Early Signs of Desperation?

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/08/politics/perry-response-mormonism/

The recent polls for the 2012 Republican Presidential Nomination indicate that Governor Perry is falling behind Mit Romney and Herman Cain.  According to the latest polls, Romney has 21.8% of the support, Cain has 16.2%, and Perry has 15.8%.  The rest of the candidates are in the single digits.  Most polls show this pattern, but ABC News does have Perry and Cain tied.  Perry’s latest speeches and debates have not helped his cause, but what is making the biggest headlines in his party is something that he didn’t even say. 

The Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Dallas, Reverend Robert Jeffress introduced Governor Perry this last week, but the introduction was quite controversial.  Jeffress made some harsh comments on Mit Romney and his religion, saying that Mormonism is a cult.  As the leading candidate, Romney does have the target on his back.  The other candidates are taking shots at him left and right.  However, here, Jeffress may have crossed the line.  Trying to come from behind, Perry’s party is trying to use whatever strategy available.  Perry knows as much as we do that being a Protestant Christian helps his chances significantly and being a Mormon, in Romney’s case, can be a disadvantage.  Perry’s campaign appears to be exploiting the fact that they have religion on their side.  In addition, a key point to Jeffress’ introduction was making the distinction between Mormonism and Protestant Christianity.  Jefress was making an effort to inform the public that Mormonism has nothing to do with Protestant Christianity. Further more, Jeffress used the work ‘cult’ to describe Romney’s religion because of the negative connotation that it has, especially in relation to Presidential Candidate.  Regardless of what Perry’s campaign was trying to do, they might have taken it too far.  This might play against Perry.  The words by Jefress have been extremely controversial in the news.  Especially with the favorable position that Romney is in, the harsh words from Perry’s party might give them the bad guy image, which is not what a Protestant Christian needs.   

Rick Perry Separation of Church and State

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/opinion/how-to-respond-to-rick-perrys-response.html?_r=1

When the subject of the Separation of Church and State is mentioned while talking about Rick Perry, everyone automatically thinks about the controversial Prayer Rally that Rick Perry put on in Texas.  Civil liberty groups among others have heavily criticized the event called “The Response”.  Furthermore, many believe that the event violated the First Amendment’s Separation of Church and State.  This is obviously a hot debate subject during these presidential campaigns.  In his New York Times article entitled, “How to Respond to Rick Perry and ‘The Response’”, Paul Horwitz expresses his quite unique view on the subject.  Horwitz does not believe in the way in which Perry’s critics are going about expressing their disagreement with Perry.  Horwitz says, “The problem is not only that such legal maneuvers routinely fail; it’s also that they do a disservice to religious freedom and diminish meaningful public debate.  There are better ways to express disagreement with religious statements made by elected officials than to sue the courts to try to pre-empt them.” (Horwitz).  This is a valid point made by Paul Horwitz.  Whether or not you agree with Perry, using the court to deal with the issue probably is not the best way to deal with the issue seeing that you are not exactly encouraging religious freedom.  Horwitz goes on, “Religion plays too important a part in many people’s lives to be denied a role in the public square.  To be sure, there are some things the state can’t do, like demand that schoolchildren pray each day. But elected officials, like other citizens, are free to have and express religious views.” (Horwitz).  This a good point, but I can’t definitively say if I agree or disagree with it.  Religion does play a big part in the lives of many individuals and I strongly believe in the freedom of religion.  However, being the president of such a large and diverse nation is a job that requires one to represent a vast group of peoples.  Without separating church and state, it would be tough to do so.  Additionally, there is no question that people with stronger religious beliefs have a more difficult time doing just that.  Whether or not Rick Perry is abiding by the first Amendment’s separation of Church and State or, he is definitely pushing the envelope through his political tactics thus far.  Because of his strict views, I would have to call him a separatist.  There simply have not been many signs just yet of Perry’s willingness to be an accomodationist.  

