[Cross-posted at my blog www.formidablecourage.wordpress.com]

For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven: a time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; a time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; a time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; a time to seek, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; a time to tear, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; a time to love, and a time to hate; a time for war, and a time for peace. (Ecclesiastes 3:1-8)

I started getting interested in the presidential campaign when Michele Bachmann announced her candidacy. I was familiar with what she’d done in Congress and with the Tea Party, and so naturally I looked on her a fantastic candidate to represent true conservatism.

But before I could jump onto the Bachmann bandwagon, I was confronted with a bit of surprising and exciting news. In our home we like to keep running lists of all the gifts God has given us; it reminds us of all we have to be thankful for. Well, on May 30, 2011, I sat down and scribbled, as my first gift of the day:

1. Possibility that Rick Perry may run for President.

I was really thankful for that possibility!

Now you have to realize that I have a love for all things Texas, a love born immediately after visiting the Alamo in 2010 and becoming enamored with the Texas Revolution. So the idea of that Governor of Texas–who, by the way, had been a prominent leader in the Tea Party movement–would make this kind of move delighted me.

But before I could jump on the Perry bandwagon I knew I needed to research him. I didn’t know as much about him as I knew about Michele Bachmann. So from the end of May to the middle of August, I scoured the Internet. I read every article about Perry that I could get my hands on. I read the arguments for and against him. I looked to see what the homeschoolers in Texas thought about him. I checked his Twitter almost daily. Any clue that he might have made a decision, any tidbits about his beautiful wife Anita, the names of his dogs–I knew it all. By late July my mom was teasing me, saying I could be arrested for “stalking” him. I’d just smile and shrug my shoulders.

By that time I was on the Perry bandwagon, even though he hadn’t announced yet. I knew he was what I wanted in a candidate. Although he wasn’t perfect, he met all my qualifications. He believed in following the Constitution. He had proven his Tea Party credentials during his 11 years as Governor. His economic record was sound. He was pro-life and pro-family. His family life (an indication of a man’s leadership skills) was strong and close-knit. His love for his wife–his first and only–was obvious. And to top it all off, he was a believer in the Lord Jesus–and thus my brother in Christ.

When he announced his candidacy on August 13, 2011, I was ecstatic and continued to follow him and all news about him faithfully. When the debates started–that’s when it got bumpy. And when that fateful “heartless” comment dropped . . . then I was shaken to the core.

I went through a long and painful process of surrendering all my hopes, dreams, and expectations to the Lord, and once I’d done that I was able to step back and (calmly) evaluate my support for Rick Perry. I realized that there was too much at stake here to give up on him. He was still the candidate I believed most qualified to take on Obama. He was still the candidate I had researched until I was 100% confident I’d made the right choice. And so I took a deep breath, smiled, and pressed on with him–praying, praying, praying.

I write this diary having just returned from my grandmother’s house, where I wept before the television as Governor Perry announced the suspension of his campaign. I admire Governor Perry more than ever; during his speech he radiated the joy of the Lord, confident in the knowledge that God still has a plan for his life and is working all things for his good. That’s when I began crying, sad but relieved as well. I’ve come to love him as though he were an old friend of mine, and I’m so glad he’s not returning home defeated and discouraged. He’s going forward knowing he is loved by his Lord and his family.

I head home…with the love of my life by my side, a woman who makes every day good when she is there by me. That’s my wife Anita. Honey, thank you for all you have done. She has been an incredible patriot during this process.

Also want to thank my son Griffin and his beautiful wife Meredith, Sydney who is not here with us today. But the fact is, with a good wife, with three loving children and a loving God who is in my life, things are going to be good no matter what I do.

It was also encouraging to know that he doesn’t think he  failed; although he knows he was called to run, that didn’t guarantee any outcome. Nevertheless, he’s confident that he did the right thing. For someone who spent the better part of the last six months praying, writing, watching debates, and “internet campaigning,” that was good to hear. My grandmother told me, after Governor Perry finished speaking, I should never hang my head because I did everything I could possibly do. That made me cry again, but it was still a comfort.

This has been a long adventure and I have many wonderful memories. But like Governor Perry, it’s time for me to move on. As a homeschool graduate, I lead a busy life. I’ll be starting new correspondence courses within the next few weeks or so, courses that will take up a good deal of my time. The ever-popular Baby Sis always needs either a diaper change or a hug and a kiss; the others above her are learning and growing fast. I have dreams of writing books and articles, and of course I have my blog.

With the exit of Governor Perry from this race, I make my exit as well. I’ve often said that he was the only reason I was on RedState and Twitter, and that remains true. Governor Perry is the only presidential candidate for whom I would dedicate so much time and effort (unless by some miracle Governor Jindal is drafted at the convention). And since he’s returning to Texas, I’m going to take my leave of RedState.

There’s a time for every purpose under Heaven, and for now, my purpose here has ended. I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent here and I’ll treasure it forever. Like Governor Perry I really want to take this opportunity to thank so many here who’ve encouraged me through every bump in the road.

