Governor Rick Perry Attacked At Ames Iowa Campaign Stop Over Anti-Gay Stance; Hecklers Question His Position That Gays Should Not Be Permitted To Serve Openly

A packed Ames, Iowa coffee house where Rick Perry spoke this afternoon turned into a bit of a ruckus that left the candidate bolting to his vehicle after several Iowans screamed questions about his comments regarding gay and lesbian families “Why do you hate gays so much,” one screamed as Perry wrapped up a rather typical campaign stop and avoided taking any questions from the audience. “Go back to Texas” another screamed from the back of Cafe Diem coffee shop in Ames. Others in the crowd argued a bit with those criticizing the Texas governor and 2012 presidential candidate. “I just asked him, ‘Why are you here?’ If you don’t like him and you don’t want to support him, go somewhere else,” said Ivan Moore, a resident of Story City who agrees that gay and lesbian should not be allowed to serve openly in the military. Perry soon left the coffee shop and was on his way out when a young boy asked if he would give him an autograph. Perry gave him a signature and bolted for his vehicle. Others waiting for the governor behind the coffee shop asked for pictures. Got to “head back to the land,” Perry, who is returning to Texas today, said as he jumped into the vehicle, according to The Des Moines Register. Perry last week launched an advertisement that says President Obama has waged a war on religion and questions why it is okay for gays to serve openly in the military yet school prayer is forbidden. Iowa State University associate professor Warren Blumenfeld was one who shouted questions to Perry, asking him why he was marginalizing and demonizing non-Christians. “The implication is if you’re gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered, you’re not a real American,” said Blumenfeld, who teaches studies about sexuality. “He is marginalizing people and dividing this country, and he’s demonizing proud Americans who just don’t have the social identities as he has.” Ames resident Andrew Koppenhaver – a heterosexual who was at the event with a friend who is a Marine — said the questions are fair to ask, particularly since Perry brought the issue up himself by releasing the ad. He believes gay and lesbians should be allowed to serve openly in the military. “I believe in liberty and I believe we shouldn’t make issues out of sexuality or religion,” Koppenhaver said. “It’s a personal issue and the purpose of this country is not to tell people what to do.”