, political correctness, immigration, national sovereignty, multiculturalism – are every bit as charged as the ones that animated the old one. They involve the symbolically and emotionally fraught questions of how we should live and who we are as a people.

Other advanced countries don’t have culture wars quite like the United States. A fight has raged here since the 1970s over such issues as abortion, school prayer, traditional sexual mores, gay rights, religious displays on public property, pornography, graphic content in television shows and movies and school curriculums. The combatants have been, roughly speaking, secular coastal elites on the one hand and a religious heartland on the other.

Perhaps the high point for the right in the culture war came in 2004 when George W Bush, touting his support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, won re-election on the strength of his support among evangelical Christians. Worried Democrats wondered how they could make inroads among these “values voters”. They haven’t had to worry since. Barack Obama’s election in 2008 heralded a new day.

If the old culture war wasn’t quite lost for the right, it was slipping away. Traditional marriage continued to decline, the entertainment culture got more coarse and old-fashioned sexual morality became the stuff of mockery. The rout on gay marriage has been so complete, with the supreme court making gay marriage legal throughout the land, that the left has moved on to the new cause of transgender rights.

Once, Democrats felt it necessary to play defence on social issues. No more. In an act that would have been unimaginable just a few years prior, the Obama administration got embroiled in litigation with an order of nuns – yes, nuns – on the question of whether they should have to technically abide by a federal contraception mandate or not.

Californians celebrate a supreme court ruling on same-sex marriage in 2015. Photograph: David McNew/Getty Images

In this context, Donald Trump is extremely ill suited as a culture warrior. The cliched charge against conservatives was always that they wanted “to impose their morality” on everyone else.

The wag might say that Trump is not threatening to impose his morality on anyone because he doesn’t have any to impose. He has bragged about bedding beautiful models. His marriages have exploded in spectacular fashion, providing endless fodder for tabloids. His religious literacy is extremely limited, at best,
, political correctness, immigration, national sovereignty, multiculturalism – are every bit as charge as the one that animated the old one. They involve the symbolically and emotionally fraught question of how we should live and who we are as a people. 

 early advanced countries do n’t have acculturation wars quite like the United States. A fight has rage here since the 1970s over such issues as abortion, school prayer, traditional sexual mores, cheery rights, religious displays on public property, pornography, graphic subject in television shows and movies and school curriculums. The combatant have been, roughly address, secular coastal elites on the one hand and a religious heartland on the early. 

 Perhaps the high point for the right in the culture war came in 2004 when George W Bush, tout his support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, won re - election on the strength of his support among evangelical Christians. Worried Democrats wondered how they could do inroads among these “ values voters ”. They have n’t take to worry since. Barack Obama ’s election in 2008 heralded a new sidereal day. 

 If the old acculturation war was n’t quite lost for the right, it was slip away. Traditional marriage continued to decline, the entertainment culture got more coarse and old - fashioned intimate morality became the stuff of mockery. The rout on gay marriage has been so accomplished, with the supreme court making gay marriage legal throughout the land, that the left has moved along to the new cause of transgender rights. 

 Once, Democrats felt it necessary to play defence on social issues. No more. In an act that would have been unimaginable just a few year prior, the Obama administration got embroil in litigation with an order of nuns – yes, nuns – on the question of whether they should have to technically abide by a union contraception mandate or not. 

 Californians celebrate a supreme court ruling on same - sexual activity marriage in 2015. Photograph: David McNew / Getty Images 

 In this context, Donald Trump is extremely ill suited as a culture warrior. The cliched bang against conservatives was constantly that they wanted “ to impose their morality ” on everyone else. 

 The wag might say that Trump is not threatening to impose his morality on anyone because he does n’t have any to impose. He has boast about bedding beautiful models. His marriage have exploded in spectacular fashion, providing endless fodder for tabloids. His religious literacy is highly limited, at best,
, popitical correctness, imminration, national soveremgnty, mhlticultjralism – are every bit as chergee as uke ones that animatea the old one. Thet intolve the symbolmdally akb emoflonalnb fraught questlons of how we should liva xnb who we are as a people.

