Gays and terrorists are not terribly popular among conservatives. Each group represents, in the minds of conservatives, a threat to America. One is a threat to its moral values, another to national security.

Courtesy of YouTube, Rep. Sally Kern, R-Oklahoma City, has come under fire for her comments linking the two groups. Kern lamented that “the homosexual agenda is destroying America” and was “the biggest threat our nation has, even more than terrorism or Islam.”

Needless to say, feathers were ruffled.

Pro-gay activists at the national and local level have publicly decried the comments. The Cimarron Alliance Foundation, a gay and lesbian Oklahoma City group, has written a letter to Speaker of the House Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, urging a censure of Kern for her words and refusal to apologize. So far, Benge has stayed silent.

No one is quite sure how the comments were recorded. No cameras or visible microphones were present. The YouTube video shows a black screen with Kern’s words played over the audio and printed on the screen. Spliced with her comments are homemade images of offended people. They hold signs with “I’m Listening” scribbled across them.

Not only are offended parties listening, they are also writing in. Kern told media outlets she received close to 3,000 angry e-mails and phone calls since the comments were made public.

Not all have offered constructive criticism.

One letter read: “I heard what you said and you should be killed … along with George W. Bush! Christianity is the cancer in our society and should be eliminated.” The Cimarron Alliance posted a request on its Web site that writers and callers refrain from threatening the life of someone expressing an opinion.

‘Kernservatism’, as State Capitol insiders call it, has long taken aim at the gay agenda. In 2005, Kern authored a bill to restrict books with strong homosexual themes from being available in children’s libraries. In 2006, a similar bill, House Bill 2158, was introduced by Kern. The measure passed the House by a 2-to-1 margin, but was killed in the Senate.

Undoubtedly, Kern’s comments were excessive.

A lifestyle is not the same as a violent belief. But, in her opinion, it is. Today she remains steadfast in her beliefs, despite rumors her legislative seat in Putnam City may be in jeopardy.

Inferring from her past crusades against homosexuality, Kern’s fear is that this lifestyle and those who practice it are attempting to make it mainstream and acceptable. Since most social norms are formed during youth, she has directed her focus at the influential materials available to that age group.

Making homosexuality a social norm, with long-term social consequences, is a more pressing threat than violent jihadists, in her view. The view is extreme, but does illustrate an important point.

Abroad, the U.S. is devoting trillions of dollars to winning the war on terror. At home, it is devoting little resources to and losing the culture war. The liberal agenda is hitting America where it is at its weakest.

Critics scream intolerance anytime conservatives attempt to throw a stone in the culture war. In my opinion, conservatives are very tolerant. In other countries, citizens with alternate, socially unaccepted lifestyles are maimed and murdered.

Here we respect their choice and protect them under the law.

Liberals call this old-fashioned, prehistoric thought rooted in ancient myths. Let them cast their stones. No doubt they will be cheered as progressive, tolerant leaders in the crusade against conservative crazies.

True, the comments of Kern were extreme. In today’s climate, they were ill-timed and ill-phrased. It will further the divide of healthy discussion between opposing sides.

Maybe that is what this country needs, though. In the culture war, an “us and them” attitude may be necessary to hold onto the moral values that formed the bedrock of America for many years.

Disapproval must remain civil but firm.

Real conflict arises when a group tries to inject an alternative lifestyle into sacred beliefs. So far, with a few exceptions, these attempts have failed. Kern and other conservatives believe these groups are reassessing their strategies.

In the years to come, homosexuality could be a social norm to an adult who grew up reading books and watching shows normalizing the behavior.

High school drama classes may throw out “Romeo and Juliet” in favor of “Brokeback Mountain. ”

This is the threat.