Networks Grill Perry on Jeffress and Religious ‘Can of Worms’ Opened on Campaign Trail
Texas Governor Rick Perry conducted interviews with all three network morning shows on Friday and all used controversial comments made by Dallas pastor Robert Jeffress as a line of attack. This despite Perry having already distanced himself from the pastor's remarks labeling Mormonism a “cult.” On NBC's Today, co-host Matt Lauer led the charge by leveling this accusation against the Perry campaign: “…the issue of faith was really introduced – the can of worms was opened by a surrogate of your own campaign…” On ABC's Good Morning America, co-host George Stephanopoulos wouldn't let the issue go: “The Romney campaign…have called on you to repudiate him and his comments. Will you do that?…do you want his support, or will you repudiate that?…do you repudiate Reverend Jeffress?” On CBS's Early Show, co-host Chris Wragge asserted: “Now, you haven't dissociated yourself from those comments, and some people – New Jersey Governor Chris Christie – said that makes you unfit for the presidency.” Wragge then asked: “Do you want to take this opportunity to distance yourself from those comments, or are you okay with it?” On each broadcast, Perry had to correct the interviewer: > To Lauer: “We've distanced ourselves from those comments. I clearly said that I did not agree with his comments…”
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on October 14, 2011. Filed under