Is python really slow?

[Chris]

I spend a fair amount of time on perl newsgroups, having the need to use 
perl for various parts of my job. I am now learning Python. I am a bit 
disheartened at how common it seems to code only some of a program in 
Python and use C for other parts, and how much discussion here involves 
using C for X and Y. I don't have time to learn another language. I don't 
see nearly as much discussion about doing this in the Perl newgroups. 
Should I just be learning C instead? Is this just because of the different 
applications python is being put to use for or because Python programmers 
are more "multi-lingual" or is Python really so slow that one needs to go 
to C on a more regular basis?

This is NOT flamebait... it just has me concerned that by deciding on 
Python (after becoming semi-proficient in PHP and Perl) I might be making a 
mistake.