Texas Governor Mobilizes Evangelicals

[alonzomourning23]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050612/ap_on_el_gu/texas_governor_religion

DALLAS - Even for Texas, the scene was remarkable: The governor, flanked by an out-of-state televangelist and religious right leaders, signing legislation in a church school gymnasium amid shouts of "amen" from backers who just as well could have been attending a revival.

It wasn't just the blatant blend of church and state that made the gathering in Fort Worth unusual. Advance publicity also attracted about 300 angry protesters — unheard of for the routine business of ceremonial bill signings.
Now some wonder whether Gov. Rick Perry overplayed his hand last week trying to stick to the playbook used by old friend George W. Bush and political whiz Karl Rove, mobilizing evangelicals for last year's presidential race.

"Governor Perry and his people are just not as good as Bush and Rove," Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson said. "Governor Perry knows the steps, but he's got no rhythm."

Perry's faith-based appeal came as he awaited possible Republican Party primary challenges from U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (news, bio, voting record) and Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn in 2006. But Jillson said the ex-Democrat risks alienating moderate Republicans turned off by an in-your-face approach to political issues with religious themes.

It's a gamble the governor seems willing to take. Last month, he spoke to about 500 pastors in Austin at a meeting of the Texas Restoration Project, which plans to register 300,000 new "values voters" in Texas and elect candidates who reflect their conservative views.

In the private meeting, Perry championed promotion of spiritual values on the public square.

"One of the great myths of our time is that you can't legislate morality," the governor told the ministers, according to a transcript provided to The Associated Press by his campaign.

"If you can't legislate morality, then you can neither lock criminals up nor let them go free. If you can't legislate morality, you can neither recognize gay marriage nor prohibit it. If you can't legislate morality, you can neither allow for prayer in school nor prevent it," he said. "It is a ridiculous notion to say you can't legislate morality. I say you can't NOT legislate morality."

Perry, a United Methodist, did not refer to the death penalty, which his denomination says devalues life and should be eliminated from criminal codes. The governor, a capital punishment proponent, presides over the nation's most active death penalty state.

Perry's pastor, the Rev. James Mayfield of Tarrytown United Methodist Church in Austin, did not respond to e-mail or phone messages from the AP seeking comment.

Perry grew up attending both the Baptist and Methodist churches in the tiny Paint Creek community in West Texas, spokeswoman Kathy Walt said. His religious beliefs are guided by several factors, including his understanding of scripture and conversations with "faith leaders."

"His walk of faith is a lifelong journey of a sinner who has accepted the grace of God," she said.

Ohio televangelist Rod Parsley and Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council in Washington were among the religious conservatives who shared the stage with Perry at the Fort Worth bill signing. Parsley linked homosexuality and disease rates, and about 1,000 supporters cheered attacks on "activist judges" and the media.

Objections to Perry using a church school as a backdrop to a bill signing preceded his visit, with critics mostly focusing on separation of church and state.

"This is one of the most outrageous misuses of a house of worship for political gain that I've ever seen," said Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Perry shrugged off the complaints.



"We could have signed it in a lot of different locations," Perry said on Fox News. "We could have signed it in a Wal-Mart parking lot, and those who are against people of faith being involved in the electoral process would still have been very much against this bill."

Perry actually signed two measures. One will impose more limits on late-term abortions and require minor girls to get written parental consent. The other would ban same-sex marriage, but voters must approve the constitutional amendment in November.

Perkins said he sees nothing wrong with signing legislation at a Christian school, and he pointed to a consistent theme of the bill-signing: Forces are at work to exclude the religious-minded from political and civic debate.

"People of faith are not backing up, we are not giving up, we are here to stay," he said.

Luis Saenz, Perry's campaign spokesman, said Perry is not the first governor to sign a bill in a religious setting.

Political consultant Marc Campos, who was an aide to former Democratic Gov. Mark White, confirmed White signed a bill in 1984 extending workers compensation benefits to farm workers on the front steps of a Catholic shrine where Mass was held regularly. He wrote on his Web site that he didn't recall "getting cracked on for holding a bill signing ceremony at a religious institution."

 

[MrBadExample]

Perry, a United Methodist, did not refer to the death penalty, which his denomination says devalues life and should be eliminated from criminal codes. The governor, a capital punishment proponent, presides over the nation's most active death penalty state.

It will be very interesting to see if Methodist leaders say Gov. Perry and his supporters should be denied the Methodist equivalent of communion for supporting the death penalty like the Catholic hierarchy went after John Kerry on abortion. I really don't see it happening though. I do think he has opened himself up for some uncomfortable questions about how he reconciles DP support with his faith.

 

[usickenme]

I have to seriously roll my eyes everytime I hear "against people of faith". Evangelicals have the freaking biggest group persecution complex I've ever seen. They seem to think that following our constitution and not promoting one narrow view of religion is akin to the holocaust.

 

[MrBadExample]

[quote name='usickenme']I have to seriously roll my eyes everytime I hear "against people of faith". Evangelicals have the freaking biggest group persecution complex I've ever seen. They seem to think that following our constitution and not promoting one narrow view of religion is akin to the holocaust.[/QUOTE]

That also presumes that there aren't plenty of people on the Left who are religious too. Just because some people aren't comfortable with a religion that supports the death penalty, war and greed, doesn't mean they aren't religious. But it's easier to get headlines and sheep-like supporters when you claim persecution.

 

[usickenme]

[quote name='MrBadExample']That also presumes that there aren't plenty of people on the Left who are religious too. Just because some people aren't comfortable with a religion that supports the death penalty, war and greed, doesn't mean they aren't religious. But it's easier to get headlines and sheep-like supporters when you claim persecution.[/QUOTE]

Good point but I get the feeling that if you don't think exactly as they do..then you really don't have faith.

 

[E-Z-B]

Can't he sign the bill at the texas state capitol bulding? What's wrong with the Governor's Mansion? Oh yeah, I forgot - it's all about putting on a show for your fanatical base. Terry Schiavo is a perfect example.

 

[Trancendental]

[quote name='E-Z-B']Can't he sign the bill at the texas state capitol bulding? What's wrong with the Governor's Mansion? Oh yeah, I forgot - it's all about putting on a show for your fanatical base. Terry Schiavo is a perfect example.[/QUOTE]

I heard he's going to fly to Jerusalem to sign his next bill, and it's going to be written on the shroud of Turin with a pen made from the wood of the holy cross.

Why can't you persecuters repent and let his evangelical fanatics take over traditional US freedoms!

 

[Backlash]

[quote name='camoor']I heard he's going to fly to Jerusalem to sign his next bill, and it's going to be written on the shroud of Turin with a pen made from the wood of the holy cross.
[/QUOTE]

:lol: