Is Free Republic becoming increasingly hostile towards Social Conservatives?

self ^ | self

[watsonfellow]

In the past few months I have noticed that the posters on Free Republic have become more and more hostile towards social conservatism.

And I do not mean indifference (less pro life threads etc) but an outright hostility at pro life and other social conservative causes.

Am I alone in thinking this?

In particular, notice the responses to the thread concerning the recent request by social conservative groups to the FCC to reign in Fox's racey primetime programs.

I wonder if this is becoming only a haven for hedonists and libertarians, and if so, perhaps it would be better for social conservatives to find their own site.

[Bella_Bru]

Bump to what chookter said!

[breakem]

Based on the continuing homo-bashing threads and yesteraday's pornography thread and the religious threads, I'd say you doest protest too much.

PS: some of us grew up with Buckley and Goldwater, before Falwell and Robertson, and we believe in the freedoms expressed in the declaration and the constitution. We believe government should not stand on the side of the road and point fingers at sinners. This is the traditional meaning of conservative before it became a refuge for some religious who want their idea of sin prohibited by the government.

If you want solace, flag cultural jihad and others of his ilk. They're still here in force.

[Snuffington]

In the past few months I have noticed that the posters on Free Republic have become more and more hostile towards social conservatism.

If there has been such a trend, I attribute it to this: A lot of social conservatives left FR after the Buchanan Brigade debacle, while most of the socially liberal libertarians stayed around. That skewed the social conservative / social liberal ratio on a lot of threads.

Additionally, a lot of social conservatives on FR still tie their conservatism to causes like opposition to Bush and the Republican Party. That's obviously going to annoy most Freepers, who are largely Republicans and Bush supporters.

[Djarum]

Boohoo, you don't share my belief system, get lost.

No thanks.

[watsonfellow]

Two things which seem to stoke the anger of most posters here; social conservatism and any criticism at all of St. GW Bush, blessed be his name.

[grania]

Everyone accusing everyone else of being a dem or something else.

Actually, it was like that before the GWB nomination, with those supporting someone else really having to put up with a lot. And remember the Elian controversy...whew!!

I find that the controversy is healthy. When one's ideas are challenged, it forces one to think about his/her beliefs.

About the only things we seem to agree on totally is that Hillary is really, really disliked.

[Psalm 73]

Oh, you mean politically active Christians?
The whole world is hostile to us - but then that is what Jesus promised to those who follow Him.
We enter in through the narrow gate, my friend.
(And remember Ephesians 6:10-19). <><

[HairOfTheDog]

The problem is that many are looking for a fight rather than a discussion - Some are here for flame wars as entertainment. There is a not-so-subtle difference between trying to win the hearts and minds of people through ideas, and simply trying to win.

JMHO

[dead]

perhaps it would be better for social conservatives to find their own site.

Kitchen too hot-diddly-ot for you, Ned?

[Bella_Bru]

How is it conservative at all to ask for BIGGER government?

[toenail]

"How very strange. The social conservatives want to use the power of nanny government to do the job THEY should be doing, which is to monitor and turn off objectionable television."

sinkspur? Is that really you? There is hope. Thank ye gods, there is hope.

[Dales]

I have found that I must have some contrarian blood in me.

The more rabid Libertarians who have been coming on strong lately, who seem to me to have more in common with those who were running the streets of New York last weekend, have caused me to solidify my conservative views and to soften my libertarian leanings.

And the rabid paleos who keep popping up like self-parodies have caused me to move away from whatever leanings I had in their direction.

They do make quite a mess of this place though.

[f.Christian]

Proof... poof!!

[watsonfellow]

If you read Buckley you would realize that he is indeed a social conservative.

[L,TOWM]

OOOOOHHH YEAHHHH!!! I like it. As a follower of Christ, there is much that I find objectionable on TV, in movies, and in magazines. That's why I don't watch, go to, or buy the stuff I object to.

I can't figure out why I need to be feeding people in jail though, if all they wanted to do was "lookit' some dirty pitchers".

[exmarine]

There are many people on FR who claim to be conservatives but are pro-abortion and pro-gay, et al. It seems there are quite a few libertarians on FR who believe they are conservatives but really don't know the meaning of conservatism. Conservatism without the social aspect is tantamount to empty-headed libertarianism (restrain the spending and restrictions on individual liberty). Libertarianism and objective moral standards do not seem to mix very well, but I am sure there are different strains of libertarianism and some probably do believe in moral standards - they just can't explain where the moral standards come from.

[real saxophonist]

Why don't you learn the proper category to post vanities, idiot!

...sorry, was that hostile?...

8~)

[Ol' Sparky]

Sadly, Free Republic, and likely the conservative movement as whole, is becoming infected with the libertarian cancer. Not only is there hostility toward social conservatives and Christians, but this web site probably has become one of the leaders in calling for drug legalization. You'd think one was corresponding with Joycelyn Elders or leftovers from the hippie generation. And, very rarely, can someone post an article critical of homosexual behavior or abortion with being attack by a large number of people at this site. It's also become a haven for evolutionists seeking to peddle pseudo-science that is on a higher level of absurdity than global warming.

[Cogadh na Sith]

social conservatism

What's your definition? Did you even bother to read my post or is that just a 'canned reply' that you started this thread to use?

[dighton]

Although I expect tons of flaming for this....

IMO, expect and want.