Trump vs. Pence: The meaning of political style on the American right

Comment published on New York Times online blog, in response to: "Mike Pence, holy terror," 7/29/18:

The Republican Party has two right wings, and Trump and Pence represent one and the other, respectively.  These are the business/libertarian right and the religious right.  What both wings have in common is an idea of authoritarian governance that is in a way allegorized by a mode of discourse on the one hand and an ideological set of beliefs on the other.    

Both wings developed trademark ideologies that were heavily financed by financiers representing big capital, as research has shown.  Trump is unique mainly for his discursive style: It is essentially performative.  When he calls unfavorable news false facts, everyone knows that what he means is: It's not whether what I say is true or false that matters, but what I want to be done.  

The evangelical Protestant-dominated religious right, with its signature issues of abortion and homophobia, reflects an ideology that is not Christian at all because love of the stranger and neighbor do not figure.  The real principle is moralism (normality and propriety).  And behind that, the authoritarianism of bosses, versus the claims of workers, and the poor, including Blacks.   

Much of American culture is a friendly authoritarianism, which is why most people think it is nasty to argue.  The worst argument for a candidate is that another is worse still, as seems Pence.  But opposing fascism is a task that goes on whoever heads the government of our businesses.  It started before 9/11 and may not end soon.