Rick Perry, a.k.a. “Governor Oops,” made news recently when he ascribed the concept of church-state separation to the machinations of Satan. No really, he did.

And in case you thought that maybe he was being hyperbolic, perhaps talking in the heat of some spiritual passion, well…

Here’s the governor on stage for a sit-down interview for the Texas Tribune Festival, talking calmly, soberly, and without a hint of irony about how scared he is of Satan. He even uses The Usual Suspects to back up his theology. Watch and tremble:

Let me just go on the record of saying I believe in Satan. And I certainly hope most of the people in here do… … That’s my belief and I don’t apologize for it.

He also complains that instances of church-state separation such as prohibitions against publicly coerced prayer represent a blockade to people of faith getting involved in politics, and indicated a general hostility to religion. Yep, he really thinks all of that.

One thing he’s right about: “Somebody’s values are going to be legislated. And the question is going to be, is, whose values are they?”

Now that’s a good question.



