From Barry Goldwater, the man upon whose back Richard Nixon developed the "Southern Strategy," and whose ideological legacy swept Ronald Reagan into power:
However, on religious issues there can be little or no compromise. There is no position on which people are so immovable as their religious beliefs. There is no more powerful ally one can claim in a debate than Jesus Christ, or God, or Allah, or whatever one calls this supreme being. But like any powerful weapon, the use of God's name on one's behalf should be used sparingly. The religious factions that are growing throughout our land are not using their religious clout with wisdom. They are trying to force government leaders into following their position 100 percent. If you disagree with these religious groups on a particular moral issue, they complain, they threaten you with a loss of money or votes or both. I'm frankly sick and tired of the political preachers across this country telling me as a citizen that if I want to be a moral person, I must believe in "A," "B," "C," and "D." Just who do they think they are? And from where do they presume to claim the right to dictate their moral beliefs to me? And I am even more angry as a legislator who must endure the threats of every religious group who thinks it has some God-granted right to control my vote on every roll call in the Senate. I am warning them today: I will fight them every step of the way if they try to dictate their moral convictions to all Americans in the name of "conservatism."
Please compare and contrast with John Kerry, the man from whose shattered shell the modern Democratic Party must emerge:
I am sick and tired of [them saying] they somehow have a better understanding of Christianity, of the Judeo-Christian ethic, of values. 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.
We are faithful, but. We are faithful, but. Wrong, wrong, wrong. How dare they? Who do they think they are? Have they, at long last, no sense of decency left? Right, right, right. As long as we allow, as a given, the idea that policy should come from Jesus, just as long as we can figure out the "correct" interpretation of Jesus, we will always lose. ALWAYS LOSE.
Church and state should always be separate. If, as a person who believes something one way or another on any issue, you feel compelled to use that belief to guide YOUR OWN actions, that's fine. You can pray that others will also believe the way you do. But don't tell me what I have to believe, especially through public policy.
The people who do thing in My name should consult with me first.