthest right-leaning party). And even they don't dare suggest anything but universal public health care! The Republicans wouldn't even find a Canadian equivalent, falling off our spectrum entirely (the defunct Canadian Alliance, perhaps).

Now its not as clean as all that, of course (the Conservatives currently have a minority government and the Prime Minister and much of his cabinet are former Canadian Alliance members), but with over 60% of Canadians voting for a party further left on the spectrum than the Conservatives - to say your country is "centre-right" by Canadian standards is accurate, if not an understatement.

[Mangler]

I'm with Rob on this one. If we're going to talk about where one sits on the political spectrum, it's worth comparing oneself internationally.

Don't get me wrong - I love my American brothers and sisters - but there are significant portions of your society (in many cases constituting a majority) that still make you a fairly conservative nation. When the tag "socialist" was applied to Obama, right-wingers frothed and freaked out and Dems said "no way!" If you were a comfortable centre-left nation, many Dems would have replied with "yeah, so what?" But they didn't because that would be an election-loser.

Prop 8 was supported in California! In California! The ghost of Harvey Milk is crying.

Also, there appears to be an ongoing struggle with secularism. What if Obama had said: "I don't believe in god" or, more appropriately: "I won't participate in a 'faith debate' because my faith is personal while our government is secular"?

Finally, the one thing I'll dispute with Rob - that 60% you quote includes the Liberal vote. The Liberals aren't centre-left - they just appear that way relative to the insane right-wing Tories.

[Thecuddlyleft]

well that just seals it. i'm moving to canada!

[KQuarksSuperKollider]

This is a center left country and always has been from the start. The whole center right non-sense started when the right wing demonized the word liberal. But when you look at the number of people in office not just as president but all offices across the land this country has been dominated by Democrats. Democrats had at one point had the house for something like 40 + years straight and dominated the legislature for the last 100 years.

[NOLIESPLEASE]

If you want to know where America stands....just look how much porn is sold in the US. The most per capita in the world.

You either have the biggest liers in the world or you are a centre left progressive country who pretents to act one way and talk another way.

[Thecuddlyleft]

it's both noliesplease. Most are hypocrtes that use morality and a badge and not something to truly follow. i think the country is full of repressed conservatives that pretend to be one way while acting another,

[Anciano]

Absolutely. Look at this maps, they show the true preonderance of Obama voters even in red states.

http://www-personal.umich.edu/~mejn/election/2008/

[GregorZap]

Calm down. The media is on its way to oblivion. The web has preempted their contrived dialogues and exchanged them with real conversation. It's mostly adults here on the internet with a lot of childish behavior. Be that as it may, the kids get called out and things are usually boiled down to the real issue. Obama is cicumventing the media with his YouTube weekly "fireside chats". It's a gimmick FDR used to get around the twitsting, spinning media and talk directly to the American people. It worked then and it will work now. If he tries to B$ the people, Obama will get called out on it immediately.

The country has moved to the left and we are leaving the MSM behind.

[jinxed]

Its about time, too! I'm tired of corporate journalism. Might as well call up any of the big corporations or Wall Street and ask what the CEOs think because that is what the MSM will report. MSM is no longer unbiased!

[xstevejx]

I'm an independent (NEVER have been a member of either major party) and don't mind the "center-right" evaluation...if you consider the "right" part to mean fiscally so. I lean left socially and right fiscally...but when put into a shoving match between them, social values usually win. To me, this country IS about center socially and somewhat right fiscally, so the label kinda fits. It's just a relative term...it depends on how each person considers it, but shouldn't really be condemned as a LIE or considered TRUTH to everyone as a whole.

[LeeCalif]

The criminals are trying to control the dialogue.

Too bad, Harry Reid would never educate himself on this tact.
He's the leader of the Senate, yet he stumbles over his words and whispers his sentences.
When he gets angry, instead of being passionately involved, he censors himself saying, 'that's a word I cannot say.'
The leader of the Senate. Pathetic.

[Snagsby]

"We started the idea of human rights, we expanded voting rights and civil rights for everybody, we spread the idea of individual rights throughout the world..."

Uh, not quite: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_rights

[DaCoach]

Why must we insist on labeling every issue as right or left? That has led to the lack of real debate over the policies which impact our country. It's time we refused to allow ourselves to be lead around by "spokesmen" who turn into "spinsmen" when questioned by the media. And, in order to maintain their seat at the table, those media people all to often refuse to insist on specific answers to questions.

Go along and get along as a policy does not serve the needs of the public.

[FilthyHarry]

Lets be clear. Its not a myth. Its a lie.

[OneLessReason]

"They would have to be foolish to fall into this trap. So, it is likely that they will fall into this trap. "

I was thinking the same thing when i was reading the article....hahaha

[GravitonX]

The expectation of most of Obama's supporters is that he will institute a number of policies with regard to the economy, immigration, and civil rights that otherwise would be called Liberal. Trust me, his base didn't give him an overwhelming landslide in order for him to become another Bush or Reagan.

[Deus Angelus]

What world do you live in man? He got more electoral votes than Bush did, he got a higher percentage of the popular vote than Bush got? What more do you need?

Why is it that if Republicans just edge out they claim a mandate and every time we democrats beat you we have to thread cautiously?

Come on man try again.

[tonyconti75]

No this country isn't center-right. It's conservative. And Obama basically ran as one every chance he got. This country hasn't elected a president who talked like a liberal since Carter, and it never will. Palin will be president in 4 years. Mark my words!

[spartanmom]

Conservatism is about conserving MY money MY position MY power

America is actually very very liberal. Just as true Christianity is very very liberal.
Take care of one another. Treat others as you would be treated. Pray for your enemies.

[lemonyashes]

Liberal=Generous and Conservative=Limit

[GravitonX]

Apparently, the country elected someone who talks like a "socialist."

No one will remember Palin in 4 years.

[huffity]

abortion as a political issue continues to suck all the air out of many political campaigns, while europe seems to regard this as a settled matter. american bishops made a concerted effort to get catholics to vote for the "pro-life candidate" for president w/o naming any names (wink-wink), while over in rome, just down the street from the pope, italy provides free abortions to any woman who wants one for any reason, as part of their healthcare system. i think this plays a huge part in many people identifying themselves as "conservative", and voting w/ the right. i look forward to the day this litmus-test issue fades away and disappears. unfortunately, i think i'll be dead first.

[donndublin]

You must be referring to the Media. It is extremely left leaning. Rupert Murdock has a lot to say about the MSM.

http://news.cnet.com/8301-10787_3-10098194-60.html

I would love to see your readers to comment on this blog. These post-Watergate journalists are awash in unjustifiable righteous indignity stomps with an arrogant certitude through the swamp of ambiguity where they live.

[Forester]

Whach u taknbout?

"Nattering nabobs of negativism"

[donndublin]

You might try speaking english and cut the gutter talk.

[derekc06]

ok...