Faith

Rick Perry’s New Campaign Promise: ‘I’ll End Obama‘s War on Religion’

Perry Runs Iowa Ad Saying Obama Has Declared War on ReligionHas President Barack Obama declared an open war on religion? While some would say with certainty that he has, others would openly defend the president’s purported personal faith and devotion to the Almighty.

But GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry, for one, believes that Obama has been less-than-friendly to people of faith in America.

In fact, in a new campaign advertisement running in Iowa, Perry takes some hard jabs at the president’s faith record, while attempting to rally evangelicals. The 30-second spot starts with Perry saying, “I‘m not ashamed to admit that I’m a Christian.”

The texas governor continues, saying, “But you don‘t need to be in the pew every Sunday to know that there’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military, but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas and pray in school.”

Perry’s message is particularly timely, as it addresses the War on Christmas, which many see as a pervasive problem in American society. School prayer, another important issue for some religious voters, was also included in his pitch to Iowan voters. ”Faith made America strong. It can make her strong again,” Perry concludes.

Watch the ad, below:

This theme follows closely with what many pundits and religious leaders have been saying. For example, Rep. Chris Smith (R-N.J.) recently said, “The Obama adminstration’s bias against Catholics is an affront to religious freedom and a threat to all people.” Listen to these words, below:

But while many view Obama’s policies as anti-religion and anti-Catholic in particular, lately the president has been speaking more openly about his faith. During the White House’s recent tree-lighting ceremony, he made some overtly Christ-filled statements:

“More than 2,000 years ago, a child was born to two faithful travelers who could find rest only in a stable, among the cattle and the sheep.  But this was not just any child.  Christ’s birth made the angels rejoice and attracted shepherds and kings from afar.”

Regardless of what Obama claims he believes, many, like Perry, would consider his words vapid and a symptom of the 2012 campaign season. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section.

(H/T: Politico)

Comments (159)

  • realindependent
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:35pm

    yeah yeah Obama is a Marxist, Muslim,socialist,racist piece of excrement. He hates the military, Israel,America, and all White people. You guys are a Joke and that’s why right wingers never get elected president. just like true liberals get elected. Obama is a moderate, just like every president before him. They run to they’re right and left to get elected. then rule from the center. GWB was sold as a true conservative and he spent this country broke. 2 wars, medicare part B, dept of homeland security, no child left behind and tax cuts that cost the government 800 billion in revenue that could have paid for his dumb wars. Deregulated every thing and then wonders why our economy crashed. You all have short term memory loss. this economy crashed under your king GWB. we lost 2 million jobs in the last 6 months of his term. blame Obama all you want. It was your “conservative that caused this mess. and 4 years isn’t going to fix it. its gonna take most of Obama’s 2nd term to fix it.

    FOUR MORE YEARS. cause Newt or Romney are no match for my Commander In Chief.

    Oh yeah one more thing, who killed Osama bin laden? Oh yeah That one. Lulz

    Report Post » realindependent  
  • Cyanide
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:27pm

    I am so sick of having to walk on eggshells with holiday’s now. In the schools in my town we don’t celebrate Halloween, we celebrate Character Day. Yeah, and now it‘s not a Christmas Tree it’s a holiday tree. Answer me…what other holiday uses a decorate pine tree as a symbol? No one. So if the Christmas Tree is now a holiday tree, i guess the Chanukah Menorah is now a Holiday Menorah right? And the Kwanza Kinara is now the Holiday Kinara? Give me a frakin break.

    Anyone see a pattern here? Just Christmas is being attacked. I celebrate Christmas and looking at a Menorah or even a Pentagram isn’t going to make me change my faith. I am aware that there are other religions. Why aren’t others aware of that? Why does it matter so much that I celebrate Christmas and you don’t. It‘s not even other religions necessarily it’s more the athiests. You know, I can‘t even call them Athiests because Athiests are people who don’t believe in anything. Religion-haters are the ones who have a problem with all this. Every athiest I know doesn’t give two craps about anything religious people do.

    I’m afraid at what the future holds. If my imagination lets me, I imagine a world without any Catholicism or Christanity or Jeudaism. Catholics have always been hated and now anti-semetism is returning full force.

    Report Post »  
    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:33pm

      Jews declared war on Christianity a long time ago. As Rabbi Lapin once said, ‘The ACLU’s leadership is almost reminiscent of a temple board meeting. …’

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:39pm

      “Answer me…what other holiday uses a decorate pine tree as a symbol?”

      Arbor Day?