Civil Religion for Perry

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/figuring-faith/post/rick-perry-and-the-perils-of-sectarian-religion-in-2012/2011/09/22/gIQANiDOoK_blog.html

This week in a column called Figuring Faith, Robert Jones writes an interesting article where he seems to have a good understanding of this idea of Civil Religion that Fowler talks about in his writings.  In his article, Jones brings up Perry’s stance on some basic belief issues.  Many in America believe in evolution and some kind of climate change, but Perry has said that he does not believe in any evolution, but instead believes solely in creation.  This brings up the role of religion in politics.  I continue to believe that you cannot separate religion and politics because religion simply forms the basis of an individuals thoughts and opinions.  There are way too many issues in politics in which opinions are formed by religion that the two just cannot be separated.  Before I get side tracked, back to Perry’s beliefs on evolution and climate change.  In his article, Jones writes of Perry that he is, “a man who is fired more by faith and reliance on God than by academic credentials or science.” (Jones).  The disbelief of evolution and climate change in this world of advanced sciences is not a particularly popular one.  Jones has some statistical analysis showing that the majority of Americans believe that humans have evolved in some way or another over time.  Although this may not be of popular belief, it is a belief that is shaped by Perry’s religion.  Evangelical Christians believe that God has created all things and that evolution is just a “theory”.  After reading about Fowler’s idea of Civil Religion and the role of religion in politics today, I believe Fowler and Jones would agree on this idea.  Jones writes, “most Americans say it is important that a presidential candidate have strong religious beliefs.  Our new findings show that Perry’s invocation of sectarian religion and scientific skepticism will likely play well with both evangelicals and Tea Party members, who also share these views.” (Jones).  This is a key issue that Jones seems to agree with Fowler on.  Yes Perry has strong religious beliefs that don’t agree with all of America.  However, because Perry is so passionate, he will win over the votes of those who share his beliefs and since he is a Christian (a popular American religion) religion can be on his side in this country where civil religion is so prevalent.   

Religion: For or Against Rick Perry?

Religions seem to be the center of attention in this term’s presidential campaigns, which include a Mormon and two openly strong Protestant Christians.  One of which is Presidential candidate Rick Perry.   Born March 4, 1950, Rick Perry has been the Governor of Texas since 2000.  He has been the longest serving Governor for the state of Teas.  On August 13 of last month, Rick Perry announced that he is running for the Republican nomination for President of the United States.  Since his campaign started, Rick Perry has received much media attention for many reasons, one being his outward display of his religious beliefs.  Kenny Walsh’s article, Rick Perry Brings Religion Back in the GOP (link below), in the U.S News is pretty typical when speaking of Rick Perry and religion, but does a good job introducing Rick Perry on the topic of religion.  Arguably the most controversial thing that Perry has done thus far was having a day of Prayer and fasting. Perry seems to be stressing that God comes first and everything is secondary to Him.  Especially in times of trouble, he believes that people are lacking God and need to seek Him more.  The article notes that some critics go so far to say that Rick Perry violates the notion of separating Church and State. 

As Robert Fowler says in his chapter, Religion, Civil Society, and Political Culture, “Some have approached religious involvement with fear or even antagonism” (Fowler 201).  Many fear Rick Perry’s strong religious beliefs and author of God, No, Penn Jillette even calls him as acting “crazy”.  The center of attention when it comes to Rick Perry and Religion is the Prayer rally that he held.  Some are calling this event unconstitutional for violating the Establishment Clause. 

Oftentimes, religion can be a deciding factor on whether or not a Presidential candidate is sworn to oath.  As Fowler’s chapter notes, Mitt Romney’s last campaign likely ended simply because of his religious outlook.  With the attention and criticism on Rick Perry’s religious beliefs, one might foresee this happening to him as well.  However, the fact that Rick Perry’s religion happens to be Protestant Christianity can make a big difference.  In his book, Religion, Race and the American Presidency, Gaston Espinosa notes that, “Since the mid-1970s, evangelical Protestants have moved from being a relatively passive and largely politically divided bloc of voters, to a relatively engaged, largely unified, and critical voting bloc within the American presidential elections.” (Espinosa 24).  The numbers also show that Protestant Christianity has been growing as well as the percentage of those who participate in voting.  The fact that Rick Perry is a Christian, as opposed to say a Mormon like Mit Romney, can be a big difference maker in the outcome of Perry’s Presidential campaign as the numbers show that many Americans share their religious beliefs with that of Rick Perry. 

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/Ken-Walshs-Washington/2011/08/08/rick-perry-brings-religion-back-into-the-gop-race