Two weeks ago, on this very weblog, I noted how furious religious right groups were when they learned that Republican National Committee chairman Marc Racicot had spoken to a national gay rights group, at which time he emphasized the GOP’s commitment to “inclusion.” I proposed, jokingly, that the aggrieved groups “break off from the GOP and form their own theocratic political party.”
Of course, I knew that wouldn’t happen. The religious right has carefully positioned itself as the key constituency of the Republican Party. Because of their monolithic voting patterns, blind loyalty to arch-conservatives, and pure number of voters, religious right evangelists who would otherwise be ostracized from polite society (Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, et al) have instead created a political dynamic in which TV preachers have unprecedented power, influence, and access at the highest levels of our government.
These groups would sooner call for an interfaith “dialog” with the Taliban than give this power up voluntarily.
Nevertheless, the Internet is abuzz because a conservative “news” outlet has reported that several religious right groups and leaders feel slighted by the Republican Party and are considering “bolting” the GOP in 2004.
The report, published by a conservative outlet called “NewsMax,” explains that several of the movement’s top leaders have “openly questioned the Republican party’s commitment to social issues Christians are concerned about.”
“If Republican leaders cannot mount a vigorous defense of marriage, then pro-family voters perhaps should begin to reconsider their loyalty to the party,” said Ken Connor, head of the Family Research Council and the leading critic of Racicot’s chat with the Human Rights Campaign.
The article reports that the Christian fundamentalists are not just upset about Racicot meeting with gays. They were also disappointed with the lack of an enthusiastic defense from party leaders when Sen. Rick Santorum came under fire for saying he doesn’t support a right to privacy and believes gay people should face criminal prosecution.
“Where are the Republicans on this?” James Dobson, a religious right figure head, said about the Santorum flap. “I’ve heard very, very little coming from Marc Racicot, the Republican national chairman, or from the White House or from anybody else.” The article quoted similar thoughts from a variety of religious right leaders, including Phyllis Schlafly and Michael Farris.
The fact that the religious right would even acknowledge their dissatisfaction with the Republican Party — in public — is music to the ears of Democrats.
One of my favorite bloggers, Daily Kos, for example, was practically giddy at the idea that the Christian fundamentalists would break away from the GOP. “I’m having heart palpitations!” he said this morning at the idea of the Republicans having a counterbalance on par with the Green Party and the Democrats.
I hate to ruin anyone’s day, but those hoping that the religious right will bolt the Republican Party shouldn’t hold their breath. I know it’s dangerous to make predictions, but I feel pretty comfortable saying this just isn’t going to happen.
There are several reasons why:
* The Republican Party is already a wholly owned subsidiary of the religious right. Ken Connor and James Dobson can whine all they want about one speech to a gay group, but the truth is Christian fundamentalists have never had it so good — and they know it. On every issue the movement cares about, this administration and congressional Republicans are on the exact same page.
* If push ever came to shove, and the religious right was truly prepared to walk away from the GOP, the Republicans would fold and give the fundamentalists whatever they want. The last time the religious right started talking like this it was in May 1998 and Robertson, Falwell, Dobson, and others said the Republicans weren’t doing enough to implement the movement’s agenda in Congress. When rumors circulated that the groups would break off and form their own party, Republicans, led by then-Speaker Newt Gingrich, told them to name their price. House and Senate Republicans soon after created a special congressional working group to confer weekly with religious right leaders, and appointed one House representative to be the official liaison between the movement and the party.
* There’s already a far-right, theocratic party — and no one cares. You may not have heard of it, but there’s something called the Constitution Party (formerly known as the U.S. Taxpayer’s Party) which runs candidates for all federal offices — including president and vice president — every election cycle. The party’s mission is to create a Christian theocracy right here in the United States. As the party’s platform explains, “We solemnly declare that the foundation of our political position and moving principle of our political activity is our full submission and unshakable faith in our Savior and Redeemer, our Lord Jesus Christ.” The party won about 0.2% of the popular vote in the last two election cycles, they’ve never seriously competed for any federal office, and they’re so extreme they make John Ashcroft look like an ACLU member.
Ultimately, there’s no point in getting one’s hopes up. All this bickering is merely a ploy for the religious right to throw its weight around, trying to ensure the GOP doesn’t even consider talking to a gay-rights group again. In short, the religious right isn’t going anywhere.