      Report Post »  
    • tzion
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:23pm

      @Smack
      Once again you categorically put all Jews in the same boat. Sure there are some Jews that might stand against Christmas but those tend to be the more liberal and secular Jews, some of whom may even be atheists. I have many Jewish friends and all of them either are indifferent to Christmas, or in some cases even enjoy it. Categorically grouping people together based upon ethnicity is the very definition of racism.

      Report Post »  
    • smackdown33
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:59pm

      Listen, I agree. There are conservative, orthodox, Jews who’ll have nothing to do with any of this. However, they are the minority in the Jewish community, and there’s no question that it is this community that is playing a major role in changing American traditions.

      http://www.jewishjustice.org/who-we-are

      http://articles.latimes.com/2008/dec/19/opinion/oe-stein19

      http://www.ajr.org/article.asp?id=4264

      Report Post »  
    • voice_of_reason
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 11:23pm

      “Answer me…what other holiday uses a decorate pine tree as a symbol?”

      Yule?

      Report Post » voice_of_reason  
  • Tickdog
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:27pm

    piss on you perry and your “Give illegals free schooling” BS…

    Report Post » Tickdog  
    • Tercel
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:40pm

      Really???? You are that uninformed???? No illegal alien gets free tuition. They get the same tuition RATES that every other of their classmates get that qualify. If you have lived in Texas for the 3 previous years before applying to a Texas college, you qualify for in-state tuition RATES!!!! It is the Supreme Court that said we had to educate the illegals. Not Rick Perry. All we did in Texas was offer to those children that were brought here not of their own free will equal treatment if the excelled enough to qualify to be accepted to college in Texas. Same RATE as their classmates or anyone else moving to Texas if you meet the 3 year residency requirement.

      Report Post »  
    • gwssacredcause
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 10:58am

      @TERCEL Thank you for bringing that point up. I must not have heard Governor Perry’s comments correctly in the debate I will replay it.

      Report Post »  
    • gwssacredcause
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:52am

      @TERCEL I researched the statement made by Governor Romney and there are some things he does not mention. The tuition credit to illegal aliens does not total 100 thousand even at the high end and the number of those granted tuition credit is only about 1.2 percent and 73 percent of those got 2,600 dollars or less. I also fail to see where the 60 percent increase of illegal aliens in Texas is proven but I must say the statistics for the tuition may be from a questionable source as well (Pew Hispanic Center).
      I respectfully disagree with any program that promotes illegal entry into this nation and devalues the high rank of United States citizen.

      Report Post »  
  • PPMStudios
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:25pm

    It’s not just Obama. Oh sure, he sucks as a leader and is a horrible excuse for a President! But, this entire secular crap has been creeping up on us for years! It’s just finally coming to a head.

    Remember, they’ve also tried scraping the Pledge of Allegiance in classrooms to. Now, they’ve gone so far as to not allow Santa Claus (which is NOT a symbol of Christ), want everyone to say “Happy Holidays” vice “Merry Christmas”.

    The words are: “Freedom OF religion” not freedom from it!!!!

    Report Post » PPMStudios  
  • P8riot
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:16pm

    So does this mean that Perry is ending his war on Mormons? I guess he’ll pick and choose which religions he will defend.

    Report Post » P8riot  
    • paulusmaximus
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:22pm

      “?”s

      Report Post » paulusmaximus  
    • PPMStudios
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:27pm

      “his war on Mormons”?? What are you talking about?

      The preacher who introduced him at that one event made the anti-Mormon comments. NOT Perry! They only met that day…

      You have other information we should all know about??

      Report Post » PPMStudios  
    • WalterMitty
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:40pm

      Perry may not have made the comments, but he sure took long enough to denounce them … and only after a huge media circus. He could have defused the situation as it started, but he did not.

      Perry has no credibility on this issue. Sorry.

      Report Post » WalterMitty  
    • LibertyGoddess
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:42pm

      I was thinking the same thing. The Evangelical treatment of the Mormons is just as bad as the liberal agenda is at attacking the Evangelicals. Either walk the talk and be an example of the change you want to see, or stop complaining when it’s you.

      Report Post » LibertyGoddess  
    • PPMStudios
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:00pm

      Still wondering about “his war on Mormons” comments from P8RIOT.

      However, I waited an hour before I denounced what Blago was found guilty of… Does that make me guilty of trying to sell Obama’s Senate seat??

