There's not much difference in the "Southern Strategy" Republicans and for example, the "Midwest Progressives" such as Gephardt (except on abortion; they're identical on things like Walmart, etc.)
What's funny is that I know many Democrats that are pro-second amendment, pro-low taxes, pro-science, etc., but tey will never vote Republican because of the racism they feel is rampant in the GOP; many believe that the "Religious Right" consists of unreconstructed slave-holders.
Both parties have their loonies. The question is, which party lets the loonies run for major office, and which party has loons for its primary spokesmen.