John Kerry recently attacked Republican efforts to portray themselves as the only political party that represents the interests of religious people. Why would the GOP try to identify itself as a "religious" party in the first place, though?

The Boston Herald reports:

"I am sick and tired of a bunch of people trying to tell me that God wants a bunch of conservative judges on the court and that's why we have to change the rules of the United States Senate,'' Kerry told a group of Bay State residents who traveled to Capitol Hill for U.S. Rep. Martin Meehan's annual legislative seminar.

"I am sick and tired of (them saying) they somehow have a better understanding of Christianity, of the Judeo-Christian ethic, of values,'' Kerry added. `"We're talking about values? You show me where in the New Testament Jesus ever talked about the value of having taxes and taking money from poor people to give to the rich people in this country.''

It might have been wise to hit these themes a little harder during his presidential campaign. It may not have allowed him to win, but precisely these themes need to be emphasized over and over and his position as presidential candidate would have ensured that they received the maximum amount of attention. If the GOP is going to insist on identifying itself with extremists in the Christian Right, then Democrats need to make sure that they don't escape the consequences of this choice.

GOP electoral success depends, in most place, upon the support of Christian Right theocrats who want to control others' lives based upon an extremist religious ideology. That, then, should be identified closely with the GOP itself. The GOP should be labeled the party of religious extremists rather than the party of business or the party of traditional conservatism.

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