      Report Post » PPMStudios  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:26pm

      No fellow hard charger, only the ones he considers Christian. And as for the rest of us who are not of a Judeo/Christian faith, he would like us to leave his “Christian” nation. SEMPER FI

      Report Post »  
    • P8riot
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 6:29pm

      @PPMStudios -
      Oh please – Perry is using the same play book as Huckabee (which sadly worked). Perry could not have made a more timid denunciation of Jeffress’ comments.

      I guess you believe that the liberals secretly support Israel even though they refuse to TRULY denounce and repudiate all the anti-semitic comments made by their supporters.

      Report Post » P8riot  
  • This_Individual
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:10pm

    The only way to win in a “war against religion”, is to take the federal government’s opinion on religion out of the discussion.

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:10pm

    we‘ve been waiting for a coup d’etat to Save America for 2 years. this latest display of obama’s communist agenda degeneracy should have a lot of generals talking over their options.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:07pm

    when’s the next ad coming out that reveals how obama endorses bestiality in America. obama’s degeneracy is pandering to his fellow muslims esp those terrorist sleeper cells in the US Military, just like it says in the koran: bestiality and pedophilia is a-okay by allah and mohammed.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:06pm

    Thats why we have elections, you see.

    So military juntas and coups are not required.

    At least in theory…

    Report Post » MrButcher  
  • MrButcher
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:05pm

    The only thing Rick Perry needs to “end” is his campaign!

    Report Post » MrButcher  
  • garyM
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:05pm

    I’d love to see that done, however if you or someone else don’t get that accomplished in America, the Lord will accomplish this all around the world. Religion is worthless, only a relationship with Christ will please God! The Church of Jesus Christ will be taken from this earth and the devil will have free reign for a season and the anti-Christ will rule for 7 years, the Spirit of anti-christ is already here now! It won’t be good for those who are against Christ and have not given their life to Him. All the people who belong to the cults will be cast out!

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:03pm

    ANYONE BUT obama 2012. that’s all we care about. GOP can nominate whomever and just call us to go Vote against obama. if it’s a GOP or INDP candidate, we don’t care who just stop the nonsense and vote AGAINST obama…who ran in IL for IL Senator as “THE CANDIDATE FROM KENYA”. (YES he DID.)

    to vote for “ANYONE BUT obama” and get obama OUT of the Presidency (how much you want to bet he flees to an anti-American anti-Israel muslim nation) and WE AMERICANS will BEGIN our excruciatingly hard journey to SAVE AMERICA from the DIVISION & DEGENERACY that obama has driven America into.

    Report Post » BurntHills  
  • LeadNotFollow
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:00pm

    Rick Perry, great ad. Short, and to the point.
    We need a Christian in The White House, to fix this broken country.

    Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:05pm

      We’ve got one in there right now. He’s not doing such a good job.

      I’d rather have a moral person with clear ideas and a sound grip on the economy. Christian values would be fine, but I don‘t think a person’s religion should be a factor. Hell, if Romney would actually get a well thought-out and viable economic plan, I’d be happy to overlook him being part of the Mormon cult.

      Report Post »  
    • LibertyGoddess
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:45pm

      Has there ever been anyone but a Christian in the white house? I say we try the Mormon. At least he lives the Christian principles thoroughly.

      Report Post » LibertyGoddess  
    • tzion
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:36pm

      Well we CERTAINLY can’t put a Jew in the White House or else smackdown33 will be all “Jewish conspiracy” and “Jews are trying to take over the world” and of course “It was the Jewish controlled businesses and media that got him elected” etc. Seriously smackdown, if I replaced the word “Jew” in half of your accusations with “White Man” you’d almost sound like a black supremacist.

      Report Post »  
  • riseandshine
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:58pm

    Pander Pander

    Report Post » riseandshine  
  • deeberj
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:57pm

    Obama is more talkative about his christianity because it‘s getting close to election time and he doesn’t want anyone confused that he may be a muslim. That’s all that is.

    There is nothing in the constitution that says separation of church and state. It says in the first amendment – “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

    So the gov‘t can’t establish a religion. Rick Perry saying he is a Christian and how that affects his beliefs and ideas does not establish a religion, even if he’s the president. As long as he doesn‘t make a law making everyone follow his religion he’s doing nothing wrong.

    Report Post » deeberj  
  • disenlightened
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:56pm

    Actually Rick, you won‘t end Obama’s war on religion. You’re not going to be the nominee. You’re a nice guy and a great Governor though.

