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| − | Moderates were a middle-of-the-road political faction or group during the French Revolution. The French National Assembly established a constitutional monarchy and, in 1791, adopted a new constitution that created a Legislative Assembly. Three factions quickly formed in the new Legislative Assembly, known as the [[radicals]] (liberals), moderates (centrists) and [[conservatives]], similar to those political movements today in the United States.
| + | The term '''moderate''' is used to describe a political view that is neither consistently [[conservative]] nor [[liberal]], but occupies either the [[centrist|center]] or near center of the [[political spectrum]]. Moderates in the [[United States]] are less likely to support radical, [[left-wing]], or [[right-wing]] policies than Republicans or Democrats but may support a mixture of policies put forth by the two parties. |
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| − | The three factions sat in different sections of the large assembly hall, with the [[radicals]] (liberals) sitting on the left, the moderates sitting in the center, and the [[conservatives]] sitting on the right. That gave rise to the left-center-right terminology that we still use today in the United States to describe these three political groups. | + | == History == |
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| | + | Historically in [[France]], '''moderates''' were a middle-of-the-road political faction or group during the French Revolution. The French National Assembly established a constitutional monarchy and, in 1791, adopted a new constitution that created a Legislative Assembly. Three factions quickly formed in the new Legislative Assembly, known as the [[radicals]] (liberals), moderates (centrists) and [[Conservatives (1700s French Political party)|Conservatives]], similar to those political movements today in the United States. |
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| | + | The three factions sat in different sections of the large assembly hall, with the [[radicals]] (liberals) sitting on the left, the moderates sitting in the center, and the Conservatives sitting on the right. That gave rise to the left-center-right terminology that we still use today in the United States to describe these three political groups. |
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| | + | The number of people who consider themselves moderates in the United States historically outweighed those who consider themselves liberal or conservative, and that number remained constant since the middle 1970s.<ref>http://www.harrisinteractive.com/harris_poll/index.asp?PID=444</ref> A more recent [[Gallup]] poll from 2009 showed that that has changed, though, and more people identify as conservative.<ref>https://www.gallup.com/poll/120857/Conservatives-Single-Largest-Ideological-Group.aspx</ref> |
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| | + | ==Misuse of terminology== |
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| | + | [[RINO]]s will sometimes refer to themselves as "moderate conservatives". In an attempt to deceive viewers into believing that their beliefs are in line with what "average" Americans believe, the [[liberal media]] will also use the term "'''moderate'''" as a more popular label for themselves and their friends. Often, moderate politicians accept [[abortion]] and [[same-sex marriage]]. |
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| | + | ==Quotes about Moderates== |
| | + | "I would remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me remind you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue."-[[Barry Goldwater]] |
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| | + | ==[[God]]'s position on "Moderates"== |
| | + | "“‘I know your works: you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were either cold or hot! So, because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth.-[[Revelation]] 3:15-16 <ref>http://www.openbible.info/topics/lukewarm_christians</ref> (see also [[Revelation 1-7 (Translated)#Chapter 3|Conservapedia Bible Project]]) |
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| | + | ==See also== |
| | + | *[[Centrist]] |
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| | + | ==References== |
| | + | <references/> |
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| | + | [[Category:Political Terms]] |