Posted on 08/23/2011 11:12:25 AM PDT by Sudetenland
A lot of Republicans have expressed concern over the fact that Rick Perry was a Democrat up until 1989 and worse, not only supported Al Gore's 1988 bid for the Democrat Party Presidential nomination, but ran his campaign in Texas. For some, these questions arise for partisan political reasons and a desire to forestall Governor Perry's campaign. Lacking an affirmative argument supporting their candidate, they seek to elevate themselves and their candidate by distorting Perry's record. For them, the truth is irrelevant and winning their only concern.
For others, there is a legitimate concern that a Republican who sounds like a good, conservative, electable candidate might, in the end, turn out to be just another liberal wolf in conservative sheep's clothing. It is a reasonable question to ask. Will Rick Perry end up being just another smooth talking closet moderate (or even liberal) who has adopted a conservative facade out of political expediency? It is for these people, the ones with legitimate concerns, that this article is written.
Without growing up in Texas (or indeed much of the South) or knowing the history of Texas (and Southern) politics, it might be difficult for non-Texans to understand why Perry's support for and management of Al Gore's 1988 campaign to be the Democrat Party's presidential nominee, which on the surface seems to be an incomprehensible and an irredeemable flaw in judgment, isn't considered that big of a deal in Texas.
(Excerpt) Read more at thehoustonconservative.com ...
Thanks!
Perry needs to spend at least 40 days and 40 nights in the 'wilderness' before he can shed the "I campaigned for Gore ('before' he invented the internet), but...."
Ronald Reagan was a Democrat for much of his life too.
Even aside from the “Texas Democrat” context, to dismiss Perry simply because he was a Democrat and ignore his subsequent 10 year record as Governor shows a very shallow approach to vetting a candidate. However, if he did not have the 10 year record, then yes, the fact that he was a Democrat might have some bearing.
old news
I don’t see this as a big deal. In 1987 (when I turned 18), I registered to vote as a Democrat, mainly because I was so disgusted by controversial Arizona Governor Evan Meacham. I even volunteered for the recall campaign against him, though Meacham was eventually impeached and did significant damage to the Republican party in Arizona for years. In the 1988 Democrat primary, I voted for Al Gore as he seemed the most conservative of the Democrat field. (Back then, he was a conservative southern Senator who was pro-life and his wife was very active in social issues such as criticizing the music industry for the trash they were putting out.) In the general election, I changed my party back to Republican and voted for George HW Bush and have been a Republican ever since. Gore later proved himself to be a political whore who was very astute in enriching himself over the whole Global Warming thing.
People evolve in their thinking and Perry has governed conservatively with passion for the 2nd and 10th Amendments. Yes, he has made mistakes, but he is poised to beat Obama like a drum.
Not only that, Reagan voted for FDR all four times.
I like that you explained the Solid South mentality of yesteryear. Many slamming Perry on this never look at any context because it would destroy their argument. There are many solid Conservative people around who were once Rats, some of which populate FR. This “He used to be a Rat” is the weakest of all arguments on Perry being bad for America.
Perry Ping....
It takes as long to paste 1 word as it does 1700 words...
And on top of that....Ronald Reagan was head of a union.
Thanks.
Great reference and LINK!
In Hollywood!
Reagan was a New Deal Democrat. He joked that he had probably become a Democrat by birth, given that his father, Jack, was so devoted to the Democratic Party. The younger Reagan cast his first presidential vote in 1932 for Franklin Roosevelt, and did so again in the succeeding three presidential contests. His faith in FDR remained undimmed even after World War II, when he called himself “a New Dealer to the core.” He summarized his views in this way: “I thought government could solve all our postwar problems just as it had ended the Depression and won the war. I didn’t trust big business. I thought government, not private companies, should own our big public utilities; if there wasn’t enough housing to shelter the American people, I thought government should build it; if we needed better medical care, the answer was socialized medicine.” When his brother, Moon, became a Republican and argued with his sibling, the younger Reagan concluded “he was just spouting Republican propaganda.”
http://www.firstprinciplesjournal.com/print.aspx?article=1082&loc=b&type=cbbp
I finally got some time to read the article...excellent...instead of all the spin we’re even seeing here at FR.
Can any of us believe this was Ronald Reagan and how he thought...I know I can’t. Nancy helped Ronnie to see the light. PTL...
In the sixties virtually all Texans were democrats,we were part of what was referred to as the solid south. LBJ and the lurch to the left of the democrat party ended that. Most Texas democrats to be honest were always to conservative for the liberals of the northeast!!!
Well written. Clear, concise, well sourced. This won’t deter the Perry-phobes, the ones who see Perry as a threat to their preferred candidate. But it provides necessary context for those who did not grow up in the land of the “yellow dog” Democrats.
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