That's because we have a political party in this country that has aligned it's self with the Conservative right and will stop at nothing to make it so and has tried for the past 60 years to do so. Obviously a lot of it has worked since a lot of the world views us that way. Here is Barry Goldwater who was a leader of that party before they got in bed with them. “Mark my word, if and when these preachers get control of the [Republican] party, and they're sure trying to do so, it's going to be a terrible damn problem. Frankly, these people frighten me. Politics and governing demand compromise. But these Christians believe they are acting in the name of God, so they can't and won't compromise. I know, I've tried to deal with them.” ― Barry M. Goldwater