"Conservatives" = "Christian Coalition"?

On the issue of gay marriage, I have a staunchly conservative friend who takes the unequivocal position that it's really none of his business, and if two gay people want to get married it's really none of his business. Of course, his brand of conservativism is closer to that of Lincoln that to that of the "party of Lincoln". It is what he would call "classic conservativism", and what neo-cons and the religious right might deem "paleo-conservativism" - a conservativism that believes in small government, fiscal responsibility, and keeping the government out of our private lives. It is a social conservativism as well, but not the fascism that is presently confused with "conservativism" - his philosophy calls for hard work, loyalty, responsibility, honesty, and for keeping his nose out of his neighbor's business. It is hard to find fault with any of those values.

So when I read in the New York Times,

The [Massachusetts] decision [that gays have the right to some form of civil marriage] galvanized conservatives. Led by Representative Tom DeLay, the House majority leader, denouncing what he called a "runaway judiciary," they vowed to seek a constitutional amendment prohibiting marriage between gays. "This is not going to stop here — this is going to be in the forefront for a long time to come," said Roberta Combs, president of the Christian Coalition.

I can almost picture him cringing. And I am reminded of his statement from about a year ago when, due to the fiscal irresponsibility, deception, and intrusive social policies of the Bush Administration - an adminstration he helped vote into office - he would likely stay home from the polls in the next election.

Sometimes it amazes me that conservatives - and not those pretenders who call themselves "conservatives" while frittering our nation's wealth in a manner that appalls even "tax and spend Democrats", while attempting to impose new restrictions on our personal freedoms or civil liberties, trying to limit state sovereignty on social issues, or trying to funnel additional state resources into religious institutions - don't stand up to this Administration and reclaim their party. It's a classic "deal with the devil" - aligning yourself with neo-fascists and the "Christian Coalition" may allow you to win elections, but ultimately you have to sign away your soul.

Pierre Trudeau, the late Canadian Prime Minister, when serving as Minister of Justice famously said (in relation, of course, to consenting adults) "the state has no place in the bedrooms of the nation." Any true political conservative knows that to be true. So will they willingly sell out their beliefs in order to help reelect a President who stands for... essentially no conservative values, and endorse his energized intrusion into the nation's bedrooms? Or will they reclaim their party? (Unfortunately, I think I already know the answer.)

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