Scope and avagreen, thank you so much for your fearlessness and perseverance; you were a great example to me. Westcoastpatriette, romansdaughter, cheetah2, my dear sisters in Christ–I love you gals and I pray God blesses you abundantly. Jakeofalltrades, thanks for all the HTML help Dr. Sklaroff, many thanks for all the scholarly “mini-diaries.” Circlegranch, you have been a constant encouragement; I pray God blesses you and that your health improves in the near future. Gekster and acat, y’all have always kept me laughing–thanks for that, especially when I needed it most. Constitutional, you and I have had great discussions on Twitter; keep up the good work, let no man despise your youth, and remember that “no arsenal, or no weapon in the arsenals of the world, is as formidable as the will and moral courage of free men and women.”

I’m sure there are others I haven’t named, but know that I appreciate every one of you; I even thank those who didn’t agree with me often but maintained a spirit of friendly discussion.

But my biggest thanks goes to pttx333. You’ve become a very dear friend to me and my family, Mrs. Texas. I hope you come and visit my blog sometime; you’re always welcome with your sweetness, encouragement, and down-home Texas spirit. That invitation goes out to all my RedState friends, but especially to pttx333. Consider yourself hugged, my dear friend.

One last thing. I don’t know if you’ll ever read this, but I want to publicly thank you, Governor Perry. You have been an inspiration to me, to my parents, and to my brothers and sisters. I will continue to pray that our God showers His blessings on you and your family, and that He uses you in mighty ways in the great state of Texas. You are a warrior. You have persevered, and you have now bowed out with grace, courage, and an abiding love for America.

And for that, Governor Perry, I am eternally grateful.

You know I began this race with a sense of calling. I felt led into this arena to fight for the future of this country. And I feel no different today than I did then, knowing a calling never guarantees a particular outcome, but the journey that tests one’s faith and one’s character. So now the journey leads me back to Texas, neither discouraged nor disenchanted, but instead rewarded highly by the experience and resolute to remain in the arena and in the service of my country.

And this I know, I’m not done fighting for the cause of conservatism. As a matter of fact, I have just begun to fight.

God bless all of you, and may God bless the United States of America.

All is grace,

LouisianaPatriette

[Cross-posted at my blog www.formidablecourage.wordpress.com]

I like Rick Santorum. I think he’s a very kind-hearted man and a great father. His courageous fight against abortion has earned my eternal admiration. His wife is a beautiful and delightful lady and the way they handled that disgraceful Alan Colmes was an outstanding example of the oft-quoted proverb, “a soft answer turns away wrath.”

But I do not believe Rick Santorum is the man for this hour.

I’m a Christian and a staunch supporter of Rick Perry. This is my attempt to persuade my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ why I think Rick Santorum is a bad choice for evangelicals. My prayer is that my words would be seasoned with grace and that my readers would listen with an open heart.

Michele Bachmann is no longer in the race, which leaves Perry and Santorum as the only socially conservative candidates. For sure, we can argue and quibble about whether Jon Huntsman or Newt Gingrich should be considered as well–but the fact remains that evangelicals are agonizing over whether they should coalesce behind the Catholic homeschool dad from Pennsylvania or the Methodist-Baptist Eagle Scout from Texas.

So what are their differences? What do Christians need to look at when they’re examining the records of Rick Santorum and Rick Perry?

For us Christians, perhaps the most pressing question is that of abortion, and rightfully so. I don’t believe God will bless this nation until we rid ourselves of abortion. The fact is that both Rick Perry and Rick Santorum are, thankfully, pro-life.  Santorum has been described as “unambiguously pro-life and pro-family,”[1] Perry as “a very proactive leader in Texas for the [pro-life] cause.”[2]  But thus far they are both equals, and Christians must dig deeper.

The second most-pressing social issue is probably gay marriage. Both Perry and Santorum are opposed to it. HOWEVER, how they believe we should deal with it is a completely different matter.

And here is where Christians MUST pay attention, because here is where we start hitting the differences between the two. Please read this with an open mind, taking into account that both Biblical AND Constitutional principles must be considered here.

Rick Perry is opposed to gay marriage. So how do we deal with it, according to Perry? Well, he came under fire last year for saying that New York’s decision to legalize gay marriage was “okay” with him. He clarified the next day, saying,

“I probably needed to add a few words after that ‘it’s fine with me,’ and that it’s fine with me that a state is using their sovereign rights to decide an issue. Obviously gay marriage is not fine with me. My stance hasn’t changed…My comment reflects my recognition that marriage and most issues of the family historically have been decided by the people at the state and local level and that is absolutely the state of law under our constitution.”[3] (emphasis mine)

There is nothing–absolutely nothing–in the Constitution that outlaws gay marriage. In fact, because the 10th Amendment says that all powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states alone, then it stands to reason that states, not the Federal Government, should be allowed to decide about traditional marriage.

But the Founding Fathers provided us with a loophole: a Constitutional amendment that would apply to all the states.

