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Debate Info

13
17
Lefty goes Right Righty goes Left
Debate Score:30
Arguments:35
Total Votes:30
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Argument Ratio

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 Lefty goes Right (12)
 
 Righty goes Left (17)

Debate Creator

Amarel(5669) pic



Can you name the Leftist that used to be A Righty? What about vice verse?

Lefty goes Right

Side Score: 13
VS.

Righty goes Left

Side Score: 17
2 points

Thomas Sowell . .

Side: Lefty goes Right
1 point

Joe Lieberman was nominated for Vice President as a Democrat but abandoned the party.

Side: Lefty goes Right
JustIgnoreMe(4290) Clarified
1 point

“I’m an Independent Democrat, I never changed parties, and I’m going to vote for Hillary Clinton because I’ve known her forever. She’s strong, she’s smart, she understands national security, and what I was most impressed with during our years in the Senate together is that she reached across party lines to build coalitions and get stuff done”

https://www.foxbusiness.com/features/sen-joe-lieberman-has-made-his-2016-pick

Side: Lefty goes Right
1 point

Ronald Reagan. .

Side: Lefty goes Right
1 point

David Horowitz. .

Side: Lefty goes Right
1 point

Dave Rubin. .

Side: Lefty goes Right
marcusmoon(576) Clarified
1 point

Hi, Amarel.

Dave Rubin is an interesting example because his views did not really change. He was a classical liberal before, and is still a classical liberal. What changed is the American definitions of points on the political spectrum.

Consider how little difference there is between the positions and policies of Presidents Kennedy and Reagan.

Because being a classical liberal puts one square in line with the framers of the Constitution, that used to be the common ground for all non-radicals across the American political spectrum. Democrats and Republicans were both parties of classical liberals, but primarily disagreed on methods (government or private) and some definitional issues (whether a fetus is a person, or whether execution is cruel/unusual.) Now there are many who consider themselves non-radical leftists who reject some of the core tenets that undergird classical liberalism, like individualism (vice identity politics).

As a result, it appears that Rubin is now a conservative, based only on contrast.

In general, people who consider themselves to be moderate conservatives have remained relatively stable in their positions on the spectrum. By contrast, the majority of people who consider themselves to be moderate liberals (not leftists) have moved left on the spectrum.

What used to be the center of the American left (moderate Democrats in 1980, for example) are now considered to be conservative, and have been relegated to the left end (or center) of the Republican party. Consider that John McCain switched parties (Democrat to Republican) without changing his positions.

Trump is still typical of 1990's New York Democrats, but his remarkably moderate policies fit with those of the Republican party, and appeal to the Republican base. They are even called "right wing" and extremist by many Democrats, despite the fact that many Democrats (e.g., Schumer, both Clintons, and Obama) had identical positions during this century.

Clearly, the proportions of people on left side of the American center are skewing further and further left.

To be fair, it is hard to tell whether some of these folks actually changed their views, or if they are simply reactionarily opposing Trump.

Side: Lefty goes Right
Amarel(5669) Clarified
2 points

I don’t believe it is quite accurate to say that Rubin hasn’t changed his views. I get the distinct impression from his own explanations on his podcast that he was on the left because he is gay and assumed that was where he belonged. As he began to pay more attention, he began to realize that classical liberalism better fits his fundamental values. I believe he has changed particular positions during what he refers to as his transformation.

Beside this, I take your point. I commented to AlofRI that the people he listed as leaving the right were merely opposed to Trump. I don’t like Trump, and Al would never say I left the right.

More broadly, the leftward shift and rise of the fringes seems to be a testament to the power of media character attack. It is something of a paradox that the US appears more racist than ever as accusations of racism are a daily occurance in mainstream media, yet the charge of racism is such a potent character attack. No one seems to notice that if half the country were racist, it would not be a useful accusation.

Side: Lefty goes Right
1 point

Brandon Straka (#WalkAway). .

Side: Lefty goes Right
1 point

John Stossel. .

Side: Lefty goes Right

I started out life using my left hand when I masturbated, but as I've gotten older, I switched to my right hand. I've never looked back.

Side: Lefty goes Right
1 point

Richard Nixon .....................................................

Side: Lefty goes Right
JustIgnoreMe(4290) Clarified
1 point

Any source for this?

It looks to me like Nixon was a Republican in his first race and every one after. ref ref

Side: Lefty goes Right
Side: Lefty goes Right
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David Duke

Side: Lefty goes Right

Senator Arlen Specter

Side: Righty goes Left

Rep. Stephanie Clayton - ref

Side: Righty goes Left

Sen. Dinah Sykes - ref

Side: Righty goes Left

State Sen. Barbara Bollier - ref

Side: Righty goes Left

Rep. John Lindsay

Side: Righty goes Left

Rep. Michael Forbes

Side: Righty goes Left

Rep. Ogden Reid - ref

Side: Righty goes Left

Rep. Donald Riegle - ref

Side: Righty goes Left

Steve Schmidt - ref

Side: Righty goes Left

Rep. David Jolly - ref

Side: Righty goes Left

Sen. Lincoln Chafee

Side: Righty goes Left
Side: Righty goes Left

Sen. Jim Webb

Side: Righty goes Left

Nancy Riley

Barney Giese

Rodney Tom

Tony Edmondson

Paul R. D’Amato

James Carney

Alisa Cooper

Mark Parkinson

http://inthesetimes.com/article/2823/

Side: Righty goes Left

Henry Wallace (FDR's 2nd V.P.)

Side: Righty goes Left
1 point

Me. I used to be a Fascist and then I became a Socialist.

Side: Righty goes Left