No, Ronald Reagan didn't run around teaching that the world was 6000 years old. And George Bush doesn't do that either. There is a HUGE difference between the concept of ID and the concept of ZAP. You can leave the Jimmy Carter red herring in the drawer. And I will tell you again, if the Republican party moves toward the fundamentalist direction, we are toast.
The Republican party is mostly fundamentalist. Strangely enough a majority of Democrats also believe in Biblical Creation. Not only will the Republicans not implode if they go with a fundamentalist, they will have an even greater draw to those Democrats who are dissatisfied with their party.
Only 9% of Republicans believe in the complete absence of ZAP. Going with a candidate like that is what would make us toast.
"Turns out 9% of Republicans believe in evolution without God, while 16% of Democrats and 14% of Independents feel similarly. 23% of Republicans are fans of intelligent design, as are 28% of Democrats and Independents. 66% of Republicans are creationists, while 51% of Democrats and Independents are."
You're views are not mainstream Republican and welcome to FR.