“In 2005, Texas voters approved a marriage amendment to the Texas Constitution which defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

“Perry supports a federal marriage amendment despite being a strong supporter of states’ rights. ‘To not pass the federal marriage amendment would impinge on Texas and other states’ right not to have marriage forced on them by these activist judges, these special interest groups.  Our constitution was designed to respect states including the amendments process.’ ”[4] (emphasis mine)

Some have called this a flip-flop. On the contrary: it’s consistent Constitutionalism. To pass a federal marriage amendment isn’t taking power away from the states because an amendment must be approved by 2/3 of the states. The states have the final say. And Rick Perry is confident that the states (or at least 2/3 of the states) will be in favor of traditional marriage.

So what is Rick Santorum’s opinion? Well, he has this to say:

“I’m a very strong supporter of the 10th amendment . . . but the idea that the only things that the states are prevented from doing are only things specifically established in the Constitution is wrong. Our country is based on a moral enterprise. Gay marriage is wrong. As Abraham Lincoln said, states do not have the right to do wrong. And so there are folks here who said states can do this and I won’t get involved in that. I will get involved in that because the states, as a president I will get involved because the states don’t have a right to undermine the basic fundamental values that hold this country together. America is an ideal. It’s not just a constitution, it is an ideal. It’s a set of morals and principles that were established in that declaration, and states don’t have the right, just like they didn’t have the right to do slavery.”[5] (emphasis mine)

Yes, I agree with Rick Santorum that gay marriage is wrong. But there is nothing–absolutely nothing–in the Constitution that says states can’t legalize it. Does that mean they should? Well, morally speaking, I don’t think they should–but that doesn’t mean they can’t. Until and unless a federal marriage amendment is passed, states have the right to legalize whatever they want.

That’s the law of the land. And we are a nation of laws.

One very informative article explains it this way:

“A more charitable interpretation of Santorum’s remarks would be that there is nothing in the 10th Amendment that would prevent a constitutional amendment to prohibit gay marriage.  That would be true, but trivially so.  There is nothing in the Constitution that prevents the adoption of additional amendments on anything…But this only makes the point.  Were a constitutional amendment  adopted prohibiting same-sex marriage, then states would be specifically prohibited from recognizing such marriages  by the Constitution, not by some conception of America’s “moral enterprise” or the “basic fundamental values” of the nation.”[6] (emphasis mine)

Rick Santorum is advocating an outright trampling on the Constitution here. He is as big-government in this instance as, say, Barack Obama. To declare “I will get involved in that because the states don’t have a right…” is no different than anything Obama has said to Arizona and Alabama concerning their immigration laws, or to Texas concerning their opposition to the TSA last summer.

This is statism. The dictionary describes statism as “a political system in which the state has substantial centralized control over social and economic affairs.” We already have that with Barack Obama. Just because a Bible-believing Christian exercises the same power doesn’t make it lawful.

Rick Perry is determined to do things the Constitutional way and has said so; Rick Santorum has said, point-blank, that he will use executive brute force to prevent states from recognizing homosexual marriage. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had enough of executive brute force, whether from Republicans or Democrats.

There’s also an unfortunate trend among Christian conservatives, and it’s this: they tend to throw the Constitution out the window and use these two social issues as the only standards for a candidate. It’s as though they think, “Well, if a candidate is pro-life and pro-traditional marriage, then he must be conservative.” Sadly, this isn’t true. Although these are crucial issues, they aren’t the only ones.

When your house is a wreck, you don’t focus on cleaning up one bedroom. You go through the entire house, right? In much the same way, when we’re examining a candidate’s record or trying to root out the problems in this country, you can’t zero in on just one or two things. There are so many problems that need to be dealt with besides abortion, problems that are just as deadly to our society as we know it:

–High inflation
–A wasteful, do-nothing Congress
–A bloated, activist-ridden judicial system
–An unsafe border
–An unbalanced budget
–Terrorism
–Labor unions encroaching on the rights of businesses and individual workers
–Radical enviromentalism
–Obamacare

We cannot afford to miss these and many others. And yet this is where my brothers and sisters in Christ have completely dropped the ball. In their (well-intentioned) eagerness to stop the moral decay of this country (which cannot be accomplished through government alone), they have completely ignored these other pressing horrors.

Neither Rick Perry nor Rick Santorum are perfect. Both have made mistakes. But who has a consistently conservative record? Who has followed both Biblical AND Constitutional principles?

Rick Santorum was Senator for 12 years (1995-2007).

–He voted to raise the debt ceiling FIVE times (keep in mind that our debt ceiling was recently raised and our debt is now 100% of our Gross Domestic Product [GDP]).[7]

–He also voted against the National Right to Work Act, which would “repeal those provisions of Federal law that require employees to pay union dues or fees as a condition of employment, and for other purposes.”[8]

–He voted for the Lautenberg Gun Ban in the 90’s, and as recently as 2005 sided with Democrats Dianne Feinstein and Frank Lautenberg to mandate locks on handguns.[9]

–He voted for the No Child Left Behind Act, which dramatically increased the federal government’s role in education.[10]

–He also voted to increase spending for the Department of Education by $3.1 billion in 1996.[11]

–He voted for Sonia Sotomayor’s confirmation as a U.S. Circuit Judge in 1998.[12] Sotomayor, described by Wendy Long of the Judicial Confirmation Network as “a liberal judicial activist of the first order,” was appointed by President Obama to the Supreme Court in 2009.[13]

–He voted AGAINST requiring Congressional authorization for military action in Bosnia. (Perhaps this set the precedent for President Obama going into Libya without any Congressional approval whatsoever.)[14]

And this is just scratching the surface. Erick Erickson laid out Santorum’s voting record in terse but ghastly detail here, if you want to go deeper.

