Just the aggregate of the conservative population. It would be similar to saying that black people suffer discrimination in the US, to which I suppose you'd inc

Just the aggregate of the conservative population. It would be similar to saying that black people suffer discrimination in the US, to which I suppose you'd incredulously reply, "All of them? All black people? But I have a black friend who has never felt prejudged on matters of race." I wonder of the conversational instincts of such a person. Recall George Bush Jr's presidential candidacy when banning gay marriage in the nation's Constitutional was a get-out-to-vote issue. Or California's 8. Why are these issues energizing? What about care for the poor and focus on education? Are these not red-hot winning issues? You might also refer to the GOP platform of various states, or the GOP national platform. Here's some verbatim text from the Texas GOP platform, the 2nd-largest state in the nation. > Homosexual Behavior: We affirm God’s biblical design for marriage and sexual behavior between one biological man and one biological woman, which has proven to be the foundation for all great nations in Western civilization. We oppose homosexual marriage, regardless of state of origin. We urge the Texas Legislature to pass religious liberty protections for individuals, businesses, and government officials who believe marriage is between one man and one woman. We oppose the granting of special legal entitlements or creation of special status for homosexual behavior, regardless of state of origin. We oppose any criminal or civil penalties against those who oppose homosexuality out of faith, conviction, or belief in traditional values. > Definition of Marriage: We support the definition of marriage as a God-ordained, legal, and moral commitment only between one natural man and one natural woman. > Overturn Unconstitutional Ruling: We believe this decision, overturning the Texas law prohibiting same-sex marriage in Texas, has no basis in the Constitution and should be reversed, returning jurisdiction over the definition of marriage to the states. The Governor and other elected officials of the State of Texas should assert our Tenth Amendment right and reject the Supreme Court ruling. I would also argue that discussing American conservatism without a rich narrative on Christianity is obtusely blind. > Religious Freedom: As America is “one nation under God,” founded on Judeo-Christian principles, we affirm the constitutional right of all individuals to worship as they choose. If conservatives didn't care about gay marriage, then what political force would be left to oppose its legitimacy?