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Rick Perry Preaches Anti-Gay Theocracy

Last updated on 2011.12.08

Holy cowpies! Tell me Rick Perry isn't spouting theocracy... and homophobia... and sheer baloney.

Kids can't openly celebrate Christmas? Obama's war on religion? America isn't strong, and needs to be made strong again? I missed all three of those memos. But I look forward to hearing Perry's plan for creating jobs by faith. That's pretty much what all Republican economics boils down to, isn't it?

Update 2011.12.08 05:38 MST: And in related news, Andrew Sullivan looks at Tim Tebow's conspicuous Christianism and reminds us that "Prayer is not supposed to be a public event, designed to display your holiness in front of the maximum number of people."

20 Comments

  1. Ken Blanchard 2011.12.08

    No, Cory, he's not spouting theocracy, whatever that means. This ad is nonetheless an execrable piece of work. He is trying to build support for his candidacy by demonizing a group of Americans. If Perry weren't already out of contention, this would put him there.

    Too bad you fritter away any moral authority your post might have had by that last stupid remark about Republicans and job creation. Otherwise we might have come perilously close to agreement.

  2. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.12.08

    But Ken, isn't faith really the centerpiece of Republican economics? Get rid of regulations, hand everyone's money to the rich, and trust the hallowed Invisible Hand to make everything work out?

    As for theocracy, I suppose I'm sensitive as a persecuted minority. But in his words here about faith, I hear Perry implying that in the unlikely event of his ascent to further power, we would see government of the Christians, by the Christians, and for the Christians.

  3. LK 2011.12.08

    If faith truly is "the substance of things unseen and the evidence of things hoped for," then it strikes me that both parties jobs plans are faith based.

    I have no evidence of substantial numbers of jobs being created.

    I'm not sure how pointing out the obvious means that one cedes moral authority.

  4. Elliot Knuths 2011.12.08

    I would cite Milton Friedman (an agnostic) and other "classical liberals" (and libertarians) as examples of Republicans who differs from the norm you suggest, but we're not an overwhelmingly common breed, and you're probably right, Cory, that a different form of Republican is more prominent at the moment.

    Instead of turning to God for economic policy, I prefer to turn to competition, while still emphasizing personal freedoms. I think most people who share my position would state the following, "We believe the laws of nature and humanity's demonstrated adaptability to be most present in a less regulated system that allows for trial and error, and feel that these forces are two that continue to develop civilization at a faster rate than any known alternative."

    As for Theocracy, I'm not a huge fan. I think a state run by the God of one religion, yet claiming to offer freedom of religion, is not really doing so. Claiming a nation to be, "Run by God," would not fly with me, because it is my belief that only Heaven is ruled exclusively by Him. And besides, with all of the interpretations of what God really "is," a group of humans could never come to an exact agreement on how a state run by God should be run.

  5. Elliot Knuths 2011.12.08

    (Caught my own grammar mistake. That's going to bug me all day now... line 2... subject/verb agreement.)

  6. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.12.08

    Let's hope so, John!

    Elliot: fine point on trail and error, adaptation, and competition. Curious: that's how Darwinian evolution works as well, right? I wonder if Perry has any trouble reconciling his economic views and his religious views.

  7. Ken Blanchard 2011.12.09

    Cory: you believe that we can do without oil as long as we have wind farms and cover vast regions of desert with solar arrays, both of which depend for their viability on large government subsidies, because you are confident that, any day now, they will become viable. Isn't that "faith-based energy policy"? You see how easy it is parody your argument?

    I have posted my own comments on Perry's ad, and I gave you credit. Perry's ad is disgusting. Maybe we should try to agree about that without scoring additional points against one another.

  8. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.12.09

    Ken: yes, I agree wholeheartedly with your strong analysis of Perry's stupid comments. I appreciate your acknowledgment.

    The possibility that I engage in "faith-based energy policy" does not negate the fact that Republicans lean toward "faith-based economics." If we want to argue viability, let's throw the same level of public support behind renewables as we did behind fossil fuels and have a fair fight. And my faith in renewables is based on more empirical examples, including local examples, than Rick Perry has of the existence of God.

  9. Elliot Knuths 2011.12.09

    You never know with him though, Cory... He's a real character (he could make Qaddafi look boring). I'm sure he's got some sort of change-up his button-down's sleeve that will make it seem okay (or he can just say economics slipped his mind!) We'll just have to see if he decides to go on any more crusades to court the social conservative vote, which is the only piece this ad is aimed towards. And I can't imagine that hard-line social conservatives are a big enough clump of votes to win on any level with.

  10. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.12.09

    Elliot, you remind me that a piece like this is targeted not at us but at a very tight group of primary voters. I suppose it's a Hail Mary (oh, the double meanings!) to the fundagelicals in Iowa, hoping to keep him alive for the next primary. Of course, how he thinks he can run an ad like this now and have Independent/moderate voters forget about it by the time of the general election is beyond me.

  11. John Hess 2011.12.09

    They use faith-based talk cause it strikes the right cord while fully knowing the policies affecting the economy and jobs benefit the wealthy. This story reports 6 Walmart heirs have as much wealth as the bottom 30 percent of Americans. How can so much money at the top be a Christian value?

    It doesn't seem believable:

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/12/08/walmart-heirs_n_1137492.html

  12. Steve Sibson 2011.12.09

    "As for Theocracy, I’m not a huge fan."

    Well you are Elliot. It is the New Age Theocracy where God is rejected becasue we ourselves are becoming gods via spiritual evolution that you are a huge fan of. So is Cory, larry, and Bill and most people in America. Sadly most don't even realize it. Of course if Satan was straight forward about it, few would go along with it.

  13. Ken Blanchard 2011.12.10

    Cory: I don't think this is really the spot to engage in a debate on economics, but I would say that both Republicans and Democrats have plenty of reasons for holding their various economic views. As for faith-based policy, look at Durban. Democrats have faith that the world can come together to make real changes that will effectively address global warming. As Mark Twain said, faith means believing in something you know ain't true.

    At any rate, you had a good point on Perry as we obviously agree. Maybe it were better not to spoil it with a cheap shot.

  14. Taunia 2011.12.11

    "As for faith-based policy, look at Durban. Democrats have faith that the world can come together to make real changes that will effectively address global warming."

    The Durban, SA UN meeting caused more damage than anyone expected. Stern getting checked by an overriding public statement by the Obama administration shows this administration does not take climate change seriously and there are serious rifts between the scientific community and the policy guys, again.

    Climate change deniers are orgasmic. Who cares about the Maldives, anyway, right?

  15. caheidelberger Post author | 2011.12.11

    I still don't see the cheap shot. The comment on faith underlying Perry's approach to justifying his claim to power as well as his and many conservatives' inadequate approach to economics remains apt and valid. The comment may only strike some as a cheap shot because it hits conservatives in a weak spot they have a hard time defending.

  16. larry kurtz 2012.01.13

    @MotherJones: Gay Republican group not allowed at this year's big CPAC conference.

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