christian grantham
Christian Grantham was a student activist in the late 90s and later was a consultant to domestic policy forums for the Clinton Administration as well as events for HRC and GLAAD.
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April 06, 2005

In the same 2004 Presidential exit polls now being used by Republicans to claim an increase in support among black and women voters, most of those (corrected by DCRob in comments) the biggest single issue among those who voted for President Bush was "moral issues," more than jobs, the economy, and the war in Iraq.

When Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay sought to deny court protection of Michael Schiavo's marrital rights to honor his wife's medical wishes, America saw the Republican Party's evangelical base in a vulgar act of arrogance.

The controversy over Terri Schiavo has raised concerns among many Americans about the moral agenda of the Republican Party and the political power of conservative Christians, a USA TODAY/CNN/Gallup Poll finds.

In the survey, most Americans disapprove of the efforts by President Bush and Congress to draw federal courts into the dispute over treatment of the brain-damaged Florida woman. She died last week.

Some old stereotypes about the two parties have been reversed:

•By 55%-40%, respondents say Republicans, traditionally the party of limited government, are “trying to use the federal government to interfere with the private lives of most Americans” on moral values.

•By 53%-40%, they say Democrats, who sharply expanded government since the Depression, aren't trying to interfere on moral issues.
[Many wary of GOP's moral agenda - USAToday - 04-06-05]

But if you think Republican House Majority Leader Tom DeLay and his colleagues are finished meddling with the civil liberties and personal lives of Americans with disgraceful and arrogant legislation, think again. DeLay and the Republican Party's evangelical base have designs on writing discrimination into the United States Constitution to deny equal protections for gay and lesbian families.

Why would the Republican controlled Congress want to waste their time with the economy, education and health care when their party's radical evangelical base would much rather high-jack the business of the American people with divisive issues?