Shameful Self-Interest and False Dichotomies

Ah, conservadouches.  If they ever shut the hell up, I don't know what I'd blog about.  Probably eyeshadow and other banalities.

This time, it's Texas governor Rick Perry at the asshole mic.  At a speech to the Texas Eagle Forum (conservative group), he said the election was about more than red and blue states, it was a battle for the soul of the nation:

"We will raise our voices in defense of our values and in defiance of the hollow precepts and shameful self-interests that guide our opponents on the left."

I can feel my inner 10-year-old shouting "I know you are, but what am I?"  Shameful self-interests?  Is it shameful self-interest that feminists called out sexism against both Hillary Clinton AND Sarah Palin, despite our gigantic policy differences with the latter? Is it shameful self-interest when people of solid means advocate for better welfare policies and safety nets?  Is it shameful self-interest that people who already had insurance - including, mind you, the Dems who voted for it - agitated and activisted for the health insurance reform bill?  


Not to mention, where is it writ that self-interest is categorically A Bad Thing?  Is it shameful, to desire and seek out equality for oneself/one's identity group?  Is it a bad thing to try to gain access to the same benefits that other people already enjoy?


Contrast that, of course, with the Republican style of self-interest, wherein they seek to make changes to benefit themselves *at the expense of* others.  Megacorps with personhood rights, giving them power beyond what any other kind of group can hope to match.  Legislating a Christian version of morality to apply to all people, whether Christian or not.  That's the kind of self-interest you see on the Right; personally, I'll take the Left's version of "shameful self-interest" any day.


And of course, it can't stop at one stupid quote.  Tacking on a bonus wtf, Perry continued on to say:

"That's the question: Who do you worship? Do you believe in the primacy of unrestrained federal government? Or do you worship the God of the universe, placing our trust in him?"

Government versus God.  One or the other.  And apparently, those who support the government actually acting to govern (as opposed to letting the megacorps run rampant and waiting for the Free Market to sort it out) are not supporting, but worshiping.  Bwuh?  That's gotta be news for progressive Christians, who both worship the God of the Bible and place their trust in him, and also support the agenda of a liberal federal government.  


This has been today's edition of "...What The Hell Does That Even Mean?"