How Conservatives are Winning the Culture War

Scott Gray

Most of the media would lead Americans to believe that modern liberalism is winning today’s culture war. The protesters certainly seem more adamant on the liberal side, and secular programming fills the media airwaves. However, the media is not dictating society at this time, and the far left is mistaken if it thinks it has the culture war in hand. Many adults can watch their Desperate Housewives and still maintain a conservative lifestyle.

However, America’s culture actually seems to be favoring a more conservative “culture of life” in the early 21st century. This is shown from the American political scene of today. By looking at the issue of abortion, conservatives have obviously made major strides in their fight to obtain a “culture of life.” That being said, the extreme right is not winning. The people who plot to kill abortion doctors and bomb clinics are evil men who are being convicted across America. America’s conservative masses do not need to revert to violence because they are winning at the voting booths.

When pertaining to abortion, many polls show the opinion split 50-50. However, the tone in Washington is changing. Just a decade ago, Presidential and Congressional candidates won by taking a strong line on abortion rights. Now, as USA Today recently reported, national candidates are changing their views on abortion in order to make themselves more palatable to more people. Hillary Clinton is a perfect example of this; just a year ago, she was vehemently defending abortion at Planned Parenthood rallies and other pro-abortion rights events. Now, she has taken a softer line on abortion, sounding almost as though she is pro-life.

That seems to be a Democratic trend these days. At least rhetorically, the Democratic Party is taking a far more conservative line on social issues. As Washington falls to a more conservative social line, so falls the liberal movement altogether. Liberals won the decision to legalize abortion, they did so in the courtroom. However, they have defended that right in the Senate and the White House. Bill Clinton, just a decade ago, allocated federal funding to finance abortions in other countries. President Bush overturned the law on his first day in office with little fanfare. Such laws have forced conservatives to have their free religion violated, but no one seemed to care.

No wonder the liberals think they have the lead in the culture war. Less than a decade ago, they did. Americans were complacent, and many conservative news organizations were beginning to tout the creation of a third “conservative party” that would actually stand to oppose both the Republicans and Democrats. Those were the days when President Clinton, a social liberal, had sky-high approval ratings. While Clinton filled many pocketbooks (or seemed to), apparently his thoughts on American culture were far less cherished.

Today, the “evangelical” community is larger than ever, representing more than 20% of the voting population, an increase of nearly 10% from a decade ago. Republicans have also gained nearly 90% of these voters. With this base, Republicans have become the power players in Washington. Not only do they have power, though, but they have conservative power. America’s ideals have actually grown more conservative in the past decade. Liberals may still have PBS, but they certainly do not have the American people.

Liberals may continue to believe that they have won the culture war. Perhaps the television shows would reflect that. Television shows about sexuality and homosexuality dominate many American airways, and while they are detrimental, most Americans seem to entertain themselves without altering their own social opinions. Hollywood and the media act as though they have profound influence over America, but today’s America is not the America shown in Desperate Housewives. Instead, it is a far more conservative America, an America that respects “moral values,” the ultimate deciding factor of the 2004 elections.

Conservatives have the edge in the Culture War, but they do not have the victory. If Republicans want to continue fighting for values issues, they must not be hypocrites. Instead, they must also fight corruption and waste in government. They should not place their party in the hands of people such as Tom DeLay who are weak men who cannot resonate with the American people. Republicans must continue the image as brave defenders of American rights and liberties with that unique cultural bond known only as “American.”