A recently released report issued by the Republican National Committee (RNC) makes no mention of the words “Christian,” “religion,” “abortion,” “marriage,” “Jesus” or “God,” fueling speculation that the GOP may be trying to escape the ideological extremism of the Christian right.
On Wednesday, March 20, in response to that speculation, RNC Chairman Reince Priebus reiterated the Republican Party's stance against gay marriage, in an apparent attempt to placate leading conservative Christians angry with the implications of the report.
Coined the Growth and Opportunity Project, the report is a wide-ranging "autopsy" detailing GOP shortcomings after losing the 2012 presidential election. The document includes market research from voter focus groups around the country, and implies that the Republican party is being significantly damaged by being so closely associated with the extreme social conservatives that drive the religious right.
The report concludes that that the GOP is seen as the party of “stuffy old men” and needs to change its ways.
The implications of the report echo the now prophetic warning issued by Republican icon Barry Goldwater almost 20 years ago:
Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.
What do you think? Is the Christian right destroying the Republican party? Leave a comment - express yourself.
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