Like Buchanan in '92

It's just not on in primetime:

And so, White House aide Jim Towey was addressing Missouri delegates at breakfast, not the full convention in prime time, when he said marriage is under attack in America. "When you look at the values in our country, there is a cultural divide," he said, referring to the debate over gay rights.

The cultural clash extends beyond New York's borders this week — to Oklahoma, where Republican Senate candidate Tom Coburn called his race against Rep. Brad Carson (news, bio, voting record) "a battle for the culture of America" and "the battle of good vs. evil."

Another Republican Senate candidate, Alan Keyes (news - web sites), labeled homosexuality "selfish hedonism" during an appearance at the GOP convention. Keyes, who recently moved to Illinois to seek the Senate seat, called the vice president's daughter a sinner.

It could have been worse.

Arizona Rep. John Shadegg (news, bio, voting record) got a standing ovation from his state's delegation when he lashed out at filmmaker Moore. Shadegg said he told a newspaper executive that he had made a mistake "when you credentialed kind of the anti-Christ."

"The left wing hates George Bush (news - web sites) the most because he believes in God," said Youngstown Mayor George McKelvey, a conservative Democrat who drew applause from Ohio delegates.

Secretary of State Kenneth Blackwell praised Bush for knowing that "God is God and he is not."

In a breakfast meeting with his state's delegates, Blackwell issued a call to arms against gay marriage. "We cannot sit on the sidelines and see an assault on the most basic social institution in our democracy and that is the family that is brought together by marriage, a union between one man and woman," he said.

Inside the convention hall, conservatives dulled their rhetorical knives.

"The key to a richer culture is strong families, and the key to strong families is strong marriages," said Rep. Rick Santorum. Pretty tame for a lawmaker who once compared homosexual acts to bigamy and incest.

So there you have it. The "compassionate conservatives" when they aren't on the big screen. Calling people the "anti-Christ." Calling an opponent for the Senate "evil." Calling the Vice President's daughter a "sinner."

It seems to me the so called "wild-eyed" are right there in the Republican party. God and compassion seem to extend as far as their right wing views. These are the men they are trying to sell you this fall. I say reject the hate.