Why is it difficult to find a moderate candidate?

Question

i.e. someone who is neither fully liberal (left-wing) nor fully conservative (right-wing)?

Answer 1

Actually there are more of them out there than you think.

Most of the candidates are trying to satisfy either a Conservative or Liberal base, but very few are hardliners on either side.

Answer 2

I think they are out there, but it is sometimes difficult for them to get out of the primaries because the extreme left or right seem get the candidate they want often. But I don't think Bill Clinton was liberal for example. He was very moderate and that is why he was successful.

In this campaign the Republicans have three maybe four moderates that may run: Fred Thompson (which would be their best choice), Chuck Heigal (my favorite on the Republican side, but Conservatives hate him so there is no way he would get the nod), and John McCain (He's catered to much to the right lately thus losing respect of moderates). Rudy Guliani is considered a moderate, but I think he has extreme views that just fall into either the liberal or conservative camp (pro-choice vs. security above civil liberties).

The Democrats have some moderates as well. Personally I think Hillary Clinton is very moderate, but the right has been very successful at painting her as liberal. (But they are successful at doing that to anybody). If Gore ran, he falls into the same camp as Clinton, but is also painted as liberal. Wesley Clark would make a great president and is very moderate. Joe Biden has tremendous experience and is moderate. Bill Richardson is moderate as well. I don't know O Bama yet.

Hopefully both candidates will be moderate in this election, because, like you, I am tired of the extreme.

Answer 3

Because there is no one who is moderate. You either like raising taxes on the backs of the working people and giving it to those who are not productive citizens or you want to lower taxes on those who want to work for a living. You either think it is murder to have the head of a baby pulled out just enough to stab into the base of its skull and kill it before pulling it completely out (partial birth abortion), or you belive that child has a right to live. You either think that after the bombing of the USS Cole, the first truck bombing of the WTC or 911, we have a right and an obligation to go after these muslim extremeists where ever they are in the world or you think we should surrender to a bunch of thugs in man-dresses. I could go on and on but the fact is there ain't no moderates....

Answer 4

Bill Richardson

Answer 5

I think it once was that way, it seems that recent issues such as abortion, global warming and homosexual marriage polarize people. Issues most people are just not gray on.