Perry’s Homophobic Ad } White House Responds

By Chris Johnson washingtonblade.com   

White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Friday that President Obama likely isn’t “even aware” of attacks from Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry accusing him of being at war with religion for undertaking pro-LGBT efforts.

Under questioning from the Washington Blade, Carney said Obama is both a man of faith and proud of his LGBT advocacy in response to recent attacks Perry has leveled against the president that include an anti-gay TV ad that has been widely circulated online.

“I’m fairly certain the president’s not even aware of those accusations, and I think that I’ll limit my comments on the struggling state of some presidential campaigns,” Carney said. “I will say that the president is a man of faith, as you all know, and I will also say that our record on LGBT issues is one that we’re very proud of.”

On Wednesday, Perry debuted an Iowa TV ad in which he says he’ll end the war on religion that Obama has perpetuated over the course of his first term for taking action on such issues as repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

“There’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military, but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school,” Perry says in the ad.

Perry has since said in an interview on CNN that he’d “absolutely” reinstate “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” if he were elected president.

   “Promoting special rights for gays in foreign countries is not in America’s interests and not worth a dime of taxpayers’ money,” Perry said.

Earlier this week on Tuesday, after President Obama unveiled a six-point strategy to combat anti-LGBT human rights abuses overseas, Perry issued a statement condemning the move and saying the president has undertaken a “war with people of faith.

 A transcript of the exchange between the Blade and Carney follows:

Washington Blade: In the past week, Rick Perry has taken it upon himself to attack the president for his LGBT advocacy over the course of his first term. After the administration unveiled its new strategy on Tuesday to combat anti-gay abuses, Perry issued a statement saying it’s an example of the president being at war with people of faith. And there’s a widely spread TV ad circulating on the web in which Perry says, “There’s something wrong in this country when gays can serve openly in the military, but our kids can’t openly celebrate Christmas or pray in school.” Does the president object to these accusations that his LGBT advocacy is inconsistent with principles of faith?

Jay Carney: I’m fairly certain the president’s not even aware of those accusations, and I think that I’ll limit my comments on the struggling state of some presidential campaigns. I will say that the president is a man of faith, as you all know, and I will also say that our record on LGBT issues is one that we’re very proud of