The Republican Party's God v. Mammon Smackdown

by rayman

For years, many of us have wondered how the Republican Party's odd couple assemblage of secular plutocrats and fire-breathing evangelicals could live with each other. Of course, both camps share a common loathing of the left, but when Republicans completely dominate the federal government, this "mutual enemy" M.O. starts to lose its effectiveness. Sure enough, the looming nukular war on the Senate floor is splitting the GOP coalition right down the middle:

The lack of support from business presents a dilemma for Frist, who wants to build ties with the Republican base ahead of his likely 2008 presidential bid but now must balance competing demands from two pillars of Republican politics: evangelicals, who can marshal millions of voters, and businesses, which donate millions of dollars. Both groups played pivotal roles in securing Bush's reelection last year and expanding the GOP majority in Congress — and both have made clear that they expect to be rewarded.

But though business groups can already point to several victories — such as passage of laws on class action lawsuits and bankruptcy — evangelicals look to the judicial fight as the signal moment to exert newfound influence.

Party officials concede that the tension between business leaders and social conservatives could foreshadow problems for Republican candidates in 2006 and 2008 who, like Bush, will rely on an energized and unified base to win closely fought contests.

"Every day that this does not get resolved there could be increased tension or pressure put on the situation," said one GOP strategist, who requested anonymity citing the sensitive nature of the rift. "Depending on how artfully or inartfully this is resolved, there is some fence-mending that needs to be done."

The article mentions how some Beltway sleazoids, such as C. Boyden Gray and Grover Norquist, are trying to convince the plutocrats that nuking the filibuster is in their interest, as it will produce more "business-friendly" judges. But seeing as how 95% of Skippy's judges have already been confirmed, this argument simply doesn't wash, and the malefactors of great wealth know it. In the struggle between God and Mammon, Republicans have sided with the latter every single time. Let's see how deep their faith in the Creator (by which I mean the Lord, not the US Mint) really runs.