Gov. Rick Perry
Still polling in the single digits in Iowa and faced with the prospect that the Republican presidential primary is becoming a two-man race between Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is desperately resorting to extreme anti-gay tactics. In response to President Barack Obama’s memorandum today saying the U.S. will use foreign aid to promote LGBT rights abroad, Perry issued this statement:
“Just when you thought Barack Obama couldn’t get any more out of touch with America’s values, AP reports his administration wants to make foreign aid decisions based on gay rights.
“This administration’s war on traditional American values must stop.
“I have proposed a foreign aid budget that starts at zero. From that zero baseline, we will consider aid requests based solely on America’s national security interests. Promoting special rights for gays in foreign countries is not in America’s interests and not worth a dime of taxpayers’ money.
“But there is a troubling trend here beyond the national security nonsense inherent in this silly idea. This is just the most recent example of an administration at war with people of faith in this country. Investing tax dollars promoting a lifestyle many Americas of faith find so deeply objectionable is wrong.
“President Obama has again mistaken America’s tolerance for different lifestyles with an endorsement of those lifestyles. I will not make that mistake.”
Also condemning Obama’s memorandum was GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum, according to CNN:
“I would suggest that we give out humanitarian aid based on humanitarian need, not based on whether people are promoting their particular agenda,” Santorum said. “Obviously the administration is promoting their particular agenda in this country, and now they feel its their obligation to promote those values not just in the military, not just in our society, but now around the world with taxpayer dollars.”
Santorum, who has long been an outspoken opponent of gay marriage, said Obama needed to clarify his stance on marriage rights. Obama has said he is “evolving” on the issue, but does not currently support the rights of gays to marry.
“He said he’s for traditional marriage, and now he’s promoting gay lifestyles and gay rights, and he’s fighting against traditional marriage within the courts, and I think he needs to be honest,” Santorum said.
UPDATE: According to the Washington Blade, Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese issued a statement in response to Perry’s remarks.
“Rick Perry has made no secret of his dislike for LGBT Americans – but his most recent remarks are outrageous even by his own standards,” Solmonese said. “It is bewildering that someone who wants to be President of the United States wouldn’t want to see our nation be a global leader in universal human rights. This is further proof that Rick Perry doesn’t want to represent the best interests of all Americans — he wants to advance an extremist, anti-gay agenda that represents the fringe views of a very small few.”
UPDATE NO. 2: Log Cabin Republicans also issued a statement:
“With all due respect, Governor Perry is wrong. Speaking out for the basic human rights of LGBT people to life and liberty is anything but ‘at war with American values,'” said R. Clarke Cooper, Log Cabin Republicans executive director. “Throughout his administration, President George W. Bush was strongly committed to supporting and protecting dissident and minority voices abroad. Our nation can be proud of its long, bipartisan legacy of promoting freedom for all. Around the globe today, gay and lesbian people are often subject to ‘corrective’ rape, state-sponsored torture, imprisonment and execution. Combatting these injustices is not advocating for any kind of ‘special rights,’ and it is shameful for Governor Perry to suggest that American people of faith do not support protecting vulnerable populations from brutality.”
Just the fact that LCR begin their statement ……”With all due respect…..
is worrying. Why does he deserve an ounce of respect?
2 man race?? when Ron Paul keeps being either in 2nd or 3rd place
I’m mildly surprised that the Log Cabin Republicans had the temerity to actually speak out against Perry’s comments, and at least applaud them for that. But why did they have to bring in Bush into the statement at all? Actually undermines what they said, to me.
Mr. Perry: I am an American. My “traditional American values” do not include divisiveness, discrimination, separation or exclusion. If YOUR “traditional American values” DO include divisiveness, discrimination, separation and/or exclusion, then you have no business holding a public office–ANY public office. “Traditional American values” requires embracing ALL people from ALL walks of life in ALL situations for the good of ALL. Supporting “traditional American values” also necessitates uniformity, solidarity and respect for others. Lastly, holding a high level public office requires the ability, maturity and sophistication to tolerate the opinions of those with whom you may not agree. Obviously, you don’t qualify.
Log Cabin Republicans. Think about those words. Would Lincoln be a modern Republican? Would be accept the denigration of other human beings as Perry and Santorum so often espouse? I feel sorry for these self hating men and women who would continue to associate themselves with the Republican Party.