[tunesmith]

I think the bigger issue is that I've never anyone other than conservatives characterize liberals as believing in "equal outcomes". That's a slanted frame from the getgo.

Among democrats and liberals, it's usually "equal opportunity" or "equal starting lines", language like that. That's very different than "equal outcomes" because it still believes in self-reliance, merit, diversity in outcomes, etc - it's just that it requires a level of fairness that applies to everyone.