In today’s New York Times, Ross Douthat makes an interesting point: the terms centrist and moderate are almost always used to denote a pro-business and socially liberal politician. Although Mike Huckabee’s policy views — social conservatism, economic populism — are more authentically “moderate” than those of, for instance, Michael Bloomberg, he isn’t regarded as a moderate in the same way. Certainly he doesn’t get the deferential media treatment that many centrist politicians do.
