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A '''neoconservative''' (also spelled "neo-conservative"; colloquially, ''neocon'') in American politics is someone presented as a [[conservative]] but who actually favors big government, interventionalism, and a hostility to religion in politics and government.  The word means "newly conservative," and thus formerly [[liberal]].  A neocon is a [[RINO Backer]], and like RINOs does not accept most of the important principles in the Republican Party platform.  '''''Neocons do not participate in the [[March for Life]], stand up for traditional marriage, or advocate other [[conservative]] social values'''''.

A '''neoconservative''' (also spelled "neo-conservative"; colloquially, ''neocon'') in American politics is someone presented as a [[conservative]] but who actually favors big government, interventionalism, and a hostility to religion in politics and government.  The word means "newly conservative," and thus formerly [[liberal]].  A neocon is a [[RINO Backer]], and like RINOs does not accept most of the important principles in the Republican Party platform.  '''''Neocons do not participate in the [[March for Life]], stand up for traditional marriage, or advocate other [[conservative]] social values'''''.

Many older neocons had been liberals in their youth and admired President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], while younger neocons are more economically conservative than Roosevelt but like to downplay the social issues.  In 2010 the highest priority of the neoconservatives was to increase military action by the [[United States]] in the [[Middle East]] and [[Afghanistan]], and to expand it to an American confrontation against [[Iran]]; in 2011 their goals include supporting a military attack on [[Libya]], continuing the [[Afghanistan War]] indefinitely, and even suggesting military action against [[Syria]].  There is a revolving door between some neocons and highly paid positions in the defense industry, which may explain the constant neoconservative demands for more wars.

Many older neocons had been liberals in their youth and admired President [[Franklin D. Roosevelt]], while younger neocons are more economically conservative than Roosevelt but like to downplay the social issues.  In 2010 the highest priority of the neoconservatives was to increase military action by the [[United States]] in the [[Middle East]] and [[Afghanistan]], and to expand it to an American confrontation against [[Iran]]; in 2011 their goals include supporting a military attack on [[Libya]], continuing the [[Afghanistan War]] indefinitely, and even suggesting military action against [[Syria]].  There is a revolving door between some neocons and highly paid positions in the defense industry, which may explain the constant neoconservative demands for more wars.

Neoconservatives were prominent in the [[George W. Bush]] administration by supporting an interventionist domestic policy they called 'compassionate conservatism' and a strong foreign policy, and especially favored the [[Iraq War]] and its efforts to spread democracy worldwide.

Neoconservatives were prominent in the [[George W. Bush]] administration by supporting an interventionist domestic policy they called 'compassionate conservatism' and a strong foreign policy, and especially favored the [[Iraq War]] and its efforts to spread democracy worldwide.

==Dual origins==

==Dual origins==

[[Image:Kris.gif|thumb|right|Irving Kristol was dubbed by many as "the Godfather" of Neo-conservatism]]

[[Image:Kris.gif|thumb|right|Irving Kristol was dubbed by many as "the Godfather" of Neo-conservatism]]

One major strand of Neoconservatism emerged from a group of New York intellectuals, many of whom attended City College of New York in the late 1930s, a group that includes [[Irving Kristol]], [[Daniel Bell]], [[Seymour Martin Lipset]] and [[Nathan Glazer]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Neoconservative-Revolution-Jewish-Intellectuals-Shaping/dp/0521836565/ref=sr_1_3/102-2076504-6567320?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175142752&sr=8-3 The Neoconservative Revolution: Jewish Intellectuals and the Shaping of Public Policy, Murray Friedman, 2005]</ref>  Many of this group came to despise the counterculture of the 1960s and what they felt was a growing "[[anti-Americanism]]" among many baby boomers.  During the [[Cold War]] era, most vigorously opposed the Stalinist regime.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/magazine/neo.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=4126fa38fefd80de&ex=1298005200 After Neoconservatism, February 19, 2006]</ref>  Kristol described a neoconservative as a '''"liberal mugged by reality"'''.  

One major strand of Neoconservatism emerged from a group of New York intellectuals, many of whom attended City College of New York in the late 1930s, a group that includes [[Irving Kristol]], [[Daniel Bell]], [[Seymour Martin Lipset]] and [[Nathan Glazer]].<ref>[http://www.amazon.com/Neoconservative-Revolution-Jewish-Intellectuals-Shaping/dp/0521836565/ref=sr_1_3/102-2076504-6567320?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1175142752&sr=8-3 The Neoconservative Revolution: Jewish Intellectuals and the Shaping of Public Policy, Murray Friedman, 2005]</ref>  Many of this group came to despise the counterculture of the 1960s and what they felt was a growing "[[anti-Americanism]]" among many baby boomers.  During the [[Cold War]] era, most vigorously opposed the Stalinist regime.<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/19/magazine/neo.html?pagewanted=1&ei=5090&en=4126fa38fefd80de&ex=1298005200 After Neoconservatism, February 19, 2006]</ref>  Kristol described a neoconservative as a '''"liberal mugged by reality"'''.