In some theoretical sense I suppose I am an independent in that I would vote for the best candidate regardless of party. The problem is that it's been literally decades since I would have given any serious consideration to a GOP candidate. They've been a veritable nest of vipers for too long. Sadly, probably half the Democrats are not much better.

By the standards of my youth, I'm actually quite the leftist. Sanders all the way!

"Moderate" = "I am really ok with the status quo."

I’d like to see a day where there’s room for moderate political positions, but that’s not now. Moderate says to me that maybe you’re not drinking the post-truth right-wing kool-aid, but that you don’t understand the danger it poses or don’t care. In 2019, we need to course correct. I hope that part of that involves shoring up electoral integrity and increasing things like ranked choice voting, but that will never happen unless we oust the party that cares only for its own power, and right now, that means supporting Democrats even if you don’t fully agree with them. Good people can feel constrained about their political support, just as good people can be stuck in a religion they don’t believe in, but for relationship building I agree that it’s a sign of factors that could be limiting.

I am a registered independent with very liberal views on the same issues you mention on your last paragraph plus the electoral college, equal pay, minimum wage, health care, climate change, etcetera and consider myself very patriotic, pro veterans and extremely anti trump.

Wow. Some serious judgemental, black-and-white thoughts here, in a place I would have hoped was a bit less harsh, or at least would entertain a little deeper analysis before declaring there's no such thing as a middle ground. IMHO, this seems to be a big part of what's wrong in politics today. The over-simplification of every topic or choice or issue into only 2 diametrically opposed options with no room for any other idea or voice or position. Seriously, life is almost never that cut and dried.

I am what I consider to be a moderate. I am registered independent. I examine the issue and determine how I feel about it for myself, not based upon which "party" deplores or espouses it. If that makes others think I am either a full-left liberal or a right-wing conservative in "hiding"...well then they are trying too hard to judge me without knowing me so I probably wouldn't want them as a date anyway. I would feel they were way too ready to jump to fast and easy conclusions based on their own biases and not a thorough examination of my feelings or experiences.

Sorry, still stating moderate on my profile because I feel it best describes my positions on a variety of issues.

I remember many years ago when I was in high school and we had some guys coming to give us a speech about different political parties. Well the conservatives said that yes they were conservative but that didn't mean that they did not care about the average person in the street. Wasn't that ever a lie.

Different political views is more likely to get you turned down than anything else.

The polarization in our politics between liberals and conservatives is ridiculous.

Wow. Assumptions abound.

Sometimes, someone who says they're a "moderate" or a "centrist", actually IS.

Granted, there is a whole lot of lying happening on dating sites.

Seems to me people need to make a decision.
Either they want to get laid, in which case, they should say so.
Or, they are honest about their politics, and take responsibility for their positions.

I have zero sympathy for anyone who lies about who they are.
They don't deserve to get a date, or laid.

It’s interesting that here in the Midwest, on the edge of the Bible Belt, I find most women choose “Moderate” to hide their liberal bent, lest they scare off the majority of men who trend Conservative.

My listing for both political and religious is always OTHER.

As you (not you, but anyone you) can see from my conversations is that I do not believe in either.

I always vote but I do not espouse politics.

In my experience, "moderate" has often translated to "I'm conservative but don't want to admit it" or "I don't really have an opinion". Not always but mostly.

You are spot-on. When I see moderate, they are either conservative (at least too much for me) or wishy-washy, not willing to take a stand. Nope......

This was interesting. I am a progressive liberal and was married to a hard core conservative for 22 years. I can tell you straight up, it does not work! Your basic values are so far apart it makes life incredibly difficult. Too much compromise about everything is draining. Moderate does not strike me as a great category. There needs to be a way to flesh out what people really think. I suppose that is what happens when you meet in person.