I think the biggest problem is the dominance of conservative Christianity. And I say that as a Christian. That informs the Republican agenda and attitudes towards women and gays. It's all a very fundamentalist "literal" Biblical interpretation. There are people behind the leaders whispering in their ears. The conservative Christian agenda has been worming its way into politics for decades. It has wound a web around the Republican party to the point that it is drastically changed from what it was even 30 years ago.