To: asenna1 who wrote (166555 ) 8/1/2001 6:36:55 AM From: Neocon Respond to First, the so- called neoconservatives did not start calling themselves anything. Rather, as certain leftists writing for magazines like Commentary began increasingly to question certain elements of contemporary liberalism, like anti- anti- communism, the use of "race norming" standards, the opposition to meritocracy generally, and other things, a number of people began to characterize them as "neoconservative". At first they resisted, insisting on their socialist or liberal credentials. Many helped found groups like the Democratic Leadership Council. But as they became increasingly alienated from the left wing of the Democratic Party (post- McGovern), some embraced the label, and as they became fed up with the Carter presidency, many consented to support the Reagan challenge, sometimes accepting appointments in the Administration. Many went so far as to become Republican, although some dragged their feet.
