The honeymoon is over for the Republican Party. Conservative Christians have put their bridegroom on notice: shape up or else!
At a press conference in Washington, leaders of predominantly rightwing evangelical Christian groups said the GOP has done a poor job advancing the groups’ causes. They stopped short of threatening a voter rebellion in November (who would they vote for, anyway — Democrats?) but their message was clear. If the GOP wants to maintain control of Congress, the Grand Old Party had better follow through on the promises it made to the “Christian vote.”
Whether Republicans can make good their promises is a big question. Republicans hold only a slight majority in both House and Senate, certainly not the 2/3 majority required to pass some of the legislation rightwing Christians want: banning same-sex marriage, making abortions illegal, enabling more religious instruction and influence in the schools, and so on. Not all Republicans share the same goals as the Christocrats, and the Democrats are definitely not in their camp.
The Christians are learning what every other interest group in the USA already knows. Politicians can only go so far in advancing any one group’s causes. Sooner or later, the harsh realities of living in a pluralistic nation will prevent any one group’s causes from being made the law of the land. Politics being what it is, no politico is going to devote all his or her time and effort to a single group’s agenda, because he may lose the other votes in his constituency. It’s sad but true. Look how long it took civil rights laws to get passed.
If the Christians abandon the GOP, good! It means we are that much further from a theocracy. If the GOP loses seats in November to Democrats, good! Maybe one of those Dems will actually turn into presidential material.
If the GOP tries to stay married to the Christian Right, then these mid-term elections are going to be rough, with the GOP candidates trying to out-Christian their opponents. That could be good, too. Maybe then voters will see how ridiculous and dangerous it is to mix religious dogma with politics.
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