One of the problems for conservatives who aren't also members of the Christian Right (this includes many social conservatives, fiscal conservatives, philosophical conservatives, etc.) is the fact that President George W. Bush is a member of the Christian Right - and the Christian Right basically controls the Republican Party.

In the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Linda Valdez explains:

Last week, a New York Times reporter got into a Bush-Cheney-sponsored, invitation-only meeting for religious conservatives, and wrote a story. A GOP campaign director criticized The Times for covering an event that "was closed to the press," saying it was "not professional or appropriate" to write about it, according to the Times story.

The GOP criticized the story because it revealed too much about what is going on behind the scenes. The meeting was not open to the press because it revealed the true feelings of GOP leaders that they don't want to become common knowledge even among rank-and-file Republicans, much less to moderates and independents.

The rally featured Sen. Sam Brownback, who had apparently been relieved of the Stepford senator control chip he wore for Tuesday night's official convention talk. The Brownback rolled out for media and public consumption talked about equality and justice in inclusive tones. The Brownback who spoke to the faithful at a presumed closed-door event said, "We must win this culture war." Victory, as he defined it, is measured by such things as easing the separation between church and state. Brownback told the religious right crowd, "You are the heart and soul of the party."

So why hide them under a barrel? The answer has to do with Bush's desperate need to look like something he's not. He reveals himself in secret liaisons and love-letter platform promises to his core supporters.

It's not fiscal or economic conservatives who are the "heart" of the party. It's philosophical or social conservatism with roots going back to Burke that is the "heart" of the party. No, the heart and soul of the Republican Party today lies with the culture warriors of the Christian Right: Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, and all the other people who would make America a very different, very scary place to live in.

Is an America run by the Christian Right really closer to the conservative principles of personal liberty and traditional values than an America run by John Kerry?

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