I think the ‘enlightened centrist’ is born when an adult takes an interest in politics for the first time. It’s natural for someone ignorant to see the extremes as scary. The problem is that the right is better prepared to guide this neophyte into reactionary politics without ever challenging the “centrist” identity. Politics in conservative spaces are never “right”, “reactionary”, or “regressive”, they’re just common-sense ideas, that everybody knows, and totally make sense when you think about it. (There’s also a huge helping of edge-lord humor to desensitize the centrist to ideals that would be appalling if people weren’t “being ironic”. )

So as they drift farther and farther to the right, the only people to challenge the “neutral” identity are on the left, who appear to be attacking a reasonable person; with mainstream ideals; just asking questions.

This is where the “I don’t always agree with the right, but the left are a bunch of crazy jerks” mantra comes from.