1964: Who would you have voted for?

[Daniel Adams]

Go with Goldwater, oh Go with Goldwater. Barry's the man of our land.

You can probably guess, I vote Goldwater

Why? Your PM score seems nothing near libertarian.

Goldwater's social libertarian streak came during the '80s, in his final Senate term. During the 1964 campaign, Goldwater talked about the laws of God and nature and about the moral order just like any modern day conservative. He declared that "[t]he moral fiber of the American people is beset by rot and decay" and called for a "reconstruction of reverence and moral strength." Liberals during the election derided him as a "half-crazed moral zealot".

On specific issues, Goldwater was clearly a social conservative in 1964. He supported voluntary prayer in public schools during the presidential election, reversing this position in 1984. Although it was a minor issue in the campaign, Goldwater opposed abortion, and continued doing so well into the '70s (he endorsed the Human Life Amendment in 1980). Only late in his Senate term did he succumb to his wife's pro-choice position. He opposed gay "rights" throughout his Senate term and changed his position six years after his Senate term ended.

[Daniel Adams]

Read what Colin said.

Well, he's wrong, frankly. I have given specific examples of Goldwater's pre-1980s social conservatism including quotes from his 1964 campaign. If one actually reads what Goldwater believed during most of his political career instead of making giant extrapolations, the statement that "the Goldwater who wanted to kick Jerry Falwell's ass and voted in favour of gays serving in the military is almost certainly nearly the same Goldwater, politically, as the 1964 presidential candidate" is clearly ludicrous. Colin is also factually incorrect when he says that Goldwater was one of the founders of Planned Parenthood of Arizona; it was actually Goldwater's wife who was one of the founders.