Why don't the Christians just love?

There are a lot of things that bother me, but one that is currently at the top of my list is when Christians assume being a Christian means being a Republican. And if you are a Christian and not a Republican, then you are not a "real" Christian. It is so sad to me that Christianity is so tightly related to politics. I understand that untangling the two would be, for the most part, futile, but why must Christians be so emphatic about the connection between God, Christianity, and being a Republican? Why can't people just know Christians by our love and by how we show that love to others? I mean, honestly, why has Christianity strayed so far from what God intended it to be? I cannot even begin to believe that in God's plan for the world, He thought: "And around the year 2007, I don't want my children to be known for their love, but instead, for their Republicanism. And it is good." Are you joking?! My prayer for Christians in America is that they will stop ranting and raving about being a good Republican and start loving those around them. I mean, after all, which is going to make a bigger impact for the kingdom?