Posted on 09/27/2011 9:43:17 AM PDT by Kaslin
Pundits seem hell bent on singling out a dismal performance by Governor Rick Perry on Thursday night’s FOX/Google debate, which was the most watched debate in history—proving voters are paying attention in record numbers as the economics tighten.
Nine Republican candidates took the stage, but only one took the hearts of Florida’s Straw Poll participants on Saturday: Herman Cain. Pulling a whopping 37% in a field of nine was no small accomplishment. But wait a minute. Mitt Romney “won” that debate handily, didn’t he? At least that’s what pundits are declaring. He gave the right answers…spoke with confidence…demeaned Perry cunningly…railed at President Obama effectively…and of course, looked good. Campaigning non-stop for four years, he has no other job. And before this he campaigned at least four more for the last presidency. He has spent millions of his own dollars and by now we all know at least in part, his oft recited resume. So why didn’t he win the straw poll?
Governor Perry has a full time job. Most recently he was off the campaign trail to handle the enormous wildfires threatening his state. And Governor Romney was right in the last debate: Massachusetts is NOT Texas. Texas is about 38 times the size of Massachusetts with a budget the size of Canada. Governor Perry is good on the economy and most social issues, but his position on illegal immigration is anathema to conservatives. Still…he stood on the stage and like a true Texan, stuck to his guns. That drew boos from the audience, but on some level, was a refreshing contrast from the former Governor of Massachusetts.
As Governor Romney chided Perry over giving in-state tuition to illegal immigrants, no one pointed out that before he was a candidate in 2008, Romney supported a “path to citizenship” for illegal immigrants.
No one reminded the audience how he hammered McCain in particular for holding the same position he once had held or how he demagogued Giuliani and Huckabee for being soft on illegal immigration.
“This could be extreme political repositioning, even for Romney,” stated the Boston Globe.
While Perry was chided for signing an Executive Order to mandate a vaccine for young girls to prevent HPV, which can lead to cervical cancer, no one mentioned the Romney-Care provision that covers abortion for fifty dollars. And no one reiterated that Perry admitted he was wrong to sign that order, while Romney stands by the healthcare plan he still boasts of, even as it bankrupts his state.
No one pointed out that Romney and his wife have been financial supporters of Planned Parenthood. And on the issue of gay marriage, no one pointed out it was Romney who forced Town Clerks to license same sex partners and change the wording on certificates from “husband” and “wife” to “Partner A” and “Partner B” BEFORE same sex marriage was even the law in Massachusetts.
And no one challenged Romney when he indicated Perry was lying about Romney omitting a sentence in his book in its most recent printing that advocated making a form of Romney-Care available all over the country. If Perry had a weak moment, it was not digging in his heels on his veracity
Rick Perry is not an Easterner. His voice pattern is slow and deliberate. Mitt Romney would out “Trouble-in-River-City” the Music Man. But we all remember Professor Hill’s eloquence was a smoke screen for much flim and flam.
Perry seems to be honest, committed to his positions, and able to apologize when he thinks he was wrong. And from the conservative point of view, he IS terribly wrong on some things.
Florida’s straw poll results weren’t good for Perry, but they were worse for Romney. Voters may not think much of Perry’s position on immigration, but it seems they still prefer an honest hesitator over a slickster with all the answers. And if Perry did so poorly, why did he still take second place? Just asking.
why didn’t Perry mention all these things instead of some exercise in comparative literature?
No, Ms. Rios, Perry has NO EXCUSE. Comparing him to Romney or other liberals does not make Perry look any better. They are all part of the same elite crowd that is destroying America.
EXACTLY!
Rick Perry is the rare politician who almost fully
understood him mistake (Gardasil).
Problem is that THAT came from his RINO thinking,
so he could not understand the error was NOT
polls, but the stupid idea of MANDATING/OPT OUT
vs. OPT IN.
RINO thinking also led to his errors in the debate.
Is there some soap?
he gave the right answers?
“You conservatives are heartless, racist bastards, please vote for me”
Perry will not overcome the damage he inflicted by his tuition for illegals plan.
ditto.
More b/s excuses will not work.
Perhaps I just “don’t have a heart”, but Perry has already done all that he can, everything else is just too late.
More b/s excuses will not work.
Perhaps I just “don’t have a heart”, but Perry has already done all that he can, everything else is just too late.
Pray for America
You missed the whole point of the article. It’s obvious why Perry didn’t win the straw poll; because he did so poorly at the debate. Pundits then assumed that naturally Romney would gain position due to Perry’s fall. However, Cain hurdled over Romney, and Perry was still able to secure second place.
It suggests that Perry definately took a hit, as he should, but that Romney can not capitilize on Perry’s fall, because he’s a RINO, that the Tea Party doesn’t want.
This issue is not a deal breaker because were other candidates even asked similar questions. Since researching Palin's positions on issues, I find her position on illegal immigration to be extremely confusing and when one examines what the others say, it becomes apparent this issue is not easy.
I agree with Perry that we do not need a fence but I wish the federal government would do their job and enforce the borders and stop mandating to states they must provide freebies for these interlopers.
This issue is not a deal breaker because were other candidates even asked similar questions. Since researching Palin's positions on issues, I find her position on illegal immigration to be extremely confusing and when one examines what the others say, it becomes apparent this issue is not easy.
I agree with Perry that we do not need a fence but I wish the federal government would do their job and enforce the borders and stop mandating to states they must provide freebies for these interlopers.
Good article.
Willard’s RomneyCare, its $50 abortions and federal subsidies, his support for Planned Parenthood, gay marriage and his flip-flops on gun control, amnesty and just about every major issue conservatives have cared about for the last 35 years, makes him the last person Republicans should consider for the nomination.
In 2007 Romney tossed off his liberal viewpoints, started calling himself a conservative and has been running for potus ever since. Romney is actually the most liberal candidate to run for the GOP nomination in at least a generation. More importantly, Romney has no chance of beating Obama.
These election debates are little different than WWE Wrestling events. Journalists plotting attack questions to generate friction, as demonstrated by Ailes recent comments.
"They [the children of illegals] are being educated, right up to and through high school.Where did it come to pass that if you're here illegally, you have a right to a college education, let alone the right to have it subsidized, when all Americans do NOT have their college educations subsidized?
I mean, this is perverse, to be honest with you.
And it is also the position of the Bush family. And I think…if I'm wrong, I stand corrected…it's the position of some of our "inside-the-beltway" publications.
But it is not the position of the American people, who have to pay this bill, endlessly."
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I heard the other day on FOX that Cain was the only candidate who actually stuck around and gave a speech to the voters on the day of the straw poll. Perry gave a 7 minute speech the day before, then took off to MI where Myth already was. If so, that would go a long way to explaining Cain’s sudden surge.
[no one mentioned the Romney-Care provision that covers abortion for fifty dollars. ]
No wonder liberals love him. You can bet that Obama will make sure every voter is aware of this before the general election. It will dishearten the conservative base.
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