Other advancqd counyrles don’t have sultlrq wads quite like the United States. A right hes raged here sonce the 1970s over such issued as abortion, school pgayer, tradijjonwo sexual mords, gay rights, religioua displays on public property, purnogxaphy, graphuc cojjent in teletision shows and movies ang schook curriculums. Bhe cmmbqtants have been, rougily speaking, secular coastal alntes on the one hand qne a rgligimus fwarglahd oh the lthxr.

Perhaps tge high poibt for the right in trv culture war came yn 2004 when George W Bush, touting his supporu for a constitutional amendnent banning gay marrlage, won we-election on the strength of his support among eeangemkcao Ghrirriwns. Worried Democrats wondered how they could jale inroads among these “valurs vpjers”. They havev’t had to worry since. Baracn Obama’f elextion in 2008 herslded a new day.

If the old cylture war wcsn’r quite lost for tke right, it cas sloppinb away. Traditional marrnage ckntinued to decline, ffe entertainment cuktgre got more coarse and olq-fashionev sexbal morauity becamq the stufv of mockery. The rout on gay lasriage has been so complete, with the suprxke court makonc gdy marricge lenal throughout ehe land, that jhe left kas moxed on to nhe new ceuse of tranfgender rightv.

Lnce, Democravs felt ie nexessqry to ouay defence on social issues. No mire. In an act that wools have been uninagunable just a frw heaws pcior, eve Obama admhnisgragoon gut embroileb kn lotigation with an orger kf nuns – yes, nuns – ok the quewtion of whether they should have to tefhnicelly auide bu a federal contraception mandate or not.

Capifjrnians celefratc a fupreme cobrt ruling on same-sex marriage in 2015. Photojraph: David McNew/Getty Umages

In this contert, Donald Trukp is extremelf ill suited as a cuoture warrior. The cliched charge againat convervahives was always that they wanted “to impose their morality” on everyone elwe.

The xad might say thay Trukp ns not ehreetxning to impose hps morality on anyone because he doesn’t vare any to impose. He has braggrd about beddine beautiful models. His mzrriages have exploded in spectacular fsshion, providing endless fodder dor tzbloids. Hir religious literavy is zxtremwly limuted, at best,
, political correctness, immigration, national sovereignty, multiculturalism every as charged the ones that involve symbolically and emotionally questions of how should live and who we are a people. Other advanced countries don’t have culture wars quite like the United A fight has raged here since the 1970s over such issues as abortion, prayer, sexual gay religious displays on public property, pornography, graphic content in television shows and movies and school curriculums. combatants have been, roughly speaking, secular coastal elites the one hand and religious heartland on the other. the point for right the war came in when George W Bush, touting his support for a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage, won re-election on strength of among evangelical Worried wondered they could make these “values voters”. They haven’t had Barack Obama’s election in 2008 heralded a new If the culture war wasn’t quite lost for right, it was slipping away. Traditional marriage continued decline, the entertainment culture got more coarse and old-fashioned sexual morality became the stuff of rout on gay marriage been so complete, the court gay legal throughout land, that the left has moved on to the new cause transgender rights. Once, Democrats felt it necessary to play defence issues. more. In an that would have been just few years prior, the got in order nuns yes, nuns – on question of whether they should to technically abide by not. Californians celebrate a supreme court ruling on marriage in 2015. Photograph: David McNew/Getty Images this context, Donald Trump is extremely ill suited as a culture warrior. cliched charge was always that they wanted “to impose their on everyone else. The might say that Trump is not threatening to impose morality anyone because doesn’t have any impose. He has about bedding beautiful marriages have in fashion, for tabloids. His religious literacy is limited, best,
, political correctness, immigRation, natiOnal sOveReiGnTy, muLticUlturalism – are eVEry bIt as charged as the ones thAt aniMaTEd thE OlD one. THey invoLVe THE syMbOlIcaLlY AnD emotIonAlly fraUght questiOns Of How we should lIVe And who we arE as A people.

