(CNN) – Anita Perry stuck up for her husband Thursday, saying Texas Gov. Rick Perry was being "brutalized" by fellow conservatives for his Christian faith.
"It's been a rough month," Perry said in an emotional speech to voters in South Carolina Thursday. The speech was recorded by NBC News. "We have been brutalized and beaten up and chewed up in the press to where I need this today."
Rick Perry has been sliding in national polls since mid-September, when he put in shaky performances at two GOP presidential debates and lost a closely watched straw poll in Florida that he was widely expected to win. Perry's appearance at Tuesday's GOP debate also garnered negative reviews.
The latest CNN Poll of Polls, released Thursday, shows 14% of Republican voters identifying Perry as their choice for nominee, behind former Godfathers' Pizza executive Herman Cain and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. Those numbers reflect a sharp fall since early September, when a CNN/ORC International poll showed 30% of Republican voters picking Perry.
Anita Perry pointed the finger at fellow Republicans, who she said took issue with the governor's strong conservative Christian stance.
"We are being brutalized by our opponents, and our own party," Perry said. "So much of that is, I think they look at him, because of his faith. He is the only true conservative – well, there are some conservatives. And they're there for good reasons. And they may feel like God called them too. But I truly feel like we are here for that purpose."
Perry grew teary when relating stories from her childhood, saying her father was a deacon at a local church and that she never missed Sunday school as a girl.
She said Perry relied on prayer when deciding whether or not to enter the GOP race.
"He felt like he needed to see that burning bush," Perry said. "I said he may not see that burning bush but other people are seeing it for you."
Perry's relationship with the influential evangelical pastor Robert Jeffress has come under scrutiny in the past week. Jeffress told reporters at the Values Voter Summit in Washington he believed Mormonism was a 'cult.' Two men running for the GOP presidential nomination are Mormons, Romney and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. Jeffress has endorsed Perry, and introduced him at the summit.
Also see:
CNN Poll of Polls: Romney & Cain battle for top spot
From CNN Politics
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HAHAHAHAH! This would be hysterical, if it weren't so tragic – completely in goosestep with Sister Sarah Payme, cry victimization when there is nothing but objective assessment – the guy fell on his own sword, noone mouthed his debates for him – and he "needed the burning bush" before entering the race; just as Palin was "given the governorship by God, per direct intervention," sayeth her literal Kenyan witch hunter pastor.
Insanity. That it reaches a national stage, tragedy. The world laughs, and rightly so.
Boo hoo
If you can't take the heat – then don't try to burn everyone else with your hateful, theocrat nonsense!
Mrs. Perry, thats what happens when you marry a moron. It has less to do with the religion that he wears on his sleeve and more to do with his lack of character and intellectual capability. He actually makes W look like a genius.
Oh really, Anita? Notice your husband's supporters brutalizing Mitt Romeny for his faith? What goes around, comes around, Mrs. Texas.
Really............................please stop being such a FAKE......................how about your husband's "faith" has nothing whatsoever to do with him being brutalized and maybe its because he can't seem to do anything outside of his "faith" which means yet another Texans hiding behind their "faith" to get a job. Why can't he stand on his own 2 feet and tell the American people what it is he will do and not do to improve our country?
I don't think he's been brutalized for his faith......for stupidity and painting a racist name on a rock at his hunting camp, yes. On second thought, maybe stupidity and racism are his faith.
One question, we have all these Christians running for president because God told them to run, doesn't God know which one he wants, is God a comedian, or more likely, are these Christians who claim God told them to run full of BS?
My guess is the later.
Aww, poor baby! The guy's pastor is bigot, and he's criticized for not repudiating a bigot. If Perry were really a Christian, he'd be denouncing Jeffress for making Christianity look like bigotry. Real Christians aren't bigots.
If his faith is the source of his stupid statements, poor understanding of economics, shaky political positions and awful debate performances, well then yes, I guess do hate him for his faith.
"He felt like he needed to see that burning bush," Perry said. "I said he may not see that burning bush but other people are seeing it for you."
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He just wanted to see GW Bush burning thats all ... God used to burning bush to let Moses know he had been selected already. Perry needs votes, not a burning bush. The only thing burning is his campaign hopes going up in flames.
Sorry Anita.. this is big boy politics.. nobody is feeling sorry for you because you got your feelings hurt. Nobody cares you have "faith", If you put a target on your back with big mouth, dont cry when you get stabbed there.
she should move to a muslim country..prayer in schools (all schools), no evolution (in the classroom and in the government), unending conspiracy theories, no tolerance for gays, guns for everyone, hate foreigners, anti-abortion, name a social issue, these right wing religious types share the same views.
Mrs. Perry may want to invest in a titanium spine if hubby ever overcomes his many negative qualities and succeeds at his long con to gets elected. She’ll be put through the meat grinder just like Michelle Obama and Hillary Clinton. As for her husband, he may want to drop the glad handing Elmer Gantry routine and invest in a higher IQ and some integrity. That guy’s about as oily as they get.
"Two men say they're Jesus, One of them must be lieing'"
These guys can't possibly all have been choosen by God to be President !
Dear Mr & Mrs Perry,
That was not a sign from God... you just had a gassy stomach. Do whatever it is you need to do to get rid of it and then quit. The last thing the United States needs is another leader who thinks everyone must be a Christian and we must convert them all, even if it means war.
Mrs Perry is saying that she agress with the pastor who made the comments when she says "I think they look at his faith. He is the only true conservative." In other words... he is the only Christian,
Enough with the perceived Christian persecution. Guess what, if anything it's the other way around.
you people are so mean just because a person does not debate well does not mean he is not qualified i'll take rick perry any day over mitt
What comes around goes around. President Obama was hit harder.....Man up Perry!
Wow she is as dumb as her husband.
Waa, waa, boo hoo! Is there anyone who can even imagine this as our first lady? Like it or not, the first lady represents this country to the rest of the world and this woman would truly be an embarassment.
Perry is a crook, he should be investigated by the Texas State Attorney.
All the smack this guy talks about the President. You don't see the President whinning. Face it Perry's, quite frankly it may work in Texas but the rest of the country is not buying your bull, period.
When he said we don't have a heart if not supporting illegal's education, that's when he lost my interest. He supports an illegal activity, making him a criminal himself.
The man's solutions to our problems is to hold prayer events. He's victimized himself. Nonsense like that won't get you elected in the 21st century.
These people are really delusional. If they would quit trying to condemn people because of their faith there would be no brutalizing. No one cares about his faith, we just want him to practice what he peaches. So if his wife thinks that it is okay what he says and does she needs to reread the bible herself. She really does not care so long as she does not have to work and pay the bills. After all they are milionares and not one of us. She as well as her husband does not care about anything but themselves.