It's like a nervous tic. The temptation, the tendency to point out the obvious and blatant hypocrisy of the right:

* You said "states rights" but when we want states to act you block it!
* You said "free speech" but when we speak freely you destroy platforms, ban children's books and gut our libraries!
* You say "freedom" but clearly it only applies to you.

The astonished takes keep coming.
It's time to realize a hard truth.

The purpose of claiming "higher ideals" in a debate is to find common ground. We might not be able to agree on tax policy, my friend, but we can both agree that censorship is bad. We might not agree on the best trade policy, but at least we agree that individual freedom is important.

For all their flaws liberals tend to use this rhetorical move in an earnest manner. Liberals are shocked over and over that conservatives aren't sincere.