What's the difference between a "conservative" and a republican?

Is there one? If so...what is it? I keep hearing "I'm a conservative, not a republican". What the hell does that mean exactly?? Please be specific in the differences.

 

Conservative is an ideology and Republican is a party that is supposed to represent that.

The problem is that we in the republican party cannot agree on what it means to be

Conservative.

 

An ideology of what exactly? I see little difference between the two terms, and even less people that can elaborate on the differences. I think they're the same.

 

I'd define the left as anything that deals with limiting economic liberty, expanding the state, and eroding our cultural values. The right is just everything else. The right primarily serves as a buffer against the decay of the left. That's how we can have Rick Santorum and Ron Paul in the same party.

 

Well, you sure cleared that up. Anybody else? Besides being in opposition to everything left, what is the difference?

 

The obvious difference is a republican is a member of a political party. Conservative refers to a stance on an issue. You can be a republican and be liberal, and you can be a democrat and be a conservative.

 

The GOP consists of social conservatives, capitalists, classical liberals, neocons, and moderates. There are even progressives and protectionists in the GOP.

Conservatism is an ideology. I would define conservatism as small government and pro liberty. Other people think conservatism is defined by nebulous social issues. But it's a broad and ill defined term.

It's better to use narrower more specific terms, like social conservative or free market conservative, when trying to make a point because there is a huge difference. A social conservative who believes that addressing illegal immigration, who favors entitlements, and believes in economic protectionism probably has nothing in common with a conservative like myself. Well, neither of us will be voting for Obama.

 

The same difference between a dog breeder and a kennel club member. A dog breeder is not necessarily a kennel club member and vice versa. It isn't really too hard to figure out, unless one is apt to generalize people and is low on critical thinking skills.

 

Being one doesn't mean you're the other. Republicans can be conservative (just as a Democrat could be), but many mainstream politicians I would label more liberal than anything. One is a party, one is an ideology.

 

Conservatism is a leaning and belief that things are best the way they began. Conservatism in america attempts to promote a strict adherence to the constitution as it was written. To determine what is strict adherence to the constitution some invoke the actual wording, while others speak of what the founders intended. Both democrats and republicans have claimed to be conservatives. Due to it being easily interpreted in various ways, both side can do so with ease. National sentiment in america makes the term conservative a very sought after label to claim for politicians.

Republicans today rest on the principles of small government, fiscal responsibilty, strong moral values, and a strong national defense. If a politician or other claiming to be a republican but in others opinion sway from the aforementioned principles, the politician may be called a rino (republican in name only). Democrats will be called blu dogs. Liberal will be a more common label. Liberal (not to be confused with the classic american version) suggests that one cares not about the constitution or considers it a living breathing document to be changed with the times.

I hope this allows for more clarity.

 

If that explanation is so, then why did Bush circumvent the Constitution with the Patriot Act? Does this mean Bush is not conservative? Bush is a rino? Ok.


So....a conservative wouldn't want to see slavery end? Wouldn't that be leaving things "the way they began"? Also, would this mean that a republican has to be for a strong national defense? So Ron Paul is not a republican? Having a strong national defense and fiscal responsibility weren't consistent when the right's last POTUS was in there. I'm confused.

Answer me this. Bush a rino? PinkSlip Romney is what? Doesn't a conservative always vote republican? Also, wouldn't a conservative always vote against a democrat?
I'm sorry...the two groups sound very similar. One is socks. The other is a sock.

 

There is no Republican, that I have ever met, that was a conservative.

 

Many republicans have called bush liberal or a rino for several reasons.

The OP proposed a question which was answered, it seems as though you now want to squabble over constitutionality and the various interpretations. Thoughts reagrding who is a true republican and who is not are subjective and will change from person to person. I answered the question, but if this thread would have been called "who is a rino?" then I wouldnt have viewed it.

 

Republicans have some hope of winning? Conservatives want to go back to their rightful King (well, it's a Queen at the moment, but they are not big readers)? Republicans prefer proper tea to teabags? Conservatives want to chage everything? Nah - it's the racism that matters. The Republicans believe that no-one with African ancestry should be elected President, the conservatives that no-one of such a sort WAS!

 

You have to understand that there is a split in the Republican Party right now and both are trying to claim the term "conservative". The establishment Republicans, and what the term is commonly associated with are neo-conservatives. Then there is the paleo-conservative and libertarian faction, who claim to be the real conservatives because they see the neo-conservatives as expensive, big government warmongers.

Also you can technically be a conservative without being a Republican. Being a Republican just means that you're a registered member of the Republican party. You can be a left-wing progressive like Mitt Romney (not conservative at all) and be registered as a Republican.

 

Nowadays, a lot of self-professed conservatives are actually Libertarian.

If you consistently support smaller government, in terms of economics, social policy, and foreign policy, then you are more Libertarian than conservative or Republican.

Conservatives in the mainstream sense don't really support smaller government when it comes to social policy and foreign policy.

 

So, this "I'm not a republican, I'm a conservative" business, that "conservatives" want to distance themselves from republicans? True? Why or why not?

 

Me personally? I do distance myself from the Republican Party. As I said before, conservatism is an ideology and the GOP is a party, one does not mean you are the other.

 

The dictionary definition is one that seeks to preserve existing conditions, institutions, etc., or to restore traditional ones, and to limit change.

The label that many political scientists give to Conservatives is one that believes government should not interfere in economic affairs, yet interfere in social affairs. However, many Libertarians (or Ron Paul supporters) will argue that they are true Conservatives, yet they are against government interference in economic and social affairs. Therefore, the term "Conservative" is an oversimplified political term.

 

Conservatives are people who have the believe that change must come slowly, or, if they are far righters, that it should never happen.

 

So republicans are different than conservatives. So are the conservatives the "non racist" republicans? (IE..South Carolina). Jerry Falwell for example. Was he a republican, or a conservative? What does the right wing want to be their POTUS? A strict republican, or a conservative? (or don't they know?)

 

Well, a lot of Republican voters would prefer a return to the Coolidge style of conservatism.

They're more consistently small government than the theocratic Bachmann types or the warmongering neocons.