Sometimes when a politician says something stupid it’s just something stupid. But Rick Perry’s remarks at last night’s Republican debate are fifteen yards beyond stupid. They’re dangerous and unethical.
Unethical because a Presidential candidate should know something before he maligns an American ally—or anyone, come to think of it. Thoughtless or ignorant words damage America’s power in the world
Debate moderator Bret Baier asked Perry whether he thought Turkey should continue to be part of NATO.
Perry jumped in by calling Turkey’s leaders “Islamic terrorists.”
“Well, obviously when you have a country that is being ruled by, what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists, when you start seeing that type of activity against their own citizens, then yes, not only is it time for us to have a conversation about whether or not they belong to be in NATO, but it’s time for the United States, when we look at their foreign aid, to go to zero with it.”
Perry further promised to send a message to “countries like Iran and Syria and Turkey” that the United States is serious and will have to be dealt with.
The Turkish newspaper Hurriyet reported that the Foreign Ministry condemned Perry’s remarks.
The current Turkish government deserves criticism in a number of areas (Stay tuned!), but to call them terrorists or to link them to Iran and Syria is wildly wrong and does America no good. Neither does Gov. Perry, or the people who even imagine him as President. The only mitigating factor is the breathtaking ignorance the governor of America’s second largest state showed.
Perry is standing by his stupidity.
Tags: ethics, Hurriyet, Iran, Islamic terrorists, NATO, Republican debate, Rick Perry, State Department, Syria, Turkey
Ethics Bob 
January 19, 2012 at 2:12 pm |
Thank goodness he’s dropped out. I can’t imagine what other countries think of the quality of the Republican nominees based on Rick Perry’s mind-boggling ignorance. Even in the Blitzer interview he refused to separate the actions of radical fundamentalists from the position of the Turkish government. He just makes Obama look better and better.
January 19, 2012 at 2:14 pm |
Yes, he makes Obama look better, and he makes Texas look worse.
January 19, 2012 at 10:24 pm |
That would be difficult, but he did it.