Texas Governor Rick Perry’s prayer event(The Response) will go on as scheduled this Friday in spite of a lawsuit filed by the Freedom From Religion Foundation who argued that Perry’s involvement in the day of prayer and fasting would violate the First Amendment’s establishment clause. U.S. District Court Judge Gray H. Miller tossed the lawsuit saying, “The governor has done nothing more than invite others who are willing to do so to pray.” Indeed even Perry himself says it’s nothing comparing it to President Obama’s participation in National Day of Prayer Observance. Really, there is no comparison because Obama has toned down the observance opting not to hold a ceremony at the White House as George W. Bush had previously done. Can you imagine the talking points over at Fox News if there would have been a prayer service. Obama could have been reciting the Lord’s Prayer and they would have sworn it was something from the Koran.
Before I begin let me say that I have nothing against prayer or religion for that matter. I can hear my partner the NON-Conformist saying…”Libergirl you are bitter about religion.” There may be some truth to that but not for the reasons that you think. My problem is with the continued mixing of religion and politics. As you all know Perry is mulling a run for the 2012 presidency and with that really he shouldn’t be out at Reliant Stadium or anywhere else firing up evangelicals. It’s his base much like it was Dubya’s but I can’t see former President Bush spearheading a day of prayer and fasting.
Perry told a group of fundraisers for The Response event that the American way of life was being threatened by government regulation and a legal system run amok. “It’s time to just hand it over to God and say ‘God, you’re gonna have to fix this,’ ” said Perry. I think this is true, we do have to let go and let God, something that I struggle with doing daily, but the call to do this shouldn’t be put out by Rick Perry because it will come off as inherently political. Even Glenn Beck’s Restoring Honor Rally came off as political though it was supposed to honor the troops.
Perry’s message may go over well with evangelicals but may come off as scary to those more moderate. Maybe it’s me but the charismatic politician who preaches too much about religion should go the way of being a minister and back away from politics. There is supposed to be a separation of church and state but in recent elections, seemingly coinciding with the election of George W. Bush, faith has been a brand as to whether the politician is worthy to serve the country.
Sure, I don’t mind knowing that my politician believes in God but I don’t want them saying, “God told me to vote for this debt ceiling bill.” Really? Then you purport that you speak for all through your God. What about the politician whose God told them NOT to vote for the bill? This sounds more like your will rather than the Lord’s.
There is more going on with Rick Perry than his upcoming prayer event, he is touted at the front-runner for the Republican nomination and he has yet to enter the race. For some time Perry has stood in the shadows of another former Texas governor and holder of the office that he hopes to ascend to. Perry broke out of those shadows with his decisive moves following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina; literally inviting what seemed like all of those affected to take refuge in Texas. He is still recovering from the fallout of the Bush presidency but the Tea Party and its general dislike for the Obama Administration has put Perry out front and center as the savior of the Republican party and its Tea Party Wing. Alex Jones’ Infowars’ website reveals and documents 14 reasons why Rick Perry would be a really, really bad president. Among the reasons he’s a big government politician who has grown the size of Texas government by billions. This is in stark contrast to the Tea Party stance on small government. Will they like the fact that Perry only recently became a ultra-conservative convert? Will they be able to stomach his endorsement of pro-abortion, pro-same sex marriage presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani back in 2008? Perry recently clarified his views on gay marriage after saying at a fundraiser it was New York’s business to allow it and it was fine by him. Fine by him but he noted his “personal” opposition to it in a couple of public appearances thereafter.
But let me get back to The Response event this coming Saturday, Perry will have a grand stage (Reliant seats 71,500 ) to preview his potential run for the presidency but I think that Perry is taking a calculated risk that may or may not pay off. He’ll have to vigilant that the event doesn’t turn into a bashing Obama event; even tacitly and he runs the risk of alienating potential voters with speakers who are too conservative such as James Dobson. Perry says the event is about God and NOT him; let’s hope that is true.
Posted by Libergirl
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