Why Alan Keyes is Becoming the Leader of the Religious Conservative Movement

Alan Keyes’ stature has been on the rise in Religious Conservative circles. From an unknown in 1996, Keyes right now stands in more esteem among religious conservatives than most any leader except perhaps for James Dobson.

Why has Keyes, a Roman Catholic gained while Protestant Evangelical leaders like Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell have lost. The moderate/liberal tenor of the National Conventions provides some guidance.

Both Keyes and Falwell don’t believe that Conservatives should focus on the moderate-to-liberal convention schedule. Falwell in his Worldnetdaily.com column tried to pursuade us of this fact as follows:

On Thursday, I appeared on the Fox News Channel’s “Hannity & Colmes” broadcast to discuss the Republican Party’s upcoming convention. Apparently, some media reports have indicated that a few religious conservatives are upset that a preponderance of moderate and liberal members of the party has been assigned the high-profile prime-time speaking slots.

I’m sure there are a few evangelical pastors who believe the Republican Party should be reflective of a Southern Baptist church, but that would be a big mistake. The party represents a wide range of political viewpoints and the leadership understands this; the GOP is not a church.

Now Falwell talked down to his audience and caricatured their positions, before giving them a ringing insult/rebuke for daring to expect Conservatives on the national stage.

Keyes took a different tact on CNN’s inside politics yesterday:

As I said to someone earlier today, you have to fit the armor to the individual. David didn’t try to fight in Saul’s armor. I wouldn’t try to fight in armor that’s made for G. W. Bush. What I believe is the approach that’s best for Alan Keyes in Illinois may not be the best approach for G. W. Bush, as he confronts national election from his point of view.

Keyes managed to address the issue, put it in an understandable light that didn’t insult his listeners or those who disagreed with them. Nor did he make a comparison that made his opponents feel like practitioners of unprincipled politics.

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