In an attempt to improve their brand image, leading Republican politicians rallied for “religious liberty” at the end of September during a gathering in Washington that was intended for evangelical conservatives. While some speakers did discuss gay marriage and abortion on the first day of the annual Values Voter Summit, an entire slate of prospective presidential candidates made it a point to discuss the persecution of Christians and their principles at home and abroad.

This move by the GOP is being seen as its effort to unify a divided party and attract new voters ahead of the midterm elections that are scheduled to take place in November this year as well as the presidential contest that is to be held in 2016.

“Oh, the vacuum of American leadership we see in the world,” said Texas Senator Ted Cruz in a hotel ballroom that was packed with religious conservatives. “We need a president who will speak out for people of faith, prisoners of conscience.”

Kentucky Senator Rand Paul said something along the same lines in his speech, in which he described America as a country that is experiencing a spiritual crisis.

“Not a penny should go to any nation that persecutes or kills Christians,” said Paul, who like Cruz, is openly considering a 2016 presidential bid.

The event witnessed the presence of other potential 2016 presidential candidates such as Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee. However, some potential candidates like former Florida Governor Jeb Bush and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie did not attend the event.

President of Family Research Council, Tony Perkins, who hosted the event, said a fundamental shift is taking place toward religious freedom among Republican politicians of all stripes.

“Without religious freedom, we lose the ability to even address those other issues,” Perkins said of social issues.

He went on to say evangelical voters would consider their priorities including traditional marriage and abortion before casting their votes on Election Day.

“It is not time to rethink our principles or shrink back from the conflict,” he said.

The rift within the party over various social issues has had broad implication on the GOP’s struggle to better its image after a disappointing defeat in 2012. Even though the party platform officially opposes abortion rights and same-sex marriage, an internal audit released by the Republican National Committee last year called for its members to be more welcoming and inclusive of social issues.

“If we are not, we will limit our ability to attract young people and others, including many women, who agree with us on some but not all issues,” the report said.

At the event, Jindal, who has aspirations for the White House, attacked Obama for his apparent “silent war” on religious freedom, saying, “The United States of America did not create religious liberty. Religious liberty created the United States of America.”

Chip Saltsman, who was presidential campaign manager for Huckabee in 2008, said apprehensions of religious persecution revolve around the same values that have guided evangelical conservatives for decades.

“When you look at what's going on in the world today, you talk about freedom issues and life issues; they're all the same,” Saltsman said. “To be corny, those are all life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness issues.”

However, as mentioned earlier in the article, some speakers did remember to include issues such as gay marriage and abortion rights.

“Let this generation be the one to stop abortion in America,” Republican Marlin Stutzman declared, while calling on evangelicals to be “happy warriors.”

Cruz, who is a favorite for evangelical conservatives, drew applause from the audience for condemning GOP members who encourage Republican candidates to undermine “family values.”

“How do we win? We defend the values that are American values,” Cruz said. “We stand for life. We stand for marriage. We stand for Israel.”

Even Paul had something to say about abortion.

“Don't tell me that five and six pound babies have no rights simply because they're not yet born,” he said before adding, “What America needs is a revival.”

Photo Credit: Wikimedia