Rick Perry has been Governor of Texas for 11 years (2000–).

–He signed six balanced budget amendments in Texas. Though he did allow various debt/tax increases in the early years of his goverorship for roads repairs and school funds, he has opposed a state income tax and increasing sales tax rates. In 2009 he also signed a pledge to “oppose and veto any and all efforts to increase taxes.”[15]

–He is a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment and has an A+ rating from the National Rifle Assocation (NRA)16; just last June he signed legislation allowing Texas employees to “store legally owned firearms in their locked, privately owned motor vehicles while parked at workplace parking lots.”[17]

–He recently turned down $700 million in federal education aid, because to accept the money would have forced Texas schools to adopt a “national standard.”[18]

–He has nominated staunch social and fiscal conservative judges in Texas, much to the chagrin of some.[19]

–He’s had hands-on experience with the dangerous U.S.-Mexican border; since 2008 Texas has spent $400 million on “equipment, weapons and the overtime salaries for sheriff’s deputies and local police”–proving once and for all that he is serious about securing the border.[20]

–He has fought the harsh and burdensome regulations mandated by the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA)[21]. One conflict between the EPA and Texas even erupted into a lawsuit last year[22].

–He reduced business regulations in Texas over the past 11 years and even passed revolutionary tort reform legislation[23]. Perry was also described as “a promoter of stability in regulatory policy and stability in spending” by Talmadge Heflin, director of the Texas Public Policy Foundation’s Center for Fiscal Policy and a former Republican state representative.[24]

I have no doubt that Rick Santorum tried to do good things as a Senator. But his record shows that he is, as Erick Erickson recently described him, “a pro-life statist.” He has not embraced the Tea Party principles of limited government. In fact, I would argue that he advanced the cause of Compassionate Conservatism as senator and even contributed to our horrifying debt crisis.

Rick Perry, on the other hand has had stumbles in his record, no doubt about that (I point to the oft-mentioned Gardasil debacle), but unlike Santorum, his record shows him to be of a “less-government-is-the-best-government” mindset. If we want a leader who will defend babies, mommies, and daddies, and at the same time focus on rescuing America from radical enviromentalism, Mexican drug lords, anti-capitalism, staggering debt, and overbearing federal agencies–in short, if Christians truly want someone who will rein in an increasingly tyrannical federal government, then we need someone like Rick Perry as our President.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

1 Pro-Life Activist Gary Bauer Endorses Rick Santorum (http://www.lifenews.com/2012/01/09/pro-life-activist-gary-bauer-endorses-rick-santorum/)

2 Who is Rick Perry? – Part II: A Texas governor’s pro-life legacy (http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/who-is-rick-perry-part-ii-a-texas-governors-pro-life-legacy/)

3 Saenz, Arlette Rick Perry: ‘Gay Marriage is Not Fine With Me’ (http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/07/rick-perry-gay-marriage-is-not-fine-with-me/)

4 Ibid.

5 Rick Santorum Doesn’t Understand States Rights (http://www.opposingviews.com/i/politics/santorum-%E2%80%9Cstates-do-not-have-right-do%C2%A0wrong%E2%80%9D)

6 Ibid.

7 FACT CHECK: Santorum a “big-government conservative”? (http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/pr/?postID=1007)

8 On the Cloture Motion (motion to invoke cloture on motion to proceed to consider s.1788 ) (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00188)

9 “Rick Santorum’s anti-gun history,” National Association for Gun Rights (http://www.nationalgunrights.org/rick-santorums-anti-gun-history/)

10 FACT CHECK: Santorum a “big-government conservative”? (http://www.clubforgrowth.org/perm/pr/?postID=1007)

11 “To revise provisions with respect to the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education.” (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=104&session=2&vote=00027)

12 “Sonia Sotomayor, of New York, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Second Circuit” (http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=105&session=2&vote=00295)

13 President Obama unveils ‘inspiring’ pick in Sonia Sotomayor for Supreme Court justice (http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0509/22962.html)

14 “Rick Santorum – Candidate Information,” Tea Party Candidates Info (http://ccofal.org/TeaParty/tea-party-candidates.phtml)

15 “Rick Perry: Fiscal Policy: Tax policy” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Governorship_of_Rick_Perry#Fiscal_policy)

16 Rick Perry’s unwavering support for gun rights could boost his presidential prospects (http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/InTheNews.aspx?ID=15316)

17 Gov. Rick Perry Signs Legislation Protecting Texas Workers’ Right to Self-Defense (http://www.nraila.org/News/Read/NewsReleases.aspx?id=15241)

