blinded by the right: the conscience of an ex-conservative is a 2002 book written by former conservative journalist david brock detailing his departure from the conservative movement. it is also the story of his coming out as a gay man. in the book, he states that he visited gay bars with matt drudge and other conservatives. the title alludes to the bruce springsteen song "blinded by the light", while the subtitle alludes to barry goldwater's "the conscience of a conservative", which helped define the modern conservative movement in the united states.