Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Are Rick Perry and President Obama responsible for the religious company they keep?

Opponents of Barack Obama sought to tie him to some of the more controversial ideas of his minister, Jeremiah Wright. Now some critics of Gov. Rick Perry are doing something similar -- raising questions about the religious views of some organizers of Perry's Christian prayer summit in Houston next month. Perry has invited the public and his fellow governors to attend the "day of prayer and fasting for our troubled nation" at Reliant Stadium on Aug. 6. Sponsors represent a range of Christian views, but some clearly are outside the mainstream. For example, the event is being sponsored by the American Family Association, whose spokesman has said homosexuals founded the Nazi Party. One of the sponsors, Colorado evangelical C. Peter Wagner, has advocated burning the statues of Catholic saints and other non-Protestant religious objects. San Antonio megapastor John Hagee preaches an end-times theology that advocates bombing Iran. Oklahoma City evangelist John Benefiel says the Statue of Liberty is "a demonic idol."
Perry, who is considering running for president, has made it clear the day-long prayer summit was his idea and is his event. So it is fair to link Perry to some of the more controversial ideas of his sponsors - any more than it was fair to tie Obama to Wright? What are the limits of guilt by association? Does Obama own the views of Wright? Is Perry responsible when some of those he's partnered with who have unorthodox views? What is the responsibility of somebody in public life when organizing a religious event with sponsors others might find offensive? (active link and emphasis is mine)
Here is Oklahoma City Evangelist John Benefiel on the Statue of Liberty:



Read the rest of this story HERE.

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20 comments:

Anonymous said...

It looks like someone is worried about Perry and trying to try anything they can to debunk him.

I'm glad they are gathering to pray for America! Maybe Perry should invite Wright. The more praying - the better!!!

larry said...

YOU ARE responsible for the company you keep.

It seems the Perry likes religious fanatics.

Anonymous said...

Rev Benefiel is a total screwball.

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the article, Bosman.

One point made in the article is that at least Obama didn't organize an event with Wright, and he also made the differences he had with Wright clear, repudiating at least some of Wrights more extreme statements.

Is Perry going to do that? The AFA leaders are bigots and racists who hold hateful, kooky and extreme views. There's a virtual treasure trove of material. Why on earth has Perry hooked up with these people? The only answer I can come up with is that he agrees with them. Apparently he does not find their rhetoric distasteful.

That tells me pretty much all I need to know. Perry is going for the Huck voters in a big way. He's going to make the Bachmann's clinic controversy look tame, IMO.

-Martha

Anonymous said...

Some unpleasant facts:

1. Perry wants to run against Romney, and Huntsman too, for that matter.

2. Perry chose an anti-Mormon group, the AFA, to SPONSOR his national prayer breakfast.

Draw your own conclusions. This is Huck redux, only maybe on a grander scale--if you can imagine that.

-Martha

Ohio JOE said...

"Perry chose an anti-Mormon group, the AFA, to SPONSOR his national prayer breakfast."
There you go again Martha. To you everybody who supports family values is an anti-Mormon bigot. You have cried wolf a few times too many.

Anonymous said...

OJ! Read about the AFA for crying out loud. Bryan Fischer is an anti-Mormon bigot. All you have to do is read, my friend. Pull your head out of the sand for once.

-Martha

Anonymous said...

OJ, I realize anti-Mormonism is not really on your radar, but please stop pretending it does not exist. It's all over the news for the past month. We all need to stand up against these people who are intolerant and extreme. Remember Reagan said we don't need the bigots.

The AFA, and people like them need to be shown the door. We don't need them tarnishing our party. They are toxic.

-Martha

Anonymous said...

If Palin endorses Perry, and Perry endorses bigots, what does that say about Palin?

Ha ha. We'll soon see.

-Martha

Anonymous said...

I don't agree with all of Martha's comments, but Brian Fischer is a real Mormon hater. While I don't know for sure, he may also hate Catholics, as well. Many fundamentalist Christians hate both. I believe that's the problem Pastor Hagie has. You know, the one John McCain ended up needing to back away from.

In America, we do have freedom of religion, but allowing extremists like Wright, Hagie, and Fischer to play too large a part in a campaign is wrong; it sends the wrong message and drives too many voters away. Not to mention bringing up questions about how a candidate can tolerate such hate.