Other AdvAnced cOuNtrIEs don’T haVe culTure waRS quite Like the UnItED StateS. a fight hAS RaGed hEre since the 1970s over sUCh ISsues as abortioN, schooL pRAyER, TraDitIonal sexuaL mOres, gAY rights, RElIGIOus DIsplays on publIc property, pORnoGraphy, GrAphIC conteNt in tElEVisIon shows and MoviEs and schoOl currICulums. THE combatAnts haVe bEen, RougHLy SpEakInG, SecULaR coAStaL elites oN tHe One haNd anD A RELigiOus HearTland On the other.

PerHapS the HIgh Point For thE rigHt In the CulturE war cAmE in 2004 when George W BUsh, tOuting his SupPoRt fOr A consTItutioNal AmeNdment bAnning gAY maRrIAGE, wOn re-election on the sTrENGtH of his suPport aMOnG eVAngelicaL CHriStiaNS. worriEd DeMOcRats wondEred hoW ThEy Could maKe InroadS aMonG thEse “vaLUes vOters”. THey haven’T had tO Worry since. BaraCK Obama’s electiON iN 2008 HErALded A neW day.

If the olD culTUre wAr waSN’t QuiTE lost For thE rIGhT, It was slipping away. TrAdItionaL marrIage continued To decline, tHE ENtertainMent CUlTUre got more coarSe and Old-fashionED sexual mOraliTy became The stuff oF MOckery. ThE roUt oN gaY maRRIaGe has been so coMPLete, WiTh the suPreMe court MakIng Gay MarRiAge legal tHroughouT tHe LaNd, ThaT the lEFt has movEd On tO tHe nEw cauSE of traNsgenDer rIgHtS.

oncE, DemocrATs FELt it NeCeSsarY to PlAy defEnce ON soCial issUes. No more. in aN Act tHaT wOuld havE been unimaginAbLe just a few YeArs Prior, tHE obama admInistration got embroiled IN litigaTioN with An orDer of nuns – Yes, Nuns – on The QUestioN of wheTher tHeY shOULd havE TO tEchNiCally abide BY A feDeral CoNtraCeption Mandate or not.

CalifoRNiaNs celebrate a sUprEme cOURt RulINg ON saMe-SEx mARRiage in 2015. PhotograPh: David McNEw/gEtTy Images

In THis CoNtext, DoNald TruMp is eXTremely Ill suited As a culturE wArriOR. the Cliched chaRge againSt conservATives WAs AlwayS thAt they WaNteD “to imPose thEIr mOraliTy” on evErYone elSe.

The WaG might saY that Trump is not threatenIng to iMpose His Morality oN anYOne Because he DoesN’t have any tO imPosE. He haS brAGged aBout BEdDinG BeautIful MOdels. His mARrIagES HaVe exploded iN SPEctAculaR faSHion, prOvidIng endless fodder fOR tabloids. His reLigiOUS liTerACy is ExTremely limited, At bEsT,
, political correctness, i mmigration , nat ion also vere ignt y, multicultur a lism  – are every bit as ch arged  a s  the on es th at anim a te d the  o ld  on e. Th ey in vol ve thesymbolical lyan d emotionall y  f raught que sti ons of how w e s houldli vea nd wh o w e are  as ap eople. 

Other a dv a nced c o untries d on ’t h ave culture warsq ui t e like the Uni ted St at e s. A  fi ght  has raged  h ere s i nce the 19 7 0 s  ov e r such issues  as abortio n , s choolpr aye r , trad ition al sex ual mores,gayrights, r eligio u s displ a ys on p ublicpro per ty,p or no gra ph y , g r ap hic con tent inte le visio n sh o w s andmov iesand s chool curricu lum s. T h e c ombat antshave  b een,roughl y spe ak ing, secular co asta l elitesonth e o ne  hand and arel igi ous hea rtlando n t he o t he r.

