I nearly fell out of my seat after reading this one from DU. The GOP Governor of Texas had a bill signing (banning late-term abortions, banning same-sex marriage, etc.) at a huge rally in a church gymnasium.
The Governor came under criticism for "the blatant blend of church and state" and responded by saying they could have held the bill signing in a "Wal-Mart parking lot."
The article is after the fold.
So Chairman Dean only got it half-right -- they are the party of fundamentalist zealotry AND worker exploitation, depending on whether it rains and they have to switch sites...
Texas Governor Mobilizes Evangelicals
DALLAS - Even for Texas, the scene was remarkable: The governor, flanked by an out-of-state televangelist and religious right leaders, signing legislation in a church school gymnasium amid shouts of "amen" from backers who just as well could have been attending a revival.
It wasn't just the blatant blend of church and state that made the gathering in Fort Worth unusual. Advance publicity also attracted about 300 angry protesters -- unheard of for the routine business of ceremonial bill signings.
Now some wonder whether Gov. Rick Perry overplayed his hand last week trying to stick to the playbook used by old friend George W. Bush and political whiz Karl Rove, mobilizing evangelicals for last year's presidential race.
"Governor Perry and his people are just not as good as Bush and Rove," Southern Methodist University political scientist Cal Jillson said. "Governor Perry knows the steps, but he's got no rhythm."
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"This is one of the most outrageous misuses of a house of worship for political gain that I've ever seen," said Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Washington, D.C.-based Americans United for Separation of Church and State.
Perry shrugged off the complaints.
"We could have signed it in a lot of different locations," Perry said on Fox News. "We could have signed it in a Wal-Mart parking lot, and those who are against people of faith being involved in the electoral process would still have been very much against this bill."
Perry actually signed two measures. One will impose more limits on late-term abortions and require minor girls to get written parental consent. The other would ban same-sex marriage, but voters must approve the constitutional amendment in November.
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