Last weekend, Rick Perry and his followers of Republican Supply-side Jesus (not the real one), whipped their audience of 30,000 into a frenzy of hatred for everyone who disagrees with their extreme dogma. Embarrassingly, the stadium was less than half full, despite numerous plugs from the Republican Ministry of propaganda, aka Fox. At the same time, there was another rally of sorts just a few miles away with over three times as many attendees. Ironically, the people attending that one were victims of Rick Perry and and the Republican Party.
Houston’s biggest gathering on Saturday didn’t see national television news crews. It didn’t draw out protestors. It didn’t spark its own Twitter handle. And the event — which attracted an estimated 100,0000 people to a convention center just seven miles down the road from Gov. Rick Perry (R) and The Response prayer rally — had nothing to do with religion and everything to do with Texas families struggling through hard economic times:
“Some families camped out for hours to gain admittance into Houston’s first-ever, citywide back-to-school event at George R. Brown Convention Center, where free backpacks, school supplies, uniforms, haircut vouchers, immunizations, and fresh produce were provided.
Others were turned away.
“It was getting beyond capacity,” [Houstan Independent School District] spokesman Jason Spencer said. “If nothing else, it shows the need.”
In 2009, more than one-fifth of Houston-area residents lived below the poverty level, 3 percentage points higher than the state average. Given the scope of the need, the HISD event provided more than just school supplies; the City of Houston donated 20,000 boxed lunches, and the local Food Bank gave 25,000 three-pound bags of food… [emphasis original]
From <Think Progress>
The meaning is clear. Because of Perry’s Republican policies, Houston residents found getting just tiny bit of help far more valuable than listening to hate, lies, and bigotry from the people who put them in need.
12 Responses to “The Biggest Rally in Texas”
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You do mean Perry’s illegal, treason action in calling for a state religion in violation of the first amendment. It would not have been treason had he not spoke as Governor of Texas but as governor of Texas he actually prayed to a religion that is constitutionally not a part of our secular country. Specifically not banned but then neither is any other and you were not welcome there if you were not a christian.
As for the other all over the country education budgets are being flayed so the individual school districts will have to have millage votes to keep operating. Now this is Republic tactic at it’s finest, take from the poor to balance an out of control state budget. Our kids don’t need no readin’ and writin’ anyway, they all are going to be singers, dancers and football stars. Didn’t you get that memo?
Rick Perry is such an asshole that words alone can’t describe him 😈
It is a shame that they had to turn people away from getting free backpacks, haircuts, immunizations, etc, when they are so sorely needed in Rick Perry’s ‘burn the house down’ economy.
Amen, Lisa.
My only disagreement is that the Constitution requires Congress to declare war before treason may be charged.. I mean Perry’s illegal sedition.
Disgusting — exhibition by Perry and the Christian Taliban — shows their values so clearly—He is Gov of a state that so ignores real need— so very sad– and so very illustrative–
Exactly, Phyllis.
It’s a shame that this back to school rally got no coverage. I guess the children don’t matter in Texas.
Not to their broadcast media.
It is disgusting that people, his own people are begging for basic necessities while he is holding a prayer vigil which is unconstitutional in the US just down the street. Think of how much more money could have been put to basic necessities without renting out that huge stadium (I bet that cost a pretty penny) and giving that to kids who need the money more to get into school. Disgusting, but then again, they have no shame. 🙄 😡
And I think me may have paid for it with taxpayer funds.
I’ve become such an atheist that any form of religion is offensive to me! This is “religion” in the extreme! Occasionally there is a human being who quietly practices his “christianity” and he/she actually exemplifies the words and actions of jesus and the buddha – both of whom seemed to preach the same damn thing! This judgmental evil godma that they practice in stadiums is not only repulsive but intimidating – whenever I see a person declaring his “faith” in public – I stay far away – that goes for prez prayer days and abnoxious prayers before games and races and who knows what else probably going to the toilet to pee straight and have a perfect shit!
Lee, you ought not be offended by any authentic faith that honors and coexists with your atheist faith.