Rick Perry: ‘I’m More Jewish Than You Think I Am’

There are a lot of topics Texas Governor Rick Perry hits on in a new New York Times Magazine profiles, but here’s one you wouldn’t have ever expected: the Christian conservative governor talking about how Jewish he is. Specifically, telling Mark Leibovich “I’m more Jewish than you think I am.”

The profile opens on Perry and his family at a Jewish deli in Beverly Hills, where the Texas governor was eating with his family. And at some point, Perry took an aside with Leibovich to tell him about his personal connection to the Jewish faith:

“I’m more Jewish than you think I am,” he told me. “I read the part of the Bible that said the Jews are God’s chosen people.” He boasted that he has been going to Israel since 1992. Then Perry got down to business, thanking the Lord for His many blessings, and asking Him to be with “our men and women who defend our freedom, bring ’em home safe, be with the president, give him wisdom.”

Perry also addresses his infamous “oops” moment in a 2012 Republican debate and the possibility that he’ll run for president in 2016.

And in one interesting tidbit, Perry says he’s considering moving to California after his term as Texas governor ends in January; interesting considering how critical Perry has been of California’s treatment of businesses.

[h/t Gawker]
[image via screengrab]

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Follow Josh Feldman on Twitter: @feldmaniac

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