2011-08-22 "Rick Perry: Corporate Tax Fight Just Like Civil Rights Movement" by Jessica P.
[http://www.care2.com/causes/rick-perry-corporate-tax-fight-just-like-civil-rights-movement.html]
GOP Presidential hopeful Rick Perry not only thinks Social Security is unconstitutional and is in favor of repealing federal child labor protections, he also thinks the GOP’s crusade of eliminating corporate taxes is just like the civil rights movement [http://thinkprogress.org/justice/2011/08/22/301253/rick-perry-compares-civil-rights-movement-to-gop-fight-for-lower-corporate-taxes/].
The remarks were made in South Carolina and came on the opening of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial commemorating the civil rights leader who died marching for economic justice for poor communities.
Perry has made it a habit of letting one ignorant comment after another fly, but to compare the “plight” and “struggles” of corporations to overcome the tyranny of virtually non-existent taxation and regulation to the plight of black Americans in pre-civil rights America may just take the cake.
It also shows Perry’s either willful or deliberate ignorance of American history. Martin Luther King Jr. argued that economic justice for the poor was as essential as political rights. King was a vigorous advocate for unions and the same anti-poverty programs that Perry believes are unconstitutional. King and his supporters faced police dogs, lynch mobs, and firebombs at their places of worship. Perry and his supporters face a compliant and corrupt Congress and a disengaged electorate.
So, Gov. Perry, I think it is a stretch to say that corporate welfare rights are akin to civil rights.