    Report Post » disenlightened  
    • pamela kay
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 3:48am

      I don’t think he has a chance and think he really messed up by his referrel to gays.He said allot that I agree with but whoever advised him to make that statement must not want him to succeed. Look, there is such a thing as tact and it is obvious that Perry doesn’t have any. He took what could have been a decent ad and ruined it with his choice of words. Like it or not there is a large populaton of gays in this country. You don’t have to agree with their lfestyle but you have to at least think before you speak. It made him look foolish. I expected to see Jeff Foxworthy at the end of the ad, “You might be a redneck…………………………………………………if you make a campaign ad like Rick Perry.

      Report Post » pamela kay  
  • Kiba
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:55pm

    I would be tickled sily if someone would just end his war on America by someone else getting elected in 2012, that would be a wonderfull start on it all. Only bad thing is I think his real dream is to head the Usless Nations so he can continue taking a wrecking-ball to this country. I can see it now “Kofi Obama”!

    Report Post »  
    • CatB
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:00pm

      I agree .. the “war” is not just with religion (Christians and Jews) but on America itself. I would like someone to end that and be looking out for America’s best interests.

      TEA!

      Report Post »  
  • ConservativeCharlie
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:53pm

    Perry, wasnt talking about this stuff until he had to figure out a nitch to get back in it, The reason he is saying all the right things now is because he is holding big money focus groups and trying to resonate. Dont forget who this Bilderburg clown is, NEWT, PERRY, AND ROMNEY ARE ALL MCCAIN.. repeat and write down. This explains how this people act when they dont think anyone are looking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMmGSL4NIFs

    Report Post »  
    • votemout2012
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:15pm

      Actually before Perry even announced he was running last rally he had a faith based rally durning the summer. He is the real deal.

      Report Post »  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on December 8, 2011 at 11:59am

      This is all I need to know in order NOT to vote for Newt Gingrich! It explains the Gingrich/Pelosi global warming ad and is absolutely mind-numbing how Gingrich thinks Americans would want one world government and to trash the Constitution!

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=moFsABsJNL4

      Report Post »  
  • Master_and_Commander
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:49pm

    I don‘t know if I’ll necessarily vote for him, but this is one part of Rick Perry I have always loved. God bless you, Governor.

    Report Post »  
    • smithclar3nc3
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:56pm

      Exactly Governor that‘s what he is and he shouldn’t hold that title. Someone tell Perry(the governor) to carry his arse back to Texas and give away more 22,000 dollar tax payer funded scholarships to illegals…While legal citizens have to pay their own way. He’s just another RINO and fortunately American got the message LOUD AND CLEAR

      Report Post »  
    • Tercel
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:58pm

      SMITHCLAR3NC3…I’m going to explain it again…Illegal aliens DO NOT get free tuition in Texas. They just qualify like any other student that has lived in Texas for the previous 3 years for in-state tuition RATES. RATES not free tuition. They did not come here of their own free will. They were brought here and if they have succeeded enough to qualify to get into college they are treated just like the rest of their classmates. It was the Supreme Court that said we had to educate them. All Texas did was treat them the same as their fellow classmates. They pay their own way. They just pay at the same RATE as any other person moving to Texas that has lived here for 3 years prior to entering college. RATES not free tuition.

      Report Post »  
  • mad_hatter_
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:49pm

    *** BREAKING NEWS ***

    Have you seen the headlines, Obama cancelled his vacation to Hawaii after Romney’s attack on him, golf, and long vacation. ( http://tiny.cc/tvcq6 )

    Report Post »  
    • circleDwagons
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 8:13pm

      that’s bad news, America is better off when Ozero is on the golf course. i wish we’d end our war against America

      Report Post » circleDwagons  
  • mad_hatter_
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:47pm

    In talking to a friend about Perry, we have found that he is the only candidate, up until today, that Romney has found a formidable candidate, enough to attack him, or reply with an attack. Perry is a great governor, question is is he ready for the Presidency?

    Report Post »  
    • ELAN114
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:04pm

      I voted for him as Governor but he is not ready in any way to be President. He needs to move aside, he had his front runner time and now it is gone. Come back to TX and fix what you can Mr. Perry, DC is no place for you.

      Report Post » ELAN114  
    • votemout2012
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:19pm

      Of coarse he is qualified. He is one of the few in the race who is qualified. He has a great energy plan, economic plan a reform DC plan. What more do you want? Flip flopper like Romney a big government guy like Newt, a newbie like Michelle. 3 term SUCCESSFUL governor has leadership written all over it.