18 Perry, Rick. “Fed Up!” page 166

19 “Perry’s Texas Supreme Court picks criticized as too business-friendly” (http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/perry-watch/headlines/20111031-perrys-texas-supreme-court-picks-criticized-as-too-business-friendly.ece)

20 Rick Perry takes military-style tack to protect Texas border from Mexican cartels (http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/perry-deploys-his-forces-to-protect-texas-border/2011/10/10/gIQAJs1JkL_story.html)

21 “Rick Perry has made Texas one of the most industy-friendly states in the nation” (http://blog.chron.com/rickperry/2011/10/rick-perry-has-made-texas-one-of-the-most-industry-friendly-states-in-the-nation/)

22 Court backs Texas revolt against EPA’s new greenhouse gas rules (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jan/05/court-texas-epa-greenhouse-gas)

23 “Rick Perry revives hope for tort reform” (http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/conserving-freedom/2011/aug/25/rick-perry-revives-hope-tort-reform/)

24 “In Texas Jobs Boom, Crediting a Leader, or Luck” (http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/16/business/in-texas-perry-rides-an-energy-boom.html?pagewanted=all)

[Cross-posted from my blog at http://formidablecourage.wordpress.com/]

I’m laughing here with joy and relief because I was writing an entire defiant post about how I’d stick with Governor Rick Perry until/unless he dropped out. Well, turns out I was halfway through it and all of a sudden I see this tweet from Governor Perry:

“And the next leg of the marathon is the Palmetto State…Here we come South Carolina!!!”

And so I got just a little taste of how the Filipinos must have felt, in 1945, when they heard the strong voice of General Douglas MacArthur over their radios: “People of the Philippines: I have returned!”

Last night was definitely a bummer: Governor Perry came in fifth place in Iowa. It wouldn’t have been so bad if I hadn’t woken up this morning, checked Twitter, and discovered there was talk of him dropping out. I felt like I’d been hit with a ton of bricks. Governor Perry–Rick Perry, a fighting Texan–dropping out? Just because he didn’t win one state–a state that has an infamous reputation for picking losers?! It seemed unfathomable.

Praise God, it was unfathomable, and Governor Perry is pressing on. And here’s why I think he can rebound after his loss in Iowa last night (his first loss in his entire career, by the way):

1. Iowa is only one state out of forty-nine. It’s the first mile of the marathon. Moreover, Iowa has a pretty bad track record of “picking” the nominee. Ronald Reagan lost Iowa in 1980…and went on to be the nominee. George H.W. Bush lost Iowa in 1988…and went on to be the nominee. John McCain came in a dismal fourth in 2008…and went on to be the nominee. Rick Perry came in fifth with 11%, one point behind John McCain’s 12%. Who’s to say the race is over for Perry?

2. Take a good, hard look at the list of candidates in Iowa. Romney, Santorum, Paul, Gingrich, Perry, Bachmann, Huntsman. Now think about it.

Mitt Romney may have won, but his victory was very, very weak. He squeaked past Santorum with only a few votes and still didn’t break past 25% (that will be a joke amongst future Americans, I have no doubt).

Rick Santorum is, I’m sure, a very sweet, caring man. As a homeschool dad and father of a large family, he’s always held some degree of respect from me and my own large family. But he’s NOT a fiscal conservative and his Washington-insider, big-spending record will be his ultimate downfall. Moreover, Santorum has little money in the bank and he probably has very little appeal outside of Iowa. At least, we haven’t seen any appeal outside of Iowa. I’m leaving that open to change in the next few weeks, but I doubt we’ll see much more of the Santorum surge for this reason: he rivaled Romney. So he’ll get the same brutal treatment by the media that Rick Perry, Herman Cain, and Newt Gingrich all received.

Ron Paul. I’m still scratching my head where Ron Paul is concerned. I used to…well, admire many things about Ron Paul. I appreciated (and still do) his emphasis on Austrian economics vs. Keynesian economics. I appreciated (and still do) his passionate opposition to the Federal Reserve. But then there came that debate…you know, the one where he started talking about letting Iran have nukes and was practically shouting at Michele Bachmann. I left that debate with a bad taste in my mouth and I’ve never gotten over it, especially after hearing about his newsletters and his opposition towards American intervention in the Holocaust.

Ron Paul, I’m sorry to say, no longer has any of my support. Of course, if President Perry could put him in charge of dismantling the Fed, I’d be the first cheering Paul on. But as far as presidential aspirations go, he may not have much support outside of Iowa and New Hampshire (especially in the Deep South), thanks to his more extreme views.

Newt Gingrich. Around the breakfast table this morning, we conceded that Newt Gingrich might be a (somewhat) viable alternative if Governor Perry dropped out. But like Rick Santorum, Newt Gingrich doesn’t have a ton of money and we’ve seen his popularity slowly sink. I do think he can pose a challenge to Mitt Romney, and may be more concerned with taking down Romney than winning himself. I expect to see him encourage a coalescing of support around one candidate within the next few weeks.

