Richard Land has an article in USA Today telling why he thinks people are mistaken to think of Rick Perry as George W. Bush redux. He writes:
Many people assume Texas Gov. Rick Perry is a carbon copy of George W. Bush. Well, he isn’t. Those who either love or despise former president Bush need to understand that Perry should be neither accepted nor rejected based on their opinion of Bush. Indeed, as the nation heads with full force into the 2012 election cycle, many of Perry’s opponents in and out of the news media will try to tear down the Texas governor as “Bush, continued.” To do so would be neither honest nor fair to either man.
On their religious faith, Land notes:
Their different backgrounds make them different men. Perry is less subtle. While both are men of genuine faith, Perry (life-long evangelical) is going to be more overtly Christian in his faith statements than the former president, who became a Methodist but was raised by New England Episcopalians. Perry is more conservative than Bush. He would be the most conservative president since Calvin Coolidge both fiscally and in foreign policy. He would be less interventionist in the latter and far more frugal than “compassionate” in the former.
Also, there was this little nugget near the end:
Perry also has a well-deserved reputation in Texas as being a less-forgiving political opponent than Bush. If you cross Perry, he will get even.
Read the rest here.
5 Comments
Barbara
It makes me bristle just a bit to see “evangelical/man of genuine faith” and “unforgiving/if you cross him, he will get even” written in the same context about the reputation of the same man. I hope that Gov. Perry will see the log that the writer sees and turn from that for the sake of the name of the Christ he proclaims.
John Holmberg
The “a less-forgiving political opponent than Bush. If you cross Perry, he will get even” bit and the “Perry (life-long evangelical) is going to be more overtly Christian in his faith statements” appear to be a bit antithetical. The correct way to say it, if the former statement is true, is definitely “Christian in his faith statements” as opposed to “Christian in his faith.” Christianity is all about forgiveness and letting God get “even.”
Did you notice the irony in the two statements Denny?
Barry Applewhite
No, they are not entirely alike. but some things remain the same. For example:
“There are some who feel like that the conditions are such that they can attack us there. My answer is bring ‘em on.” – George W. Bush, Washington, D.C., July 2, 2003.
Then we have the picture of Rick Perry on a magazine cover, standing with his booted foot on a low table. On the cowboy boot was written “Come and take it!”
How much more Texas bravado can this country take?
-Barry
Christianes
We need to elect presidents who understand that their decisions affect our young military people’s lives.
Our military serve this country with their very lives.
They deserve that their countrymen take as seriously who they will elect for Commander-in-Chief.
We owe that consideration to our serving men and women who place their lives on the line so that we can be free to vote.
Thomas More
Perry is also in league with some whacky charismatics who believe things that conventional evangelicals would find very uncomfortable. See Lou Engle, Bill Johnson, Randy Boehlender, etc.