(CNN) – Rick Perry says that if he's elected president, he'll end what he calls President Barack Obama's "war on religion."
Perry makes the comments in a new TV commercial that's sure to create controversy.
"I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a Christian, but you don't need to be in the pew every Sunday to know there's something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military but our kids can't openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school," says the Texas governor and Republican White House candidate. "As President, I'll end Obama's war on religion. And I'll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage. Faith made America strong. It can make her strong again."
The Perry campaign tells CNN the 30-second spot starts running in "heavy rotation" statewide in Iowa Wednesday. The state's Jan. 3 caucuses kick off the presidential primary and caucus calendar. The campaign says the ad will also run on cable television on the Fox News Channel.
The 30-second spot is slotted to run statewide starting Wednesday in Iowa. The state's Jan. 3 caucuses kick off the presidential primary and caucus calendar.
In an email release touting the new commercial, the Perry campaign lists headlines from mainstream, conservative, and religious reporting sites to illustrate what it calls the "Obama Administration's war on religion." Those examples include the president's move to stop defending the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act and his exclusion of the word "God" from his Thanksgiving speech.
In an interview Wednesday with CNN's Wolf Blitzer, Perry said he stood by the ad.
"The administration is clearly sending messages to people of faith, and organizations of faith, that we're not going to support you with federal dollars," Perry said. "I'm very comfortable with that ad, for one thing. My faith is a part of me, and the values I learned in my Christian upbringing will affect my governing."
CNN has reached out to Obama's re-election team for reaction to the new Perry ad.
Perry is a Methodist and has not shied away from touting his faith during his presidential bid . In an earlier campaign commercial, Perry described himself as a "man of faith."
Social conservative voters are influential in race for the GOP presidential nomination, especially in Iowa and South Carolina, the first southern state to vote.
– Follow Paul Steinhauser on Twitter: @PSteinhauserCNN
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
A truly desperate act aimed to boost his appeal among the ignorant.
Perry has a good and strong point about religon. He like myself are Christians and Obama and his crew sure don't show any Christian Traits. He along with his name is Musilum to the core. Hope we don't lose the Christians Values or forefathers fought and died for G O D B L E S S AMERICA
Gov Perry wants a theocracy so he can stick his views down our throats. Faith is personal it is not something a government should be jamming down the population's throat.
Yet more unsubstantiated drivel from the Rights. Just provide ONE scrap of evidence, Mr. Dumber -than -Bush! While you're at it read about the separation of Church and State. Obama is 10 time the Christian you (and false prophets like you) claim to be.
He seemed alright with religious intolerance against mormons.
No wonder this guy has sunk – go home Rickie – your are as much of an idiot as the rest of the GOP clowns
Isnt it a little too soon after 9/11 to run for president as a Religious Fundamentalist who wants to destroy the American govt as we know it? Arent we spending billions to kill these guys in the middle east and one is running for president?
how patheic! anyone who would question another person's faith is nothing more then a wolf in sheep's clothing. i got news for you mr. perry, this kind of hate filled language might get you a few votes with the right wing of your party but it does nothing to sway independent voters.
Rick thinks that if he accuses Obama of a "war on religion" we will forget about the failed Repugnant wars on terror, drugs, Taliban, innocent Iraqis, innocent Pakistanis, innocent Afghanis, the American economy, the President of the United States, the 99%, and almost anyone else you can name, except of course the royal 1%ers.
How about ending obama`s war on America?
"I'll fight against liberal attacks on our religious heritage"
And we'll make sure you never get the chance.
BTW, contrary to what Parry and Fox and all you so-called Christians believe, our nation hasn't always celebrated Christmas.
Some interesting facts (amazing what a little google searching will reveal):
- The Pilgrims were prohibited from saying "Merry Christmas" (and fined if they did), because they considered it a pagan holiday. They also thought having Christmas trees were akin to practicing idolatry.
- For the first 67 years, Congress worked on Christmas Day.
- Alabama in 1836 became the first State to recognize Christmas, which finally became a federal holiday in 1870.
-The White House didn't have a Christmas tree until about the same time (and in 1902, 1904, 1907 and 1922, there wasn't a tree).
So get off it, Parry! We have no use for an uninformed, historically ignorant, divisive buffoon like you!
Most of our colleges have their foundation in religion. Religion is a most highly evolved of all human institutions. Despite aeons of sustained vicious attacks by it natural predators- atheism, naturalism, scientism, humanism, secularism, skepticism, communism, humanism, and totalitarianism- it has been able to adapt, morph, mutate, and even used its collective herding instinct to survive. It most often sees its predators go extinct, become irrelevant or neutralized; in this viral and hostile environment that calls for the survival of the fittest. How is religion able to survive or evade becoming extinct? Can its survival techniques be the scientific means towards the longevity of the human specie? Billions of humans are involved in religion. Isn't it arrogant for persons to be so dismissive of it?
Why is Christmas a federal holiday? If there is to be true seperation of church and state then all federal employees should be required to work on that day.
Rick Rick Rick... don't you realize it's December? That means it's time to rant about the "War on Christmas" not about the "War on Religion."
Get it straight (er... Gayly correct) dude!
Rick Perry is waging a war in intelligence!
oops, war ON intelligence...
Im not sure how tolerance and inclusion is taught by exclusion. Let ALL people be. Too many people commit the wrongful acts they deride and just say Hooray for our side. IE you cant call someone racist when while making antisematic/christian or whatever in the same sentence.
"When Obama gets re-elected, I wonder if Perry is going to follow through on that Texas secession threat of his."
Can't really think of a bigger favor he could do for the Dems than change the electoral college in that manner. Maybe...nope...nothing. Of course, they may throw a similar temper tantrum in response to the DOJ forcing them to throw out their racist redistricting plan, because they (and we) know that the 90% growth in the TX hispanic population since 2000 is rapidly turning TX purple, maybe even blue. The TX GOP is frantic over it.
"How about ending obama`s war on America?"
Yeah...keep your gov't hands off my 'Murika!!!
Excuse me, but let's make sure we get this correct. It's not a "War on Religion" it's "Regime Change in Religion". Just like it's not "War in Libya" or "War in Iran" its "Regime Change".
Give it up, Jethro. It's over for you.
If Perry is a man of faith, 16% percent of the population will vote against him, because we don't share the same imaginary friend that he does. I certainly do not want his imaginary friend giving all the answers on the test, because when you hear voices in your head that no one else can hear, that is a sign of a mental problem. Likely schizophrenia.
That will only play to the religious right, and no one else.
"Faith is personal it is not something a government should be jamming down the population's throat."
Indeed it is. Which is why I for one am not too concerned that Christianity isn't taught in schools. We in my family like to keep our Christianity personal to our own beliefs, without others - certainly teachers and the like - muddying the waters with their own interpretations and spin.
What war? Again more lies from the right.