Talk:Rockefeller Republican

Old discussion

This article needs some clarification and work, which my weary mind isn't up to at the moment. The Democratic Party reference is valid, but some fine-tuning needs to be done to explain exactly why Rockefeller Republicans are today more rare. Doesn't quite explain it correctly here. Moncrief 07:08, Apr 4, 2004 (UTC)

• Moncrief, I got your message about seeing what I could do about augmenting this page -- BTW, glad you liked my additions to the Nelson Rockefeller page. You know, I've heard my father use the term "Rockefeller Republican" several times. I think I'll start with him as a reference! :) I'll see what I can do. Take care.
• Ah, I just saw your augmentations, Moncrief, to this page...nice work. I'll see if I still have anything to add...I wonder if former New York Governor Thomas E. Dewey would qualify as a Rockefeller Republican...I think that former Connecticut congressman Lowell Weicker probably would (although he became an independent when he ran for, and got elected to, Governor of Connecticut.)

Speaking as a Republican, a large part of the reason the term "Rockefeller Republican" has fallen out of favor is related to the circumstances of Nelson's death, not the party becoming more socially conservative- I cannot think of any time in US history when having a heart attack while in bed with one's mistress would not be considered in poor taste, regardless of what party one was affiliated with.

Would anyone care to try to phrase this in a way unlikely to cause controversy?

I come from a family that's mostly Republican and traditionally I vote Republican, but consider myself independent. However I didn't know Rockefeller died that way. I think what's more important to the term declining is that he died about 26 years ago by the looks of it. The media is traditionally about appealing to the "18-34 year olds", even if we don't vote much, so it generally wants to keep terms current. One new variant I heard for awhile was "Schwarzenegger Republican", but that might fall out of fashion because of the veto. I've also heard "South Park Republicans" which strikes me as a little bit confusing and too pop-culture oriented. There's also terms like libertarian Republicans. I hadn't heard the term RINO much except among real GOP wonks or wannabe wonks. I think "Scoop Jackson" Democrat also used to be a term for Republican-leaning Democrats. Later there was "Reagan Democrat" and in time "Truman Democrat" I heard being used to mean an old-fashioned Democrat. (Morally conservative and aggressive foreign policy, but to the Left on economics or race) I think for awhile it was replaced by "Zell Miller Democrat" to mean a strongly conservative Democratic party member. Not sure what's popular right now.--T. Anthony 05:26, 10 September 2005 (UTC)

A conservative Democrat is a "blue dog". 67.10.133.121 08:01, 14 October 2005 (UTC)

This article is wrong to identify Prescott Bush with Rockefeller Republicans, because Prescott Bush was an opponent of Nelson Rockefeller and a supporter of Barry Goldwater and was a conservative. FDR MyTalk 15:41 6 August, 2006 (UTC)

Liberal v moderate

This article does seem to be a bit inconsistent as to whether Rockefeller Republicans are "liberal" or "moderate." I'm aware that the definition and distinction of the two is very vague and sometimes they are used interchangably, but maybe the article should stick to one term or explain the difference if both are considered to count as "Rockfeller Republicans." EJB341 14:08, 23 October 2007 (UTC)

Bush=Liberal

Is it really necessary to have links to articles that say these things at the bottom of the article? It seems to distract from the topic at large and seem opinionated. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 66.66.212.182 (talk) 02:37, 17 April 2008 (UTC)

I'm removing it as I can see no reason to compare Bush with a "Rockefeller Republican". --74.232.40.20 (talk) 00:02, 16 May 2009 (UTC)

I really don't think Bush was a liberal (although Nixon probably was). His record was pretty conservative. And actually he was closer to Goldwater than Rockefeller and supported Goldwater when he ran for president and considered himself a Goldwater. He even once said in a letter to Nixon reproduced in his memoirs "Rockefeller's brand of liberalism just won't hunt here" and "under no circumstances will Texas take Nelson Rockefeller" so it doesn't seem like Bush was a fan of Rockefeller either. So for what possible reason should Bush be compared to Rockefeller, Bush was a conservative, Rockefeller was a liberal, the comparison makes no sense. --198.51.130.244 (talk) 08:06, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

However, Bush is best described as a Rockefeller Republican when you look at his policies and record. -- Chester polarbear

RE: MODERATE REPUBLICANS.

Don't forget T.R. Theodore Roosevelt. He went futher than anybody at at that time with TRUST BUSTING, NATURE, AND LABOR/ MANAGER FIGHTS. He was a great person. See the Book Theodore Rex.

Robert Jones —Preceding unsigned comment added by 4.142.126.109 (talk) 05:06, 6 January 2009 (UTC)

I think this article should be deleted. The term itself is obsolete and the left-wing of the Republican Party could just be covered in an article about the Republican Party rather than getting it's own article. --192.251.163.183 (talk) 14:08, 25 January 2009 (UTC)

The term is historically notable and history is an encyclopedic term. See Mugwump and Bourbon Democrat. Granted there really ought to be a Scoop Jackson Democrat article as a counterbalance, but that's life in the Wikipedia for you. (Although I have an idea on that)--T. Anthony (talk) 09:45, 8 February 2009 (UTC)

Positions

Could someone please put what are the positions of the Rockefeller Republicans on the following issues:

Abortion

Affirmative Action

Death Penalty

Government regulation of the economy

Public education vs school vouchers

Embryonic Stem Cell Research

Energy

Euthanasia & Physician-assisted suicide

Global Warming/Climate Change

Gun Control

Health Care

Airport security

Immigration

Private Property

Religion and Government

Taxes

Same-sex Marriage

Social Security

War on Terror/Terrorism

Welfare

Thanks. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Johnny 42 (talk • contribs) 14:08, 10 April 2011 (UTC)

Johnny, the answers to some of those questions could get rather involved. But as to abortion: I've just added a brief passsage on that issue to the Nelson Rockefeller page itself. Rockefeller supported and 'moderate Republicans' in general support the right of a woman to have an abortion, although I would say the issue of the taxpayer subsidization of abortion divides them. --Christofurio (talk) 23:57, 15 April 2011 (UTC)

I just wanted to know in what ways were they still considered conservative.--24.62.109.225 (talk) 00:59, 28 July 2011 (UTC)

Then you might have tried ASKING that! --Christofurio (talk) 13:35, 5 August 2011 (UTC)

You might have tried telling me what ways instead being an asshole!--Johnny 42 (talk) 17:15, 8 August 2011 (UTC)

Okay, here's an effort. First, Rockefeller Republicans harbor no doubts about the rightness of capitalism as a system. Indeed, Nelson R. himself felt no guilt over the way his family had made its money from creating a giant petroleum corporation. In defense policy, the Rocky Repubs are often rather hawkish -- which may explain Colin Powell' use of the term as a self description. Also, they often take a "tough cop" view of law enforcement issues. Rockefeller as Governor of New York, for example, ordered the assualt that broiught a bloody end to the Attica Prison riot. In such respects as these, they may well think of themselves as appropriately staying within the Republican Party and even as having a conservative side. In future, ask what you mean to ask and not something else. --Christofurio (talk) 19:56, 19 August 2011 (UTC)

John D. Rockefeller?

I always thought the term "Rockefeller Republican" originated from the dominance of the Republican Party by the Rockefeller/Standard Oil interests in the 19th century?

A disproportionately large number of US presidents came from the geographical area around Ohio during that time, if I remember it correctly.

/Halsingpurg — Preceding unsigned comment added by Halsingpurg (talk • contribs) 14:20, 18 April 2013 (UTC)