Except they are representing the people, the ones who are making the most noise. Who makes the most noise? religious extremists. They talk loudly and they get their people out to vote, so of course the government does what they want, they have to in order to get reelected. They may be the minority, but they are much more politically active, so to the politicians, they seem like the majority, and the fact that those who cater to religious conservatives keep getting voted into office proves they should be catering to them.
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but apathy is going to kill the Americans.