Rick Perry. The morning started out bleak. Now it’s about 11 A.M. my time (Central) and the entire world has become a brighter place. Rick Perry just showed that a loss in Iowa does not spell the end of his campaign. I do not expect him to win New Hampshire. But I DO hope, pray, and expect he can win South Carolina. I expect (with Michele Bachmann gone and Rick Santorum about to be eaten alive by the media) to see Perry move forward with his campaign and go for the grand prize of South Carolina. He’s far more likely to do well there than in Iowa anyway. If Perry has problems in South Carolina, then he’s got serious problems. But as a Southern governor (and South Carolinians are just about as Southern as you can get!) I expect him to turn on all his charm, wit, and passion. It’ll work. See how it worked on a young Southern girl like me?

Y’all know I love to compare Rick Perry to Secretariat, the horse who defied expectations and won the Triple Crown in 1973. Well, there’s a scene in the film Secretariat in which Eddie, the horse’s caretaker, stands before the as-yet empty stadium, just as the sun is rising. Secretariat, also known as “Big Red,” has just recovered from a painful abscess in his mouth which prevented him from eating. (I compare this to Perry’s back pains that prevented him from being on top of his ball game.) Confident in Secretariat’s ability to win the final race, Eddie shouts to the audience yet to come, “Big Red done ate all his breakfast, and you gonna see something you ain’t never even seen before!”

Well, I for one think we’re about to see something we haven’t ever seen before. Governor Perry is ready to fight for this; this loss in Iowa will spur him on to greater things. And I’m with him to the end.

“This is not about going back. This is about life being ahead of you and you run at it! Because you never know how far you can run unless you run!”–Penny Chenery, Secretariat

[Cross-posted from my blog www.formidablecourage.wordpress.com with minor edits]

I wrote “A Case for Governor Rick Perry” for a friend’s blog in early September. I was a very excited but extraordinarily naive political newbie back then. “This proud Perry supporter will go to the primaries with a clear and cheerful conscience,” I proclaimed, chipper and undaunted.

Then reality hit.

Debates, withering editorials, and embarrassing moments put new meaning into the phrase, “Politics is ugly.” I’ve flinched under the skeptical, sometimes hurtful comments, whether from people I know or from the media. I’ve shed a few frustrated tears. I’ve probably prayed more for my country than I ever have in my life.

And yet in spite of that I didn’t go to Herman Cain when he rose in the polls, and I didn’t go to Newt Gingrich when Cain imploded before my eyes.

So did I really mean it when I called myself “a proud Perry supporter?”

Yes, I did. And I still do. Only I’m much more sober and deliberate about it.

Rick Perry and Social Traditionalism

“For some candidates, ‘pro-life’ is an election-year slogan to follow the prevailing political winds. To me it’s about the absolute principle that every human being is entitled to life. All human life . . . is made in the image of our creator. And every innocent life must be protected, from the most frail, who are elderly, to the most vulnerable, who are unborn.”1

You can criticize Rick Perry on a lot of things, but you can’t doubt his stance on abortion. As governor, he has fought consistently for the rights of unborn babies. Earlier this year he signed into law a bill requiring all mothers to have an ultrasound before they abort their babies. (A federal judge struck down the law only months later, days before the law would have taken effect.) As recently as yesterday he declared his firm opposition even to abortion in cases of rape or incest. Those of us with strong pro-life principles will have nothing to fear under a President Perry.

He has also been a staunch defender of traditional marriage. Under his leadership, Texas has gained a constitutional amendment defining marriage as a covenant between a man and woman–not a man and a man, or a man and his dog, or a man and his kitchen table. We don’t have an amendment for the Federal Constitution on this issue yet; we should continue to fight for one. Governor Perry supports a federal marriage amendment, but for now, we have to stick to the original Constitution and leave the issue up to the States.

Part of Social Traditionalism is a recognition that our country is founded on a Judeo-Christian worldview. Without the values embraced by that worldview, society falls apart. Governor Perry confesses Jesus Christ as his personal Savior, and as a Christian he recognizes and proclaims a distinctly Biblical worldview.

“Now, some claim that there can be too much liberty or that people cannot be trusted if they have too much freedom. I do not believe that is true. The kind of liberty we construe as harmful is not really liberty but rather license. And license serves only the selfish appetite at the expense of others. Liberty is a God-given virtue; license is a destructive vice fomented by the forces of evil. If liberty were to include the freedom to harm others, then of course that would be too much of it. But within liberty’s essence is a recognition of the inherent value of other human beings.”2

“Either God exists or He doesn’t, and this isn’t relative to one’s own perspective. In other words, it is true or false independent of man’s perception. As Paul put it about Christian doctrine, either Jesus truly is the answer to sin–the Way, the Truth, and the Life as Christ says in John 14:6–or Christians “remain dead in their sins.” . . . The truth of Christ’s death, resurrection, and power over sin is absolute . . . What we believe about it does not determine its truthfulness.”3

Rick Perry and Fiscal Restraint

“Listen, we just got to get back to the basic truths of economic success. As Governor, I’ve had to deal with the consequences of this national recession. In 2003, and again this year, my state faced billions of dollars in budget shortfalls. But we worked hard, we made tough decisions, we balanced our budget. Not by raising taxes, but by setting priorities and cutting government spending . . . we have led Texas based on some just really pretty simple guiding principles. One is don’t spend all of the money. Two is keeping the taxes low and under control. Three is you have your regulatory climate fair and predictable. Four is reform the legal system so frivolous lawsuits don’t paralyze employers that are trying to create jobs . . .

