If a party recognizes that it's losing voters because it's alienating its base, then it may well decide that it's easier to regain those voters by acknowledging its base than to capture voters for whom the other party is actively competing. Especially considering that the voters representing its base are far more likely to provide active support (e.g. campaign contributions) than the swing voters.
To say the very least. I'm flat disgusted. Dubya pushed hard for this bill and the Democrats were against it. The world has gone mad. His kids and my kids will pay.