September 10, 2007

Paul Edwards, host of “The Paul Edwards Program” on WLQV in Detroit, interviewed president of the Family Research Council, Tony Perkins about the recent scandals in the Republican Party, the candidacy of Rudy Giuliani, the passing of Dr. D. James Kennedy and the future of evangelicals’ involvement in the political process.   

Edwards: In the wake of the Sen. Larry Craig scandal out of Minneapolis, a lot of people in the media have been quick to say this taints the family values aspect of the political realm. In particular, evangelical Christians are hypocrites because we’ve got guys like Larry Craig who would vote against same-sex marriage and yet be involved in alleged activity like this. From where you sit, Dr. Perkins, what are you feeling about the scandals that are rocking the conservative wing of the Republican Party?
 
Perkins: Well, it’s unfortunate and discouraging and disappointing. Some of these individuals that have been involved in some of these scandals are friends of mine, that I’ve known, some I actually served with when I was in office. And it’s a reminder that we all are susceptible to falling and to failing and the question is, “What do you do when you have fallen?” and I think for Christians there is forgiveness, there is redemption on the personal side. On the public or political side, it’s damaging; it damages one’s credibility, one’s ability to lead. And there is a double standard, but it’s justifiable because I believe if you hold up something as the defender of it, and then you privately are doing something that contradicts it, I think you deserve to be called out. You deserve to be told, “Hey, this guy’s not practicing what he preaches.”

I think in part this is not about family values as some would want to say. I think what we’re seeing—and some would disagree with this—but I think what we’ve seen is some of the side effects of the arrogance of power. And from our perspective as Christians I think we’ve been a little slow at times to hold those in public office—especially if they’re conservative and vote right—accountable for their private actions. I think as Christians our role is to be involved, but it’s to also be a prophetic voice of accountability to government regardless of what party an individual may be involved in.

Edwards: [At the last Republican debate] Rudy Giuliani answered a question about his family, his own personal life, and the questioner was saying, if your personal life is a mess how do you plan to govern? And he [Giuliani] points out that he’s got a 35-year track record of governing. Does that negate Rudy Giuliani’s personal life—his divorces and all of that—for the evangelical right and are we ready to forgive him because, after all, for 35 years he has effectively governed, he’s reduced taxes, he’s done everything conservatives want him to do?