Sonny Perdue, Georgia governor and wingnut, continued

Yesterday, we wrote about Georgia's Governor, Sonny Perdue, and his predilections to wingnuttery and hypocrisy, as evidenced by his 2007 "prayer vigil" to bring rain, and more recently, his begging the federal government for help because he got too much rain two years too late.

But, as we said, when it comes to Perdue, more is more.

Also back in 2007, Perdue and a number of other governors wrote to the Majority Leaders and Minority Leaders of the House and Senate, as well as to the Speaker of the House, begging for federal funds to keep their states' SCHIP (State Children's Health Insurance Program) operating. Evidently, the feds, beaten down with the costs of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the misguided Bush tax breaks for the rich, were not handing out as much money as the governors thought they should. Which meant the states would have to pick up the tab or lots of children would find themselves without health insurance.

Here's part of the letter:

"We request that you consider covering current year shortfalls at the earliest possible opportunity, whether as stand alone legislation or in the emergency supplemental appropriations bill. ... the clock is ticking."

Now, there may be some legitimacy to this concern. But doesn't it seem somewhat hypocritical for governors who constantly denounce the federal government to beg for federal money?

Thirteen governors signed the letter. The list included these three well-known Repugnican anti-federal government governors:

Sarah Palin, Alaska
Haley Barbour, Mississippi
Tim Pawlenty, Minnesota


What else has Mr. Perdue been up to?

He sighed the Feticide Bill in 2006 which provided criminal penalties for anyone involved in harming a fetus. You know, 'cause a fetus is a real person who should have all the rights of a real, live, human being.

He signed a bill allowing high schools to provide elective course on the Bible, using a fundamentalist christianist curriculum. Wouldn't want our kiddos to grow up not knowing anything about the fantastic, violent, goofy Yahveh and how he created the whole universe in just six days!

He signed a bill that would allow the Ten Commandments to be displayed in courthouses. Doesn't matter that most of these have no relevance to our lives today and that it is unconstitutional to display them in courthouses.

Back in 2005, he became Jerry Falwell's "hero" for "saving Christmas. Perdue and his wife put up a "Christmas tree" and not a "holiday tree" in the gov's mansion. Falwell called that "a bold stand," and referred to Perdue as "one of the most vocal Christian leaders in our nation." I wonder if Perdue knows that the "Christmas tree" has nothing to do with a "Christian" celebration of Jesus' birth?

In 2008, Perdue signed legislation that would allow persons with concealed weapons' permits to carry guns into state parks and restaurants that serve alcohol, and said he thought people should be able to carry guns in public areas of the Atlanta airport. Can't you see the headline now: "Gunfight at Hartsfield-Jackson! Twenty-three killed in cross-fire!"?


Going back further: According to a report by Betty Clermont, a Senior Staff Writer for Atlanta Progressive News, "Since his days as a Georgia State Senator, Governor Sonny Perdue has an established record of corruption and contempt for the law."

Cases in point, according to Clermont: "From flying state-owned helicopters without a license, to giving testimony under oath refuted by three others, to shady land-deals and tax loopholes, it is no wonder he is the only Georgia governor found guilty by the State Ethics Commission."

All of this is spelled out in detail in Clermont's article printed at Political Affairs, dated September 27, 2009.

And, as you might guess, Perdue, being a "good" Southern Baptist, teaches Sunday School.

In truth, he's such a big hypocrite, he could run for president on the Repugnican ticket!