The Republican Revolution that brought David Beasley and the Christian Coalition to power was really an abdication. Only 17 percent of the voting-age population cast ballots for Beasley. Republicans didn't win because their conservative philosophy represents the will of the majority but because they organized and turned out their faithful. Liberals, who generally believe in the inherent worth and dignity of all people, tend to find politics distasteful. Progressives have a hard job rallying their forces, since they are a diverse lot with widely differing values and interests.
Conservatives are a homogeneous lot, able to endorse a narrower agenda.
They are, therefore, easier to mobilize. The mistake of progressives has been their splintering into single-issue groups. While issues of race, gender, sexual preference and the environment all are areas of critical importance, single-issue groups can seldom muster enough clout to protect their interests. They must begin, like conservatives, to sing from the same hymn book. Forming a coalition proved easier for conservatives.