Is the statement Liberals are against Family Values a misconception?

Question

Most liberal parents (like most conservatives) spend most of their days thinking not about politics but about how to raise good kids. It's probably not worthwhile to try to figure out who is better at it but these statistics ought to at least pour cold water on conservative self righteousness on this point: of the 10 states with the highest divorce rates, ten of them voted for Bush. Of the 10 states with the lowest divorce rates, 9 of them voted for Kerry. And the state with the lowest divorce rate in the nation? Massachusetts.

Answer 1

It's all part of the GOP's rhetoric spewing machine. To stand up and champion family, morals, values, and America is to imply that your rivals do not champion such things. Sadly, that's all some people with half a hemisphere need. It's like championing oxygen, cute kittens, warm puppies, and safe drinking water. No one is against it, but by espousing it for a platform, you imply that no one else outside your party supports it.

I would also point out that for all of Hillary and Bill's marital challenges, they've stuck together. I think Ronald Reagan, Newt Gingrich and Bob Dole (for starters) have been married at least twice?

Anyway, your stat illustrates that in the game of politics you don't have to actually practice what you preach. Just preach and the half-wits will come a'runnin'.........to the chortling ranks of the self-righteous yet often hypocritical Republican Party.

Ooowwweeee! Look at'em thumbs-down from the neo-cons! Think we touched a nerve? :)

Answer 2

Sorry, sweetcakes, but honoring family values and divorce rates are not comparable things. Should we also look at crime and out-of-wedlock births? Those would probably tell an interesting blue-red tale, too.

It's not that individual Democrat / liberals are against family values - it is the policies that are enacted by Democrat / liberals that are. You see, the major difference is conservatives think that it ISN'T the government's business how they raise, educate and discipline their children, and that the government uses a heavy hand insinuating themselves into the privacy of family life. It isn't conservative policies that got us to this point.

Answer 3

Is it better for two people to stay married and display hatred and disrespect toward eachother in front of the children than to move on and live healthy, productive lives apart? Which do you think would be better for the children involved?

Family values have NOTHING to do with divorce rates...just as family is not a label that should be pasted on a married couple with children.

Answer 4

Red (conservative) States typically have higher crime rates, more pregnant un-wed teenagers, higher percentages of welfare recipients, higher rates of divorce, higher rates of illiteracy, lower standards of living, lower scholastic scores, lower levels of education, receive more federal tax dollars than they put in, and the list goes on and on.

They are the dregs of America. And they know it.

They also have more guns, meth labs, liquor stores, executions, and churches. An interesting combo to say the least.

Their phony self righteousness makes me want to puke!

I put em in their place every chance I get when they snot up about "values".

They'd be a third world society without the West coast and North East to leech off of.

Answer 5

Yes, its a right wing talkiing point spewed everyday on air waves across Ameirca. And people believe it. I often wonder if the far right spent as much time and energy on divorce rates as they do on gay marriage, then perhaps the divorce rate wouldn't as astronomical is it is. Just a thought.

Exellent question Michelle.

Answer 6

Your stats don't really prove anything. But, I think both Libs and Cons are concerned about family values. Cons seem to push their version of it harder and also attempt to once again demonize libs for their view of "family values". Again, I think most on both sides are concerned about family values.

I think many cons are too busy judging people about their "status" or "lot in life" rather than observing how any given "family" unit lives its life. We don't always choose our circumstances, sometimes they choose us and people have to deal with them the best they can.

Answer 7

I don't know, but I'd sure like to see marriage rates versus not actually getting married in those states, just for comparison purposes.

Answer 8

What does one statistic about divorce prove? It doesn't even mean that the people who divorced voted for Bush.

Conservatives stand for traditional American values like treating others with respect and not shouting them down because you don't agree with them, making people earn what they get instead of stealing money from hard-working people and handing it over to slackers, and not choosing their words like a lawyer. (Remember Slick Willy asking for the definition of "is?")

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Answer 9

it might be a misconception, but it is so as a result of lies told by the Republican Party.

Answer 10

Yes, and God knows that Massachusetts is a shining example for the rest of us. After all, they keep reelecting Ted Kennedy, a murderer, and they also reelected Gerry Studds, a known pedophile.