Re: @vtcodger
That's pretty much correct. But while the Classic Republicans (prior to the 1950's) were classically pro-business, they were also pragmatically middle-ground socially, as Lincoln proved. They weren't afraid to toe a middle line if that suited their purpose.
My point was, as you note, they courted the fundamentalist movement (go watch D.L. Hughley's important interview with Frank Schaefer, https://youtu.be/Fy1G1qdvIAI ) and shifted hard-right, as they saw the political power that they could muster for their own needs. And people like McConnell are still at it.