AZ

Anonymous said...

look at it like this....if romney was not a mormon, you can bet your bottom dollar he would have a few more percentage points in the polls.

Ann said...

Perry sure is strange.

I don't like it when I hear comparisons between him and GW.

GW is so out of his league.

Ohio JOE said...

"but Brian Fischer is a real Mormon hater. While I don't know for sure, he may also hate Catholics," That may be so. Yes there are people who hate Mormon and Catholics and what not all. However, Mr. Fischer is not the only person in the AFA or whatever it is called. Similarily, just because Mormon X hates all Catholics, Pentacostals and what all else, does not mean the every Mormon holds the same view.

BTW Martha, while anti-Mormonism may not be on my radar, anti-Catholism is. However, I would not dismiss a whole group (that generally does good work) just because a few characters in that organization hate my faith.

Anonymous said...

OJ, You are frustrating.

"Similarily, just because Mormon X hates all Catholics, Pentacostals and what all else, does not mean the every Mormon holds the same view."

Please give an example of any public Mormon figure who has ever come close to that? How about anyone at all? You can't find one. Zilch.

The other problem with your opinion is that you think Bryan Fischer and his bigoted cohorts in the AFA are just a small number. BUT THEY ARE NOT. He is the spokesperson for the AFA. It is not an accident, but by design. His views are the AFA's views. They chose him to represent them. They never distance themselves from his statements because they are right there with him!

So yes. The AFA stinks to high heaven, and deserves to be 100% dismissed. At least according to Reagan!

OJ, your continued reluctance to see the reality of these anti-Mormon, racist, anti-gay people is telling, unfortunately.

-Martha

Ohio JOE said...

"anti-Mormon, racist, anti-gay people is telling," So you assume that just because somebody who is anti-Mormon is racist and anti-Gay or all Gays are anti-Mormon. This sounds like a bunch of talk out of the hippie 60s. And so Mr. Reagan would not dismiss that group over a few supposed bad apples. Haha, what happened to the big tent.

Anonymous said...

OJ, no I do not assume that at all. The AFA and co. have said hateful things about Mormons, gays, and blacks.

And yes, Reagan would most assuredly dismissed the AFA. I have about 10 quotes from Reagan on bigotry and hateful rhetoric. One is this:

"Everyone is welcome on our tent, but NOT THE BIGOTS." - Reagan

-Martha

kelly said...

Yes, you should be judged by the company you keep!

Anonymous said...

Perry is DEFINITELY responsible for the "company" he keeps....and who he allows to team up with him on his prayer day. NO QUESTION!!

If the AFA is bigoted on religion and promote hate of any kind, they are no one to partner with. If Perry partners with such a group, he is absolutely no one I would want as POTUS! Period! I don't care what conservative radio heads or Christian groups push!

I will look for the Christian Right to RESPECT the Constitution and Article 6. Otherwise, their words are hollow.

OK

Revolution 2012 said...

I agree with kelly.

Anonymous said...

OJ,

I am the one who wrote the bit about anti-Catholics and Brian Fischer. I think I should have been more clear when I wrote that comment. I haven't researched Brian Fischer's comments about Catholics, so I really don't know his positions.

Many "fundamentalist Christians" have defined "true Christianity" in such a way that Mormons and Catholics are excluded from their "Christian club." Their dislike for these opposing theologies is so great, that the fundamentalist Christians basically become irrational in their dealings with these other groups. Some, if not all, of their politcal statements and writings are pure jibberish to minds disciplined in normal thought processes. I am not speaking of their theological writings, because people have a right to their own religious beliefs. They even have a right to attack other's religious beliefs, although I wish they would get their facts straight about my religion before they write or speak about them (sigh).

Still, if these are the spokespeople for an organization, voters are going to be turned away from the organization by words used. If these organizations choose to exclude others because of differences in theology, that is their choice. However, candidates need to be discerning about who they choose to be vocal in their campaigns because it may hurt them in a national campaign. Huckabee did well in Iowa, but he paid for his "Christian leader" methods down the road when he was thinking of expanding his campaign nationally. Iowa may not like Mormons, but the West is not Iowa.

AZ