While I lament the current dominance of Charedi influence in Orthodoxy, I must criticize Modern Orthodoxy as well.
Most of Modern Orthodoxy would better be classified as Modern Orthodox Lite or Orthopraxy. It has been my experience that the typical Modern Orthodox Jew is more or less ignorant of a true Centrist Hashkafa which is defined by the principals of Torah uMada. For most Modern Orthodox Jews, it is a lifestyle choice for them. They choose to be Orthodox because they still retain a modicum of loyalty to parental teachings about the importance of being observant but they wish to do so in the most unobtrusive way to a modern lifestyle that they can.
Sometimes this even leads to a shedding of Halacha when it comes in conflict with a desired goal such as mixed swimming or head covering. They might say out of ignorance, "There is nothing wrong with it" or "We all pick and choose what we observe anyway". Orthopraxic Jews often do not know the difference between Minhag, and Halacha and usually confuse the two. Sabbath observance is usually cultural and includes not driving a car, going to Shul, having a Sabbath meal and the like. Many Modern Orthodox, however, will not be so careful in other more detailed observances of Shabbos. Observance is thus not based on any thoughtful analysis but purely on cultural considerations. And such ignorance and resultant behavior will appear as to hypocrisy to the children of the Modern Orthodox who go to religious day schools and are taught values that they don't see at home or worse... see that clear Halacha is sometimes casually violated by their parents.
This phenomenon feeds the constant de-legitimization of Modern Orthodoxy by the ultra-Orthodox world. While it is inexcusable for the right wing to paint serious Centrists with the broad brush of disdain it certainly understandable that they do it, when the majority of Modern Orthodoxy is so arbitrary about their religious observance. It makes it all too easy for the ultra Orthodox to criticize. All they have to do is point to a typical Modern Orthodox Halacha violation such as the tendency to go mixed swimming and tells their adherents… "See?"
