"For decades, conservatives labored to make their movement more humane".  Absolutely not true.  I lived through the conservative takeover of the heart of the Republican Party in the 1970s.  Kinder?  Nicer? Compassionate?  Heck no.  Conservatives used four letter descriptions of people like Rockerfeller and other moderates.  Conservatives in those days encouraged the moderate wing to leave the party.  Same is true today, but with more intensity.