VIDEO: Prominent Perry Endorser Robert Jeffress Says Voting For Romney Would ?Give Credibility To A Cult?
Posted in Main Blog (All Posts) on October 8th, 2011 4:36 am by HL
VIDEO: Prominent Perry Endorser Robert Jeffress Says Voting For Romney Would ?Give Credibility To A Cult?
ThinkProgress filed this report from the Values Voters Summit in Washington, DC. Today at the Values Voters Summit, presidential contender and Texas Gov. Rick Perry was introduced to the crowd by one of his most prominent supporters, Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas. Jeffress is well-known for his bigoted views […]
ThinkProgress filed this report from the Values Voters Summit in Washington, DC.
Southern Baptist Pastor Robert Jeffress
Today at the Values Voters Summit, presidential contender and Texas Gov. Rick Perry was introduced to the crowd by one of his most prominent supporters, Robert Jeffress, senior pastor of the First Baptist Church of Dallas. Jeffress is well-known for his bigoted views about gays, Muslims, and Mormons. During his introduction for Perry, he called Planned Parenthood “that slaughterhouse for the unborn.”
Speaking to reporters after Perry’s speech, Jeffress reiterated his well-known view that “Mormonism is a cult” which should essentially disqualify Mitt Romney from consideration among true Christian voters. “As evangelical Christians, we understand that Mormonism is not Christianity,” he said. “The decision for evangelical Christians right now is going to be do we prefer someone who is truly a believer in Jesus Christ or someone…who is a part of a cult.” He admitted “it’s not a politically correct thing to say.”
In response to questions from ThinkProgress about the booing of a gay soldier at the last GOP debate, Jeffress said “there’s good reason for keeping the tradition of not having homosexuals serve in the military.” He made the patently false claim that “70 percent of the gay population” has AIDS. “It’s a fact that it’s a gay disease so there’s a reasonable reason to exclude gays from the military,” he explained, suggesting that gay service members are more likely to spread disease. Watch it:
It’s pretty ludicrous to suggest that there’s a tradition of not having gays in the military — gay service members have simply not been allowed to serve openly and been forced to conceal their identities for fear of being dishonorably discharged.
In the past, Jeffress has claimed that Islam “promotes pedophilia” and that violence by Muslims is “in accordance with what the Quran teaches” because it’s a “violent religion.”
Perry spokesman Mark Miner said in a statement that Perry does not believe Mormonism is a cult.
Congressman From Koch Uninterested In Investigating Koch Industries? Business Deals With Iran
ThinkProgress filed this report from the Values Voters Summit in Washington, DC. Last week, Bloomberg released a bombshell report on Koch Industries, the oil conglomerate owned by the secretive conservative billionaires David and Charles Koch. The report revealed that Koch Industries subsidiaries were doing business in Iran and using bribes to win contracts elsewhere. The […]
ThinkProgress filed this report from the Values Voters Summit in Washington, DC.
Last week, Bloomberg released a bombshell report on Koch Industries, the oil conglomerate owned by the secretive conservative billionaires David and Charles Koch. The report revealed that Koch Industries subsidiaries were doing business in Iran and using bribes to win contracts elsewhere. The Koch Brothers were apparently alarmed enough about the report’s release that a blogger with extensive ties to the Kochs attempted to pre-but the allegations well before Bloomberg’s release.
Given these damning allegations – Koch Industries admitted the bribes were criminal and the United States has banned trade with Iran since 1995 – ThinkProgress asked the congressman whose district includes Koch Industries, Rep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS), whether he planned to open an investigation into the matter. Pompeo blew off the notion, walking away from reporters rather than answer the question. Despite being asked three times if he planned to open an investigation into Koch Industries’ dealings with Iran, Pompeo was silent, allowing his communications director to block ThinkProgress instead.
KEYES: Are you going to be leading an investigation into Koch Industries’ dealings with Iran?
POMPEO: [Silence.]
Watch it:
It’s not particularly surprising that Pompeo would resist opening an investigation into Koch Industries. His extensive ties to the Koch Brothers have earned him the title, “the congressman from Koch.” When Pompeo was confronted about undue influence that the Kochs have on his office, he responded, “Koch Industries is an amazing business.”
ABC News attempted to ask David Koch this week about the oil tycoon’s business deals in Iran and bribes used by Koch Industries. Like Pompeo, Koch was silent on the matter.
