Hanover, New Hampshire (CNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry's son Griffin, an increasingly regular presence on the Republican campaign trail, distanced his father Tuesday from Baptist pastor Robert Jeffress and his controversial remarks about Mormonism.
Jeffress endorsed Perry's presidential bid last week and said that GOP frontrunner Mitt Romney, a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is not a Christian. He also called Mormonism a "cult."
The younger Perry was asked about the flap during a question and answer session with a group of Dartmouth College students ahead of Tuesday evening's GOP presidential debate.
"You can't control what people who endorse you say," Perry answered. "Mitt Romney has said that Jesus Christ is his savior. That makes him a Christian."
Also see:
Jeffress: I'm not 'Rick Perry's Jeremiah Wright'
Huntsman: Pastor is a 'moron'
Huntsman: Mormon controversy a 'political sideshow'
From CNN Politics
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The US economy is going down the toilet and these theocratic idiots sit around dissing each other's religious opinions. Jesus would kick their butts down the road if he were around.
Well, I am certainly glad all that is settled.
Now that Griffin the Theology Guru has spoken.
And why wasn't Griffin named Pasture, or Posthole or Paint Perry? Perry will never get the GOP VP nod at this rate.
Too bad Perry himself doesn't have the courage to repudiate those comments. Maybe his son should be running.
That Perry kid should be running for President. He makes more sense and gets right to the point. Kudos for Griffin Perry!
I'm LDS. My religion doesn't require me to tell anybody they're going to hell and I should let god be the judge. Perry's requires him to be the judge and tell everybody but evangelicals's that they're going to hell. Who's the cult?
They planted the seed and now they'll throw the pastor under the bus. Good Christians...
The Perrys have spoken!!! This is a dead subject anyway just like Rev. Wright's SHOULD HAVE been during President Obama's campaign!!!
Obama/Biden 2012!!
That actually makes sense. The younger Perry is clearly making sure that the issue doesn't affect his dad's campaign. Beside, religion doesn't matter and shouldn't matter.
Mr. Majic Underpants has a lot of explaining to do about his 'religion'.
There are more storefront Christian churches here in Houston than there are bars.
Little Perry comes to the rescue! He must be eyeing a high government appointment if, by some miracle, daddy gets elected without poll fraud.
Perry should not be held accountable for the pastor's comments. That was totally wrong on the part of the media, in the first place. Perry said it was wrong, and that is all of the response he needs to make.
Seems Jr is just as dumb on religion as his father. Just because one holds a arena style prayer meeting before announcing his run for office does not make make even Rick Perry a christian. Just an opportunist. Every "Christian knows the bible stands on its own. The Mormons seem to think it needs the help of their founder Joseph Smith book of Mormon.
"You can't control what people who endorse you say," Perry answered.
Well, that observation sure didn't work for Obama in the Rev. Wright flap. Maybe the Republicans will let it slide for Perry.
The only real way out of this is for Perry himself to renounce Jeffress as John McCain renounced Hagee back in 2008. I do not believe that Perry will have the moral character to do that along with rejecting his endorsement. Most Republicans are cowards to the extreme right and Perry is no exception. What a hollow shell of the once proud party Republicans have turned into.
Ok junior, you can't control what people who endorse you say, but you sure as hell can reject the endorsement! Swing and a miss, let diddie try and explain himself instead of sending you out as his mouthpiece. He's running for the highest office in the world, not the effing PTA!
You can't control what people who endorse you say, but you sure as hell can reject the endorsement.
" you can`t control what people who endorse you say " no , but you can control who introduces you .
The younger Perry ?
It's so refreshing to hear him speak for his father . Young Perry 2020 !
Sound familiar ?
Griffin Perry knows his religion and knows his logic. You can only tell who a person is by what he says and does. Since MItt Romney says that Jesus Christ is his Savior, he talks like a Christian. WIth his honesty, morality, love, and life-long dedication to his wife and children, he walks like a Christian. The press should stop stirring up conflict by finding people who don't know Governor Romney but are willing to judge his spirituality and compare it to their own.