MSNBC host Martin Bashir clearing the air on Perry

Clear the Air

It’s time now to clear the air and enough already, for pity’s sake, Rick Perry really has to get out of this race. It’s bad enough that he’s embarrassed himself at so many of the debate. He’s been incapable of remembering government departments he wants to close down, he’s displayed rank ignorance of the terrorist networks that threaten American troops, and generally seemed like a man without even the most rudimentary understanding of the modern world.

All of this has been mildly entertaining, but last night, well, he really took the biscuit. Asked if Turkey belonged in NATO, here’s how he responded, “Well, obviously when you have a country that is being ruled by, what many would perceive to be Islamic terrorists, when you start seeing that type of activity against their own citizens, then yes. Not only is it time for us to have a conversation about whether or not they belong in NATO, but it’s time for the United States, when we look at their foreign aid, to go to zero with it.


It’s now possible to state, categorically, that Rick Perry doesn’t know what he’s talking about. In fact, the only person who comes close to matching Rick Perry’s rank ignorance is another one-time presidential candidate, Herman Cain.


And I’ve no doubt that he’ll be washed up on the same island of ignorance, once the voters in South Carolina have had their say. But just to be clear – Turkey is not ruled by Islamic terrorists. It is an ally of the United States. It is a democratic, secular, Republic – where the vast majority of the population are Muslims. Turkey has worked hard at integrating into Western democracy, through the Council of Europe and the G-20. It is negotiating for full membership to the European Union. Turkey also has an economy that has fared much better than most other European nations during the recent recession that has swept across the region.


But Rick Perry clearly doesn’t know anything about Turkey. Which is why we’ll leave the final word to a columnist on the English language “Hurriyet Daily” in Turkey, “Rick Perry: What An Idiot.” Enough said.