If you officially put yourself out there as a Democrat candidate you are saying that you ARE a Democrat, thus you agree w/ the tenets of the party. In my opinion, you can't be a Christian and also be aligned w/ a party that believes in and promotes abortion, gay marriage, etc.
Those few Repubs who, as you say, are pro abortion and for gay marriage are few and far between and are referred to as RINO's, (republican in name only), comprise only a small fraction and should be avoided like the plague.
On the other hand, the majority of Dems believe that way on abortion and gay marriage. They should also be avoided like the plague.
So, labels DO mean something. That's why those names stick. That's how a catchphrase becomes a catchphrase.
I can't believe this has to be spelled out.
Laura Bush is not a politician, but it doesn't excuse her.