Rick Perry's Christian Ad Misses the Mark

COMMENTARY | Rick Perry's campaign is struggling to stay relevant these days despite falling behind in the polls so much that he has been all but written off. He hopes to gain some ground in the polls with his new ad, which will be airing in Iowa, according to the Associated Press. The campaign ad is stirring up debate and making headlines, but ultimately will gain him no success in the polls.

The ad is designed to shore up the evangelical vote, which many question Mitt Romney's ability to capture given his Mormon faith. In order to pander to this voting block, Perry cashes in on his right-wing Christian reputation. He reassures viewers that he is not "ashamed" of his Christian faith, which can be taken for a jab at President Obama. His insinuation that Obama is not completely pro-Christianity continues when Perry states that the president is fighting a "war on religion."

What Rick Perry fails to understand is that this election year is different. People will always be concerned about matters of faith, but voters are looking for a candidate that can turn around the economy and create jobs. Whether or not children can pray in school or gays can serve in the military are talking points for a more prosperous time.

As far as Obama's war on religion is concerned, those accusations are false. If Rick Perry is trying to pin the ban on prayers in schools on the president, he is mistaken. The constitution, that document that conservatives love to quote so much, guarantees the separation of church and state. This protection extends to public schools. Of course, the Republicans have been accusing Obama of this since 2009, when his stimulus bill barred funding for school renovations at institutions that permit prayer and worship, according to one Fox News report. That is a far cry, however, from the president spearheading the movement to keep prayer out of school.

All of the religious undertones are nothing in comparison to the insult that Rick Perry hurls at so many proud members of our armed forces. The ad is, in effect, the candidate's chance to state for the record that he is against gays in the military. Perhaps he picked up from the debates that he flubbed so badly that it is finally OK to insult our nation's veterans, just as long as he is only insulting the gay ones. That isn't exactly a Christian way to behave.

Sources:

Beth Fouhy "Rick Perry's New TV Ad, 'Strong'" Associated Press
Christina Corbin " Conservative Groups Declare Obama's Stimulus Bill a War on Prayer " Fox News