Under His Eye: Tony Perkins appointed to U.S. religious freedom commission.

Family Research Council President Tony Perkins has been appointed to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on the recommendation of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, according to an announcement in Monday’s Congressional Record. -snip-

Religious Right groups have been huge cheerleaders for Vladimir Putin, whose regime has restricted religious freedom as well as the rights of LGBTQ people. In 2017, when the USCIRF classified Russia as a “country of particular concern,” Perkins took note, but essentially blamed Barack Obama for increasing religious repression, saying that “America’s hostility to religious liberty at home has led to incredible indifference abroad.” Added Perkins, “After eight years of Obama’s war on faith, it’s time for America to pick up the torch of liberty and find its voice on the crisis.” -snip-

Perkins’ appointment appears to be yet another example of political payback to the Religious Right leaders and activists who make up a dominant part of the Republican Party’s political base and are President Trump’s strongest supporters. Perkins and other FRC spokespeople were outspoken cheerleaders for the confirmation of U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. Perkins praised the appointment of former Kansas Gov. Sam Brownback, another Religious Right favorite, as Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom. And Perkins is helping put together a political gathering in June at which Religious Right leaders will heap praise upon Trump and urge conservative Christians to vote for Republicans in this year’s midterm elections.