[Betty Jane]

I'm not being purposely dense. I would like to know what you mean by a "religious litmus test". You've used that phrase so many times without ever defining it. When we talk about Chuck Schumer's religious litmus test we know that he means any Catholic that follows the tenets of that religion.

You are insisting that Christian Conservatives have a litmus test, but won't define what you mean. I'd like to know what it is exactly that are railing against.

[Sentis]

Why do you think I will not define what it means? When in fact I have several times throughout my posts here explained meanings and defined words for all the dense people here. Since it seems that I must define each statement here goes.

The religious right demands in its test.

1. That we elect a Christian (meaning protestant not Catholic)
2. He must toe the line on Abortion or they stay home or threaten to send their vote elsewhere
3. That he blur the line between church and state
4. That he be firmly anti-homosexual or they will stay home or vote for somebody else

They prefer

1. That He be white and a "He"
2. He should not be Italian, portugeuse,Spanish or anything they see as marginally white
3. They are scared of New Yorkers more than they are of Texans, for instance Bush has a worse record on Gun control than Guliani but they ignore that

[cloud8]

Dear Betty...and everyone, really.

There are a few questions that need to be asked and discussed, not only in this thread, but in many posted on FR.

First, what is meant by "Christian" and "Christian Conservative?" Does it apply to one who belongs to a Protestant Christian denomination? Or to a Roman Catholic or a Fundamentalist, or to some combination of these? Is it necessary to be a Christian to be a "True Conservative?"

Second, why do the Red States so fear the Blue States? Are they afraid that they will take away our religion and our guns? Will they turn our kids into homos? Force our daughters to have abortions?

Third, what is a RINO? Are they socialists? Anti-American? Are they really hell bent on forcing a godless ideology on the Red States? Could I ever vote for anyone from the *ick* Northeast?

This country's history has been laced with regional differences and misunderstandings (to put it mildly). A thread titled "With Gipper's game plan, Rudy can win it all" has certainly shown that that is still true. If this kind of animosity continues to fester, it will divide conservatism and the Republican party. This, my friends, is most unfortunate, because the most important election in our history is only three years away, and the Hillary express is rolling.