That is not it either. It is the "moral majority" label that got stuck on conservatives. There is a general perception of what that means and it is a perception that really hurts the conservative cause, unless that particular point of view is your cause, above and beyond all others.
Were it about fiscal conservatism and realizing the government is not a fit moral arbiter of much of anything there would be very broad support. But when some claim that they have unique insight into "God's will" and would like to impose that will on others, like the God-given right to strip search teenagers for Advil, the sale will fall through and it will take years to fix the perception.
I live in DC. I have these discussion all of the time. I don't know how to fix it. But if it isn't, then we are going to have a constantly swinging pendulum depending upon which side is perceived as the most offensive at the moment. Right now a certain party is winning that debate, but the balance of revulsion can easily be restored.
I don’t think you can fix it. There will always be those who claim they have a direct line to God.
The Tea Pary is supposed to be about fiscal conservatism - and the press is still trying to attach the “religious racist whacko” label onto that.
No matter what conservatives do - the msm will apply that label.
It’s just what they do.