      Report Post »  
    • Tercel
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 9:08pm

      Getting into this race late has hurt Perry because he did not have 5 years of polished sound bites for every question but he is the most qualified person running. He has 10 years of successful executive conservative governing experience of the world’s 13th largest economy. He is the only candidate other than Paul who served as a doctor to have military experience. He achieved the rank of Captain in the Air Force. He understands the border issues and how to seal the border. His convictions are genuine and his instincts are conservative. He has presided over the majority of all the job creation in the US in the last 2 years which were in Texas. He understands the nature of the threat to our American heritage and has the experience to reverse the course.

      Report Post »  
  • SgtB
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:47pm

    This is the worst campaign ad I’ve seen yet. Ron Paul or else in 2012. If you vote for the other guy and Obama wins, I’ll be blaming you.

    Report Post » SgtB  
    • palerider54
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:58pm

      Let me take a wild guess and say you hate Christianity.

      Report Post »  
    • Vechorik
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:11pm

      palerider54, that was a low blow — to insinuate that all Dr. Paul supporters hate Christianity.
      I’m a 60 year old, Christian Tea Party person that supports Dr. Paul.
      MANY Christians support Dr. Paul (and they wouldn’t approve of your slight either)

      Report Post »  
    • This_Individual
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 5:32pm

      PALE, Are you saying that the other candidates are theocrats, national socialists, or run of the mill statists? Perhaps “Christian socialists” like Edward and Francis Belamy? Could be.

      Report Post »  
  • Locked
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:46pm

    Debate on the issues, not on personal faith: the key is that it’s personal. I don’t want any leader to push religion on the masses, not even if it’s a religion I ascribe to (Christianity). It’s personal: we’re not a theocracy. When a presidential candidate’s main selling point is campaigning on religion, he’s no longer a viable candidate.

    Hence why Bachmann, Santorum, and Perry have never been viable candidates.

    Report Post »  
    • palerider54
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:08pm

      Ohh I see, it is okay to be a Christian so long as you keep it hid in a closet and don’t bring any of that silly faith stuff to public office. Uhh huh.

      Why is it when a Christian leader like Bachmann or Santorum or Perry take a Christian stand defending the attack by the liberals the first word you hear is “ A theocracy like Iran” from their mouths.

      You must really hate the fact that all but two of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were seminary graduates and used their knowledge of Gods law to write the constitution.

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:22pm

      @Palerider

      As a Christian myself, I’m obviously fine with Christian candidates. But would you vote for Obama if he suddenly said that he’s completely Christian, stopping the PC war on religion, and putting a cross in every classroom and outside every courthouse? There are far more pressing issues than the public image of religion.

      Report Post »  
  • Johnny916
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:46pm

    Why do many American conservatives believe what these politicians say in the media? I’m an atheist conservative and feel everyone should the right to worship but public life should be secular.

    Report Post »  
    • whiskeybomb
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:59pm

      I’m sorry Johnny but public square is public square. Secularism as you put is an idealogical belief I don’t care what people say it is and we are FREE to voice are belief anyway we choose in the public square. Further more voicing ones own religious belief is personal and is not forcing anybody to choose anything. We have gotten so far off the rales in this country that we view eveything as someone pushing something on us. The reason because we are becoming more and more of a socialist country and they only way for socialism to work is for everyone to ascribe to it. Personal religious belief doesn’t work the same way, but because we are so misguided we think just because someone wants to say in public that in tern means we have to agree; well I‘m sorry no we don’t and until there is some congressman presenting a bill on the floor for a national religion shut the hell up about seperation of church and state because clearly you have no idea what it means.

      Report Post »  
    • Johnny916
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:01pm

      No, I understand what the separation of church of state means; American children do not need religion to be happy. We need to focus of science and the study of humanity.

      Report Post »  
    • whiskeybomb
      Posted on December 7, 2011 at 4:43pm

      Again that is your personal belief and I welcome it because I think it makes me honestly, and I enphasize HONESTLY, question my own belief. But that doesn’t mean we as Christians need to shut up about what we believe because we believe that is where humanity comes from. Now you don‘t have to agree and I’m ok with that, but the truth is our founders by far did and they gave us the freest nation the world has ever seen so it only makes sense to at least honestly look at what they did and why they felt a creator was so important.

      Report Post »  
  • Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American
    Posted on December 7, 2011 at 3:44pm

    Maybe I missed the mandate that forbade christmas stuff in the classroom. Wasn’t that news story about a school that chose to do that?

    the part where he says “gays can serve openly in the military”, they edited out the scene of him grimacing and spitting his chew on the ground in disgust.

    Report Post » Bible Quotin' Science Fearin' Conservative American  

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