Adopting Common Views

A recent post included a discussion of people who have some key views in common with one ideological group and then take on the other views of the group they associate with. It looks like this phenomenon was also discussed by another blogger the same day on a different topic. From Ezra Klein:

Krauthammer’s path is interesting: As his foreign policy opinions increasingly sync with those of the right, his economic and social policy increasingly aligns. The New Deal liberal with an affection for invasion becomes a tax cutting conservative with an affection for invasion. It’s not a particularly surprising trajectory: Peer influences are powerful. If you decide that Bill Kristol is a brave truth-teller on foreign policy you’ll naturally give his domestic ideas greater consideration. If you’re tired of being knocked around by Paul Krugman you’re less likely to credit the precision of his economic analysis.

3 Comments

  1. 1
    Eclectic Radical says:

    If it helps at all, this can work both ways.

    Remember, David Gergen (admittedly rather moderate, but an excellent analyst) once worked for Nixon and Reagan and became a Clinton ‘New Democrat.’ When gas escapes from the vents in the right wing these days, Gergen is described as fire-breathing liberal whenever his CNN gig is mentioned.

  2. 2
    Ron Chusid says:

    It works more than two ways (liberals/conservatives). In my original post where this was discussed I was also bringing in libertarian-leaning people, along with variations in views between different groups of conservatives and liberals.

    Working in the Clinton administration didn’t always mean that liberal views would rub off. Look at Dick Morris.

  3. 3
    Barry says:

    The “precision” of Krugman’s economic analysis?

    http://fee.org/featured/deflation-threat-economy/

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