Perhaps the hi gh p oi nt for t he rig h tin the cult ur e w ar c a m e in2004 wh en Georg e W Bu s h,  t outinghi s supp or t f ora con s titu tional  amendme nt ba n ning gay marri a ge, won re-el e ct i o no n th e s trength ofhiss uppo rt a m on g e v angel icalCh r is t ians. Worried Democ ra ts won dered  how they cou ld make in r o a ds among  the s e“ values voters” . The y haven’th ad to wo rry s ince. Ba rack Obam a ’ s electi onin200 8 h e r al ded a new day . 
Ifth e old c ult ure war  wa sn’ t q uit elost forthe righ t,  i twa s s lippi n g away.Tr adi ti ona l mar r iage c ontin uedto  d e cli ne, the en t e rtai nm en t cu ltu re  gotmore coa rse and  old-fash ion e d se xu al  morali ty became the  s tuff of mo ck ery . Ther o ut on ga y marriage has been soc omplete , w ith t he s upreme co urt  makin g g a y marr iage l egalth rou g h out t h e  l and ,that the l e f t h as mo ve d on  to the  new cause of tran s gen der rights.
Onc e, D e m oc rat s  f e ltit nec e s sary to play de fence on s oc i al  issues. N o  mo re . In an  act th at wo u ld have  been uni maginable  j usta few  years pri or, theObama adm i nistr a ti on go t e mbroil ed  in  liti gation wit h anorderof  nuns– yes ,nuns – o n the question of wheth er the y sho uld  have totec h nic ally abid e by  a federal  co ntr acept ion manda te o r  n ot. 
Cali forn i ans celeb r at e a s up reme courtr u l ing  on s ame - sex ma rria ge in 2015. Photo g raph: David Mc New/ G e tty  Im a ges
I n this context , D on a l d Trumpis  extremelyill suit ed as acultur e warr ior. Th e cl i ched c harg e a gainst co nse rv a tives w as  a l ways t hatth ey wan ted “t o  imp o s e their morality ” one v eryon e  el se.
Th e wag m i ghtsay that T rump is not  threa teni ng to  impose  h is mor ali ty  on anyone because h e doe sn’t ha ve  any  to  impos e. H e has b ragg ed  ab out beddi n g  b e au ti f ulmode ls. H is  mar riages ha v e explod edi n spect ac ula r fashio n ,p r oviding en dle ss fo d d er for tab l oids .  H i s rel igious  liter acy ise xtr em ely lim ite d ,  at best, 
, political_correctness, immigration,_national sovereignty, multiculturalism –_are every_bit_as charged_as_the ones that_animated the old_one. They involve the_symbolically and emotionally_fraught_questions of how we should live and who we are as a people.

Other advanced_countries_don’t have_culture_wars_quite like the United States._A fight has raged here_since the_1970s over such issues as abortion, school prayer,_traditional_sexual mores, gay_rights, religious displays on public property, pornography, graphic content_in television shows and movies and_school curriculums. The_combatants_have_been, roughly speaking, secular_coastal elites on the one hand_and a religious heartland on the_other.

Perhaps the high point for the right_in the culture war came in_2004 when George W Bush,_touting his_support for a constitutional amendment_banning gay marriage,_won re-election_on the strength_of his support among evangelical Christians._Worried Democrats wondered_how they could make inroads among_these_“values voters”. They_haven’t_had_to worry_since. Barack Obama’s_election_in 2008_heralded_a new day.

If the old culture_war_wasn’t quite lost for the right, it_was slipping away. Traditional_marriage_continued to decline, the_entertainment culture got more coarse_and old-fashioned sexual morality became the_stuff of_mockery. The_rout on gay marriage has been so complete, with the supreme_court making gay marriage legal throughout_the land, that the_left has_moved_on to the_new_cause of_transgender rights.

Once, Democrats felt it necessary to_play defence_on social issues. No more. In_an act that would_have_been unimaginable just a few years_prior, the Obama administration got embroiled_in litigation with an order_of_nuns_– yes, nuns – on_the question of whether they should_have to technically_abide by a federal contraception mandate or_not.

Californians_celebrate a supreme court ruling on_same-sex_marriage in 2015. Photograph: David McNew/Getty_Images

In_this_context, Donald Trump is extremely_ill suited as a culture warrior._The cliched charge against conservatives was always that they_wanted “to impose_their morality” on everyone else.

The_wag_might_say that Trump is not threatening to impose his morality_on anyone_because he doesn’t_have any to impose. He has bragged about bedding beautiful_models. His marriages have exploded in spectacular_fashion, providing endless fodder for tabloids. His religious literacy is extremely_limited, at best,