Perry Signs Hate Group's Anti-Gay Pledge

Days after he appeared at their GOP presidential debate, Rick Perry has signed the anti-gay pledge of Iowa's Family Leader, the hate group that gained prominence when leading the successful campaign to remove pro-gay state Supreme Court justices. The pledge, which has already been signed by Frothy Mix and Crazy Eyes, gained national attention this summer for a now-stricken clause that claimed black families were better off under slavery than under Obama.

The pledge advocates several issues, including the Defense of Marriage Act, personal fidelity to the signee’s spouse, appointment of “faithful constitutionalists” as judges, and reformation of anti-marriage elements in divorce, tax and welfare laws. Family Leader head Bob Vander Plaats has said signing the pledge will be a prerequisite for the group’s endorsement, one coveted among candidates seeking to nab the evangelical vote.