1. Your right wing, has successfully redefined the word 'liberal' to mean something entirely different than its original meaning. This was particulary visible in the 2000 and 2004 elections, were liberal was really presented as a dirty word. That actually occured LONG before 2000. Over 100 years ago, the term "liberal" meant something far different than it does today.
Truthfully, in the U.S., the political terms "liberal" and "conservative" have almost become pointless. They are two sides of the same coin, more than they are different. To paraphrase Robert Heinlein (this was such a prophetic observation of his), Americans are divided politically into those who want to be controlled in some manner (using mantras like "the public good", "the greatest good"), and those with no such desire who just want to be left the hell alone.