Definition of a Liberal

The great Mark Steyn wrote recently that George Clooney, the matinee idol said that liberal had become a dirty word and he'd like to change that. Fair enough. So I hope he won't mind if I make a suggestion. The best way to reclaim liberal for the angels is to get on the right side of history -- the side the Iraqi people are on. The word liberal has no meaning if those who wear the label refuse to celebrate the birth of a new democracy after 40 years of tyranny.

That's not a bad working definition. I'm sure that FDR, Harry Truman and Jack Kennedy would endorse it.

The great Dennis Prager has a test for liberals on his web site. Dennis writes: "It is my belief that about half of the Americans who call themselves liberal do not hold the great majority of positions held by mainstream liberal institutions such as the New York Times..."

So Dennis offers up a list of 23 positions taken by liberals such as #3. Murderers should never be put to death; #14. The Israelis and Palestinians are morally equivalent; and #17. No abortions can be labeled immoral. I scored zero for 23 on the test so I must not be a liberal.

Dennis says that his list is a work in progress, so I'd like to offer up my 12 defining characteristics of an American liberal, in no particular order.

1. You feel that things are not going well in your life. (An opinion held by 15% of Americans.)

2. The National Security Agency (NSA) should not be allowed to intercept telephone conversations between terrorism suspects in other countries and people living in the United States. (23% agreed)

3. Global warming is the greatest threat facing the world. (Al Gore says so.)

4. Racism is our worst domestic problem. (Jesse Jackson says so.)

5. We must not drill for oil in the Artic Wildlife Reserve. (We mustn't disturb those caribou.)

6. The environment has been degrading for the past 30 years. (Alternatively, the standard of living of average Americans has been declining.)

7. Multiculturalism is a higher goal than assimilation for immigrants. (Corollary: all cultures are equally moral.)

8. Unions are good for public education and for government work.

9. Government should guarantee basic needs (food, shelter, health insurance) for all people.

10. It is impossible to increase Federal government revenue by cutting taxes across the board. (No Laffer curve for them.)

11. The Constitution contains the right to an abortion. (Disguised as a right to privacy, flowing from the 4th Amendment's protection against unreasonable searches)

12. American opposition to an American war is patriotic. (Believed by the entire moonbat wing of the Democratic Party).

How many of these liberal positions do you hold? Are you a Moonbat, a Lefty, a Progressive....or a Conservative like moi?

10-12: Moonbat (eg Gore, Kerry, Kennedy, Dean, Pelosi)
5-9: Lefty (eg both Clintons, Schwartzenneger)
1-4: Progressive (eg Lieberman, McCain)
zero: Conservative