COMMENTARY | The religious right will have yet another presidential candidate to choose from in the 2012 presidential race. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is said to be officially entering the Republican presidential primary this weekend, reports Hot Air.
In July, Perry told the Des Moines Register, "I'm not ready to tell you that I'm ready to announce that I'm in, but I'm getting more and more comfortable every day that this is what I've been called to do. This is what America needs."
It was just last weekend that Perry held his controversial prayer meeting, with some 30,000 supporters in attendance. Many expressed concerns that the governor was using this religious event for political gain. The political and theological views expressed by Perry are only held by a small slice of Americans.
According to The Associated Press, Randy Czarlinksky, director of the American Jewish Committee's Houston chapter, said of the meeting, "Governor Perry's exclusionary use of religion is politically, culturally and religiously divisive and unacceptable constitutionally."
The idea of an extreme conservative pushing his beliefs on all of the American people is, frankly, scary, but religion is not the only problem I have with Perry. In his attempt to explain how well his conservative doctrine works within the Texas economy, he assumes people will listen to his words and not look for proof of the results.
Texas takes first place honors for having the highest percentage of minimum wage employees, and the state has the fourth-worst budget deficit in the country. Texas is also a "winner" in having the most uninsured citizens. Perry is a leader in trying to push Medicaid completely out of the state.
Yes, the governor would like to bring these economic policies to the White House, along with his draconian beliefs. Perry has vehemently opposed the rights of gays and lesbians, and has also said he will support an amendment to the constitution that will effectively ban gay marriage.
During his speech at the prayer event, Perry offered this passionate statement: "Like all of you, I love this country deeply. ... Indeed the only thing that you love more is the living Christ. But our hearts do break for those who suffer, those afflicted by the loss of loved ones, the pain of addiction, the strife that they may find at home, those who have lost jobs, who have lost their homes, people who have lost hope."
With Perry making millions since becoming governor of Texas in 2000, you would think his love for the people of Texas would lead him to offer help to those in need. It has not. In fact, when he has donated to charities, they have mostly been connected with his family. The minute amount given to religious organizations was only one-half of 1 percent. The average American with an average income, by comparison, gives 1.2 percent.
With Perry, the GOP has yet another candidate who likes to talk but has no real resolution to our country's problems. A vote for Perry is a vote for the billionaires, and a check mark on the side of the hateful religious zealots.
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