“I’ve cut taxes. I have delivered historic property tax reductions. I was the first governor since World War II to cut general revenue spending in our state budget. We passed lawsuit reform, including just this last session a ‘loser pays’ law to stop the frivolous lawsuits that were happening . . . We need balanced budgets. We need lower taxes. We need less regulation. And we need civil justice reform – those same four principles. Our country’s most urgent need is to revitalize our economy, stop the generational theft that is going on with this record debt.”4

I know that’s a long quote, but he tells it so much better than I can. Texas is home to 10% of the entire American population, yet 45% of new jobs created in America since December 2000 were created in Texas itself. The pro-business, pro-entrepreneur atmosphere is liberating. It’s no wonder that millions of Americans are pouring into Texas–so much so that Texas is gaining four electoral votes while some states in New England are losing just as many or more. They call it “The Texas Miracle.”

And what’s the reason for it? Well, the four reasons quoted above:

One is don’t spend all of the money. Two is keeping the taxes low and under control. Three is you have your regulatory climate fair and predictable. Four is reform the legal system so frivolous lawsuits don’t paralyze employers that are trying to create jobs.

Governor Perry wants to bring more of the same to the rest of the country. His “Energizing American Jobs and Security” plan will free energy businesses from oppressive regulations (which kill jobs, by the way) while his “Cut, Balance, and Grow” and “Uproot and Overhaul Washington” plans will rein in Washington, D.C.’s reckless spending and insensitive opulence.

Rick Perry and National Security

“A president should never send our sons and daughters into war without a plan to win and the resources to make that possible. It’s a dangerous world that we live in today.  Our enemies often don’t wear uniforms or swear allegiance to a particular flag but instead to an ideology of hatred. As the 10th anniversary of the attacks of 9/11 approaches, we must renew our commitment to taking the fight to the enemy wherever they are before they strike at home.”5

Guess what? There are people out there who hate our guts. We can debate about why they hate us, but I think it goes farther back and much deeper than American military bases overseas. In many cases it’s a deep-rooted hatred of Western Civilization, and by default Christianity. For other enemies of America, it’s a malicious desire to see Communism achieve worldwide dominion. And for others, it’s nothing more than a lust for narcotic drugs and cash.

We certainly don’t have the money people would like to spend on some aspects of defense. Drastic times do indeed call for drastic measures. But our defense budget should not be cut in order to fund things like the National Endowment of the Arts, or the Marine Mammal Commission (yes, there is such a thing).

“The question we must ask is not what we can afford to spend on our military, but what it costs to remain secure and free.”6

We must be vigilant against those who would do us harm and capable of acting accordingly–not as the world’s policeman, but to defend our shores and extremely valuable and historic allies such as Israel or Great Britian.

“I do not believe that America should fall subject to a foreign policy of military adventurism. We should only risk shedding American blood and spending American treasure when our vital interests are threatened and we should always look to build coalitions among the nations to protect the mutual interests of freedom loving people . . . we must be willing to act when it is time to act.”7

But although we must respect our allies, we can’t afford to pour money into their countries. So we set priorites. Our allies had better prove their good faith before they get an American dime. Foreign aid budgets should start at $0 for every country, and then each country should be evaluated according to its needs and its friendship with the United States.

And if budgets and security are so closely intertwined . . .

“There is no homeland security without border security.”8

. . . then it doesn’t make sense to spend $2 billion we don’t have on a fence that won’t do us any good across the United States-Mexican border. There’s already a 20-some-odd-foot fence in Brownsville, Texas–with a big ol’ gaping hole in it. I know–I’ve seen the pictures.

“If you build a 30 foot wall from Brownsville to El Paso, the 35 foot ladder business gets real good. You’ve got to have people on the ground.”9

Boots on the ground. Not only will it give returning Iraqi veterans a much-needed job, it will be infinitely more effective. We don’t need a worthless fence (though strategic fencing in metropolitan areas would certainly be useful). We need an active border patrol that keeps illegal immigrants out, but won’t interfere with valuable interaction between Mexico and the United States.

Rick Perry and Constitutional Adherence

“ ‘Fidelity to the Constitution’ means exactly what it sounds like it means. While there are some reasonable gray areas about which we can disagree, the text of the Constitution is hardly complicated and we are so far beyond the intent of the Founders with respect to so many of our lives that there are few politicians in Washington who can reasonably claim to be faithfully upholding the Constitution.”10

When our family found out Perry was considering a run for the White House, my dad gave me an assignment: order Perry’s book and read it. Usually I read a book within a week or so, but I took this one a little slower. I had to. Although Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America From Washington is a highly entertaining book, it’s nothing short of a scholarly, pro-Constitution manifesto, and needs to be taken in small bites.

