This post by John at AMERICAblog is rather strange. It notes that Family Research Council chief Tony Perkins paid David Duke over $80,000 for a mailing list back when Perkins was running for the US Senate in Louisiana. I think pointing out that a leader in the Christian right movement (or any other type of political leader) gave such a startling sum of money to the notorious Duke is entirely appropriate. If that doesn't show someone's real values what does? But the thing is - this isn't news. The FRC chose this guy to lead it long after this happened (which says plenty about their own lack of values of course).
Is Perkins a hypocrite? Sure. Is he a scumbag. Depends on your definition, but lots of people would say yes. Should he be regularly confronted about this? Probably. Is this news? No.
If this post shows anything it's how lazy and/or deferential a lot of DC reporters are. They should make him defend his actions and bring this up regularly when he tries to be the world's enforcer of morality.
But while this shows Perkins to be an ugly cretin I doubt this story will have any legs. After all, another candidate who paid Duke for his mailing list actually was elected governor of Louisiana.
Posted by armand at June 9, 2005 12:18 PM | TrackBack | Posted to Politics