Why do Republicans still have the edge on so-called "moral values"?

Buried in the latest USA Today/Gallup poll, in response to the badly-worded question "Do you think the Republican Party or the Democratic Party would do a better job in dealing with the following issues and problems", is the appalling finding that Republican still enjoy a narrow (4-point) edge on what the poll referred to as "moral values."

Putting aside for a moment the question of whether any political party or the government has a role in "moral values", the question must be asked: Why on earth does anyone give Republicans the edge on morality?

Summer Ludwig at Who Would Jesus Vote For lists her top five reasons for Republican sex scandals, two of which are the lack of an internal moral compass and a history of being told that sex is dirty. The more Republicans thump the Bible or pander to the Christofascist Zombie Brigade, the clearer it becomes that for many Republicans, the sexual aspect of morality comes down to "Do as I say, not as I do." It's difficult for secularists like me, who have managed to live a far more moral life than most of the Bible-thumpers, to understand why anyone for whom "moral values" are important would buy this as a philosophy. However, when you have a spiritual structure that is about faith, not deeds, you leave the door wide open for politicians who in no way practice what they preach. Morality then becomes not about living according to a certain moral code, but about advocating that code for others -- particularly those who do not adhere to a particular religion, and especially for those who provide embarrassment by living a life most people would regard as moral and manage to do it without the threat of hellfire and damnation for refusing to believe a story.

This list probably isn't comprehensive, and some kool-aid drinker insisted on adding the usual supects Ted Kennedy (cleared), Bill Clinton (unsuccessfully impeached, not "indited" (sic) and an unnamed Congressman who is obviously Barney Frank, caught up in a "gay sex scandal" (reprimanded) to the list, as if these incidents somehow negated the 89 Republican sex scandals cited (never mind those not yet on this list). This list spotlights Republican pedophiles.

Of course moral values extend far beyond just sex, though you'd never know it from listening to Christian conservatives. Greed is also one of the "seven deadly sins", and just the list of those touched by Jack Abramoff is enough to put a stake in the heart of any notion that Republicans are clean.

Of course Democrats have sex scandals and money scandals. But Republicans, particularly those who identify most with the Christian right, seem to have elevated sin to an art form. When you look at the Abramoff, Dan Rostenkowski's fall for trading postage stamps purchased at the House post office for cash seems downright quaint by comparison.

And yet Republicans still hold the edge on "moral values", despite the fact that one of their presidential front-runners practically came out and stated on Press the Meat last Sunday that Secret Service protection for a presidential mistress was appropriate, while all three of the Democratic frontrunners are still married to their first spouses. Even Hillary Clinton made the decision to work through her marital problems, which ought to be lauded by so-called "values conservatives" and yet is derided by them.

And yet, despite a four-point drop since the October Gallup poll, Republicans still hold the edge on "moral values."

I must just have a different definition of moral values than the more than four out of ten who still regard Republicans as more moral. Can it really be just about believing a story about a guy who rose from the dead?