The right and the righteous

the long version

This timely book describes the historical roots and political motives of America's most organized and outspoken political interest group, the Christian Right. Duane M. Oldfield examines the dilemmas within the Republican Party faced by the movement as it attempts to both mobilize its base membership and participate effectively within broader coalitions. The author assesses the Christian Right's profound influence on the Republican Party platform and its disproportionate control of conservative political discourse. Unlike other accounts of the Christian Right, Oldfield maintains due scholarly detachment from his subject. Probing the relationship between this powerful religious establishment and its impact on national, state, and local politics, The Right and the Righteous is an excellent introduction to the Christian Right for anyone interested in contemporary politics.