Joe Kernen Has ‘High Bar’ for What Offends Him, but Rick Perry’s Comments Exceed It

By Jordan Chariton 

KernenPerry1This morning, CNBC “Squawk Box” co-anchor Joe Kernen told Texas Governor Rick Perry it takes a lot to offend him, but Perry’s recent comments comparing homosexuality to alcoholism did just that.

“I have a really high bar for what I would take offense to, but that would exceed the bar for me,” Kernen said. “I don’t think gay marriage leads to cirrhosis of the liver, or domestic violence, or DWI’s…I don’t see how that’s similar.”

Perry responded that he understood people have different opinions on the issues, and gay marriage should be left to the states. Kernen then asked Perry if he thinks you can change a homosexual person into a heterosexual. “I don’t know…the fact is we’ll leave that to the psychologists and the doctors to decide.” Last week, Perry suggested that one might have the genetic coding to be an alcoholic, but can choose not to be, and said he looks at homosexuality the same way.

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Kernen told Perry the real group they need to focus on changing: “For us conservatives, if I could change big government, high-tax progressives into fiscal conservatives…that’s where I would work.”

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