Yes, weird Christian beliefs do influence America

[jberryhill]

2. "They actually don’t want attention drawn to their wacky beliefs a good deal of the time"

Yep. That's why their favorite politicians will use a phrase or two - not from a Bible verse - but from a hymn that few outsiders know, but insiders will recognize immediately and think, "oh, s/he's one of us". When liberal politicians overtly appeal to mainstream Christian themes, it goes over with these folks like a lead balloon.