what are the difference between a Republican and a conservative?

It seems there has been a lot of confusion about the difference between what I am—a Republican—and what conservatives are. Since I always try to tell the truth, let me explain: there is a difference.

I don’t consider myself a conservative, because conservatives generally want to preserve the past. Now, don’t get me wrong—there are aspects of the past that I appreciate. But I wouldn’t call myself someone who simply wants to conserve it. If anything, I want to take the good parts of the past, improve them, and add new ideas as well. A conservative usually wants to preserve traditional systems and values as they are.

So, what is the difference between a Republican and a conservative?

A conservative, as I said, believes in preserving tradition, limiting government intervention, supporting free-market capitalism, and protecting traditional societal values. That is the foundation of conservatism.

A Republican, however—especially a progressive Republican—is different. Many Republicans, myself included, feel disconnected from the modern GOP and want to build something new. What exactly that becomes, I don’t fully know yet, but I believe something is beginning to take shape.

Progressive Republicans want a better world. We want to fight for what is right. In Abraham Lincoln’s time, the great moral atrocity was slavery, and he fought to end it. I would argue that we are still facing a form of that evil today, just in a different form.

Today, it may not be slavery in the old sense, but it is human trafficking that we are fighting against.

bijouxbroussard · F

There used to be room in both parties for different ideologies, but that changed a lot from the mid/late 20th century to now. There are still a few conservatives in the Democratic Party, but the GOP drove out their progressives. The definition of "conservative" has largely changed, btw. The late John McCain was conservative. George H.W Bush was conservative. But they weren’t Nazis. Nowadays there seems to be little difference.

swirlie · 31-35, F

True Republicans are center-right leaning politically.

Conservatives are MAGA-types which are extreme right-wing leaning politically, with no tolerance for anything socialized (like healthcare) or anything that doesn't have something to do with evangelical ties (must be fairly entrenched in religious values)

Diotrephes · 70-79, M

@1930sfan =

Progressive Republicans want a better world. We want to fight for what is right. In Abraham Lincoln’s time, the great moral atrocity was slavery, and he fought to end it. I would argue that we are still facing a form of that evil today, just in a different form.

Slavery continued in the Northern States until the end of 1865. Mississippi didn't abolish slavery until 2013.

What is Lincoln's famous quote in regard to slavery?
"If I could save the Union without freeing any slave I would do, it, and if I could save it by freeing all the slaves I would do it; and if I could save it by freeing some and leaving others alone I would also do that."