On August 29, the Media Research Center‘s CNSNews.com interviewed Family Research Council president Tony Perkins about “religious freedom” and the presidential election:

CNSNEWS.COM: Do you think that there’s a stark contrast to this presidential election and in the past?

PERKINS: I think this is the year of contrast.  This is the year of contrast when you look at the party platforms. The Republican Party has very strong language as it pertains to natural, traditional marriage. The Democratic Party going the way of a very small minority in this country and embracing same-sex marriage, which undermines the 32 states that have voted on this, the 30 states that have constitutional amendments. I think that’s in your face to those states that have constitutional amendments. You see on the life issue you have strong language in the Republican platform, probably some of the strongest language we’ve seen from a conservative perspective, and then the Democratic Party going the opposite direction, showcasing Planned Parenthood, an organization that’s been under a cloud of controversy. So, yes, a year of contrasts. Of course a contrast between Mitt Romney and Barack Obama – one who sees the solutions to the economy being through smaller government, stronger families, and vibrant businesses, compared to Barack Obama who sees more government as a solution.

CNSNEWS.COM: How big a issue is religious freedom in this? I mean, given the abortion funding in the health care bill, the contraception mandate, and so forth.

PERKINS: I see religious freedom as really a swirling storm, not unlike Isaac that’s been out here in the gulf, that, you know, people are feeliing the effects of, they’re seeing it. The Republican Party platform addresses it. Of course, the president can’t really address it because he is the one who’s facilitating it with his mandate, through his health care, we’ve got more companies filing suit against the administration over the health care mandate. So it is a fundamental issue. People understand, while they may not be solely focused on religious freedom, Americans understand our first freedom is a fundamental freedom upon which our other freedoms rest.