One of Perry’s claims to fame is his emphasis on the 10th Amendment: “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.” He elaborates on this further in his book, stating at the end of the chapter “States Do the Work of the People”:

“If the federal government continues to step beyond its enumerated powers and continues to tell the American people how to live their lives, states will continue to push back. There is no getting around that . . . The federal government must respect the Constitution so we once again can live in the freedom it protects.”11

On Saturday evening my respect for Rick Perry skyrocketed (if that is indeed possible). When asked by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli how he defined “Constitutional constructionism,” Governor Perry responded by pulling a pocket Constitution from his breast pocket. He held it up and said, “Read it . . . don’t read anything into it, don’t add to it, don’t use these different clauses . . . to try to change what our Founding Fathers were telling us.” We haven’t had a president say that since . . . wow, I don’t know when.

“Our fight is to save America from Washington. The idea of America–enshrined in the greatest founding document of all time–is worth fighting for. We just need a few good patriots who are fed up with the status quo, armed with the Constitution, and fueled with the courage to stand in the gap for future generations and to preserve for them to greatest beacon of hope, freedom, and prosperity the world has ever known.”12

Rick Perry and Personal Character

Character matters. We’ve seen that with Herman Cain, Newt Gingrich, and countless other politicians who’ve shown their utter disregard for truth, marital fidelity, honesty–you name it. You don’t trust people who waffle on core convictions, either. Just ask Mitt Romney.

Rick Perry is not perfect. I’m not saying that at all. I defy anyone to name a candidate who is 100% right on every single blessed issue. What I am saying is that Rick Perry has shown himself time and time again to be a man of conviction and principle–and not only that, but a man of kindness and consideration.

Governor Perry has struck the balance between submitting to the will of the people, yet sticking to his guns even when it may be unpopular at times. On the sticky issues of the Trans-Texas Corridor and the HPV vaccine, he submitted to the people’s will, and it was good and just that he did so. On the other hand, like my own Governor Bobby Jindal, he’s made sweeping cuts to Texas’ higher education system, much to the chagrin of some Texans. But Governor Perry believed that was the right thing to do, and rather than tax his people he tightened the state government’s belt. “Do right and risk consequences,” said Sam Houston.

The Perry family is a close-knit one: a testimony to loving parents, honoring children, and a strong marriage. It’s obvious from numerous photographs and videos that Governor Perry, his beautiful wife Anita, and their two children enjoy each other’s company. You’d have to be blind not to see that the Mr. and Mrs. are just a tad in love. Family: nothing matters if you don’t have a solid one.

“The Private Life of Governor Perry,” written by one of my fellow RedState members, tells the stories of Governor Perry’s personal kindnesses to the widow of an American soldier, to Navy SEAL hero Marcus Luttrell, and to cancer victim Heather Burcham. In my own article “In Which My Family Receives a Thanksgiving Blessing,” I shared how receiving a personal thank-you note from Governor Perry brought joy to me and my little sisters on a tragic morning. Considering others, taking time out of your busy day or your life for someone else: a sign of humility.

Conclusion

So am I proud to write “Perry 2012” on the dusty windows of our van, or tell people I think he’s the best choice? Am I proud to write this article?

You’ll bet I’m proud of it. I’ve received confirmation in the past few months that I’m indeed on the right track, whether from certain articles, events, or an encouraging note from someone who visited my blog (someone I didn’t even know). This is a marathon, not a sprint, and bumps in the road aren’t enough to make me sacrifice my conviction. If it’s God’s will that Rick Perry becomes president, then nothing will stop his inauguration from coming to pass.

And if it’s not God’s will, then I’ll be thankful for every day I’ve spent “campaigning,” knowing I followed my conscience and a man worthy of my support.
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1 Rick Perry Speech Transcript, Values Voter Summit, October 2011
2 Perry, Rick. Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington, “Why States Matter,” p. 20
3 Perry, Rick. On My Honor, “The Road Ahead: Can Scouting Survive?” p. 180
4 Text of Gov. Rick Perry’s Presidential Announcement Remarks, RedState Gathering 2011 in Charleston, S.C. (August 13, 2011)
5 Saenz, Arlette. “Rick Perry Wades Into Foreign Policy with Speech to Veterans” (http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/08/rick-perry-wades-into-foreign-policy-with-speech-to-veterans.html)
6 Rick Perry Speech Transcript, Values Voter Summit, October 2011
7 Saenz, Arlette. “Rick Perry Wades Into Foreign Policy with Speech to Veterans” (http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenote/2011/08/rick-perry-wades-into-foreign-policy-with-speech-to-veterans.html)
8 Rick Perry Speech Transcript, Values Voter Summit, October 2011
9 “Rick Perry draws big crowds in N.H., takes subtle swipe at Mitt Romney” (http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20101516-503544.html)
10 Perry, Rick. Fed Up! Our Fight to Save America from Washington, “Retaking the Reins of Government,” p. 180
11 Ibid., “States Do the Work of the People,” p. 167
12 Ibid., “Retaking the Reins of Government,” p. 185