THE STUMP OCTOBER 14, 2011
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[Guest post by Ed Kilgore]
Alec made note of Anita Thigpen Perry’s tearful and defiant speech yesterday at North Greenville University suggesting that her husband was being “brutalized” by the media and his presidential rivals because of his faith.
But there’s another notable aspect of these remarks beyond Ms. Perry’s display of fierce spousal loyalty, or even her conviction that God has cast an early ballot for her husband: the debasement of the idea of “persecution,” one of the most unattractive habits of the contemporary Christian Right.
Ms. Perry didn’t get specific on what sort of horrific persecution suffered by her husband she had in mind. But the connection she thought it had with Perry’s faith might suggest the candidate was “brutalized” by criticism of the bigoted anti-Mormon comments of her husband’s good friend and introducer at the recent Values Voter Summit, the Rev. Robert Jeffress, a minister in the same denomination that runs North Greenville University.
Given the rich history of actual Christian martyrdom over the centuries—and in some countries even now—it’s a bit pathetic to see comfortable (and in the Perrys’ case, rich and powerful) Americans pretending to be victims of religious persecution because other people don’t like their politics, their determination to impose their very particular brand of Christianity on everyone else, or their claims to be acting as agents of God Almighty.
But let’s give Ms. Perry a break: Perhaps she is especially sensitive because we are on the brink of the season when conservative Christians have to endure the “War on Christmas,” the annual indignity of seeing “Happy Holidays” displayed on department store facades.
6 comments
Mrs. Perry obviously feels entitled to her bigotry because a) she didn't disagree with the despicable rantings of her family pastor pall b) she categorizes this bigotry an expression of her religion (poor Jesus, what he has to put up with in his name). Any criticism of said bigotry is "persecution for my religion." Handy dodge isn't it? Laura Bush didn't say much, but she never would have let that go. She grew up right there in that same evangelical environment and she somehow managed to have enormous class and no truck with bigots. What is wrong with the Perry's? Allowing their pastor to spew such hate and whining about being victims when they are called on it!? They are both creeps!
- WandreyCer
October 14, 2011 at 12:52pm
If you can't argue the facts, then pound the table and accuse your opponents of bigotry. Ms. Perry is just the latest in a long line of this. Just the sort of character assassination of anyone criticizing a Republican that's characterizing debate in America these days. Can't they just understand America doesn't like their IDEAS, because their ideas won't work? Why do they have to do the equivalent of ascribing all opposition to them to 'evil', or 'jealously', or 'bigotry'? Does this make it easier for them NOT to examine their own ideas?
- AllanL5
October 14, 2011 at 1:16pm
When Perry is asked to produce his long form birth certificate, when he's accused of being a secret Muslim foreign Kenyan communist, when he's portrayed with Hitler moustaches, as a witch doctor, of setting up death panels to pull the plug on Gramma, when a sitting member of Congress shouts "You Lie!" during one of his speeches, when liberals show up with guns at one his pray-a-thons, then Mrs. Perry can talk about persecution. Until then Madam, have a thick skin. Presidential politics ain't pretty.
- dubyadoubte
October 14, 2011 at 1:34pm
That's why Republicans need all those upper class tax cuts -- to offset the horror of the constant religious persecution they must endure. Truly, no rich, ruling class has ever had it so tough.
- DC Spence
October 14, 2011 at 3:15pm
if Ms. Perry wants to come out and say something about a group of victims who needs a spokesman, like international victims of violence, I might have a different opinion of her cause.
- Nusholtz
October 15, 2011 at 11:10am
Y'all realize the Perry's are Methodists, right? um, nutshotlz, Anita Perry is currently being criticized for having dedicated a good part of her energy past eight years for exactly that, except not global, but women being abused in Texas - she dares to accept a $60,000 per year salary for her job. quoting Jacob Bernstein at msnbc when you google " Anita Perry women violence": "It's rare that you find anything controversial to say about a woman who goes to work for a nonpartisan organization that fights sexual violence against women. But Anita Perry is not most women. ... " The LA Times has a good piece explaining her biblical "fleece" comment. I am still reading Andrew Roberts new history of WW2, and got to D-Day last night. Eisenhower was certainly very vocal in seeking divine guidance. Get used to it all ye secular humanists. People of faith are not going to disappear, in fact, they do seem to being into that fruitful and multiply thing. I am so NOT looking forward to Anderson Cooper moderatig Tuesday's debate. REALLY wish it was a debate of the candidate's spouses - THAT would be really interesting. so many blondes....
- K2K
October 15, 2011 at 1:39pm