"Somehow we need to make the country realize it's "that wing of the conservative movement", not "the conservative movement".":
A very good point. I think what we need to do is to be as proactive as the creationist and ID folks are being. When this comes up in your school district or state, make yourself known as a conservative AND an opponent to non-science in the classroom.
I suspect that all the officials are really looking for is a little support from the right. Once they get that they'll feel OK about bagging the whole thing.