Why So Many Conservatives Accept the WC or Just Don't Care

[Richard Smith]

In my experience, in general, conservative folks tend to accept the word of authority more readily than liberal folks do.

That may have been once true in the 1960s but no longer.  A sea change with liberals now espousing obedience to governmental authority or else.  It's the conservatives who are questioning what they have been told by the government.

[John Iacoletti]

Here's a fellow who's to the extreme right of most American conservatives. Yet he's an "Independent." Next he'll be telling us he's a "Skeptic" rather than a JFK conspiracy theorist.

The distinction is not difficult. It you have a conspiracy theory, then you are a conspiracy theorist. If you question unsubstantiated claims made by pundits or authority figures, then you’re a skeptic.

The LNers don't proclaim the WR as if it's Gospel. Whether Right or Left, LNers follow the evidence if it's better

LNers believe whatever is necessary to keep their myth alive.

[Michael Walton]

Just for the fun of it, let's just briefly consider another case. Let's consider the OJ Simpson case. Conservatives and libs alike here - what are your thoughts on the OJ case? Did the prosecutor or defense get it right? Was the jury correct in acquitting him? And whatever your response is, why do you think so?

[Michael Walton]

Just for the fun of it, let's just briefly consider another case. Let's consider the OJ Simpson case. Conservatives and libs alike here - what are your thoughts on the OJ case? Did the prosecutor or defense get it right? Was the jury correct in acquitting him? And whatever your response is, why do you think so?

Bumping this because no one really ever wants to discuss the merits. It's always you say-I say on here and it's pretty xxxxxxxxx boring.

[Joe Elliott]

A JFK conspiracy will always appeal most to both the far right and the far left. Because an extreme CT position will maintain that democracy was taken over in 1963 and we have since been controlled by a deep state, which uses the threat of assassination to maintain control of the government. If one can get people to believe this, their support for democracy will be greatly diminished. From there it is only a small step to say that no only does a deep state control us today but that a democracy will always be vulnerable to being taken over by such a conspiracy. If this is the case, one might as well accept an authoritarian government, which at least does not rule in secret. Both the far left and the far right would like his, provided the right people are left in charge.

It is always possible for a supporter of democracy to believe in a conspiracy. Particularly if they don’t hold an extreme view, that the conspirators took permanent control of the government in 1963 and have control to this very day. But the CT position will always be most appealing to those on the extreme left and the extreme right and who, deep down, don’t really believe in democracy.

[John Iacoletti]

One can equality be a nonpartisan skeptic when questioning what is for the most part the crackpot absurdity of JFK conspiracy theorists.

Spoken like a true conspiracy theorist. LNers are a dangerous monolithic lot to be painted and smeared with a broad brush.

Sounds like what you are doing with “conspiracy theorist”.

[Michael T. Griffith]

In my experience, in general, conservative folks tend to accept the word of authority more readily than liberal folks do.

I think that greatly depends on who or what the authority is. Conservatives tend to readily--and often uncritically--accept the word of authority when it's in the form of the military, the police, an intelligence agency, or an elected official whom they like. On the other hand, liberals tend to readily--and often uncritically--accept the word of authority when it's in the form of the traditional news media, liberal foreign governments, and elected officials whom they like.

[Michael T. Griffith]

Here's a fellow who's to the extreme right of most American conservatives. Yet he's an "Independent." Next he'll be telling us he's a "Skeptic" rather than a JFK conspiracy theorist.

Oh my goodness. Why are you always out to lunch? Many staunch conservatives have bitterly condemned my websites on the Pacific War and the atomic bomb and on earl Harbor. For that matter, the majority of conservatives reject my belief in a JFK assassination conspiracy, in an RFK assassination conspiracy, and in an MLK assassination conspiracy.

Also, just FYI, I support universal healthcare, affirmative action for federal contracts, red-flag gun control laws, expanding background checks for gun purchases, banning rifle sales to anyone under 21, and federal infrastructure spending, to name some of my positions that oppose those of purist conservatives.

In fact, I was afraid that someone who has followed my postings on the major political boards would challenge my self-description of "conservative Independent." I debated whether to say "centrist Independent" instead, since I actually hold a number of views that are left-of-center.

Compare with American Conservative CTs who think the 9/11 attacks were allowed to happen by the US government.

What??? Most of the "9/11 Truthers" are liberals, not conservatives. The vast majority of those who claim that WTC 7 was destroyed with planted explosives, that a missile and not a jetliner hit the Pentagon, etc., are liberals. Yes, there are a few conservatives who peddle the theory that the Bush administration allowed 9/11 to happen, or that government operatives even took part in it, but the vast majority of people who peddle this stuff are liberals.