Perry Will Pray Whether the Anti-Religious Left Likes It Or Not

The usual suspects are perturbed about Rick Perry's planned prayer event:

Texas Governor Rick Perry, who is widely expected to announce a presidential campaign later this month, plans to attend at a prayer and fasting event called “The Response” on Saturday despite criticism that the event inappropriately mixes religion and politics.

Perry’s representatives said the governor will be at the event for the entire, seven-hour duration.

Perry himself has played down his involvement, saying at one point, “I may be ushering, for all I know.”

Perry has suffered a spate of bad press tied to The Response over both the nature of what some are calling an evangelical revival and the fact that organizers have said that fewer than 10,000 people have registered for the event, which is to be held at Houston’s 71,500 capacity Reliant Stadium. Response Spokesman Eric Bearse told Hotsheet Thursday that “More than 8,000 have signed up, but we expect a lot more than that.”

Groups like the Anti-Defamation League have criticized Perry for holding the event, which the ADL said “violates the spirit” of his constitutional duty to treat all Texans equally. Barry Lynn of Americans United for Church and State told Hotsheet that Perry is “confused,” saying “He is the governor of Texas – he is not an official preacher or prayer leader.”

I bet they end up with a much bigger crowd than expected. They won't fill the place, and that will be spun as a failure, but those who attend will be better for it.