May 1, 2012 10:37AM 

# Hey Daily Kos, Cato Is Not A ‘Republican-supporting’ Institution 

By [Christopher A. Preble](https://www.cato.org/people/christopher-preble) 

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I guess it’s not a huge surprise that a writer at [The Daily Kos would characterize](http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/04/28/1087244/-A-Pres-Romney-Would-Balloon-Debt-and-Joe-Six-Pack-s-Woes) Cato as “Republican-supporting” when it suits a purpose. Just for their future reference, here is a laundry list of positions taken by Cato scholars that most Republicans (Beltway Republicans, at least) tend to abhor:

- [Cutting military spending](https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/budgetary-savings-military-restraint)
- [The](https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/us-should-refrain-attacking-iraq) [Iraq](https://www.cato.org/store/books/exiting-iraq-why-us-must-end-military-occupation-renew-war-against-al-qaeda-paperback) [War](https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/learning-right-lessons-iraq)
- [Eliminating](https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/abolish-department-homeland-security) the Department of Homeland Security
- Resisting intervention in [Libya](https://www.cato.org/six-bad-arguments-for-bombing-libya/), [Syria](https://www.cato.org/libya-begets-syria/), [Iran](https://www.cato.org/publications/commentary/timebomb-diplomacy), etc.
- [Ending the War on Drugs](https://www.cato.org/drug-war)
- Nation-building [under George W. Bush](https://www.cato.org/publications/policy-analysis/failed-states-flawed-logic-case-against-standing-nationbuilding-office) and [under Barack Obama](https://www.cato.org/pubs/papers/LoganPreble-WashingtonNewBogeyman.pdf)
- [Criticizing](https://www.cato.org/publications/white-paper/power-surge-constitutional-record-george-w-bush) the Bush administration in 2006 for its constitutional record as being starkly at odds with the notion of limited government
- [A constitutional case for marriage equality](http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=DWp79jvy9aA)

We libertarians continue to be amazed at the inconsistency exhibited by the left and the right: conservatives dislike government power except when it comes to militarizing our foreign policy and, oftentimes, running people’s personal lives; liberals profess dislike for government power except when it comes to micromanaging the economy, which can quickly morph into micromanaging everything else. The Nanny-state is pushed equally by liberals and conservatives.

Ralph Waldo Emerson once said that “A *foolish* consistency is the hobgoblin of small minds.” (my emphasis) I think Cato scholars demonstrate a different kind of consistency in our principled adherence to limited, constitutional government, individual liberty, free markets, and peace. Our positions do not change whenever Republicrats replace Democans in office.

##### Related Tags 

[Defense and Foreign Policy](https://www.cato.org/defense-foreign-policy), [Government and Politics](https://www.cato.org/government-politics), [Constitutional Law](https://www.cato.org/constitutional-law), [Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies](https://www.cato.org/robert-levy-center-constitutional-studies) 

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