The problem, to me, comes when you assume that there is a unitary relationship between a set of religious values and a set of political positions.

Well put, especially the bit I quoted.

I'm wondering if some people need a label to give them a set of rules to live by. That's fine by me if there's the flexibility to acknowledge other points of view are valid. Example in action: I know a Buddhist vegetarian. I eat meat. Neither of us declares the other "not a Buddhist" because of this.