![](http://media.timesfreepress.com/img/photos/2011/10/10/PARADE_Rick_Perry_t618.jpg?ba5b5b122dd3d37cc13d83e92a6a0ec0d5bfa32a"</img)
Posted on 10/10/2011 5:38:54 PM PDT by TexMom7
So, what happened to you in the early debates?
Rick Perry: "A debate is an eight-ring circus, and you have a minute to talk. Sometimes it can be hard to explain your position on a host of issues. I readily admit I’m not the slickest politician nor the smoothest debater."
Do you feel as if the other candidates have been ganging up on in the debates?
RP: "When you come into the fray and you’re leading in the polls, you’re going to get attacked by everyone. I get it. I’m a big boy, and I know how to play that game. "
Your critics say you’re not electable. Your response?
RP:"Well, I disregard that. Americans are looking for somebody to stand up and tell them the truth, and I have a record to back it up. Ultimately, if I can explain my heart, my jobs record, and my philosophy to Americans, I’m pretty confident that I’ll win."
You’re a very successful fund-raiser. But it’s been reported that nearly half of the major donors during your governorship ended up receiving business contracts, political appointments, or tax breaks. The word that’s been applied to you is “cronyism.” How do you respond?
RP:"That’s the same old, tired criticism which comes when people don’t want to talk about the real issues, like how do we create jobs."
But is there any truth to it?
RP:"No. Decisions in Texas are generally legislative, with the lieutenant governor, speaker, and governor making them together. There were no unilateral decisions from my office dealing with those issues. And I’ll go back to my record. I’ve been elected three times as governor. The people obviously have confidence in me."
Your wife, Anita Perry, tends to stay out of the spotlight. At the Sept. 12 debate, you described her as “beautiful, thoughtful, incredible.” What is she like as a person?
RP:"She’s very smart and loyal. She’s not predisposed to be a public figure since she saw how her father, a small-town doctor, had to be shared with all these other people. She’s also a great patriot. "
Some of our recent presidents have admitted to experimenting with drugs. What about you?
RP:"No, ma’am. Not unless you call caffeine a drug. Or cold beer or whiskey."
Governor, how would you make the White House more like Texas?
RP:We’d have Blue Bell ice cream and Hill Country barbecue.
Look for the full story in the Oct. 23 issue of PARADE.
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"Who Is Anita Perry?"
http://www.parade.com/news/2011/10/23-meet-anita-perry.html
LYNN SHERR: Let’s start with an easy question. How would you describe your husband?
ANITA PERRY: I think he’s the most handsome man. And he’s creative, smart, kind, thoughtful. …
What’s your pet name for him?
Ricky. He calls me Nita.
Your husband says you urged him to enter the race. Why?
My daddy was a family practice doctor, and in the 1970s after Medicare began, I remember him telling me, as wise as he was, “We’re moving towards socialized medicine. The first time you take a dollar from the federal government, they’ll start trying to control your life.” I became a nurse, and I’ve seen government take away more and more of our freedom to choose the care we want and the drugs we want.
When did you first talk to your husband about running?
I started thinking about it last November after his reelection. Then in June a friend sent me a magazine article; it was about Obamacare. I read it and thought, “I don’t want more of the same.” One day Rick and I were talking and I said, “I am so concerned with our children’s future and their children’s future and what will happen to them. We’ve given so many years to public service, and we need to make a difference.” I didn’t want us to wake up when we were 80 and regret we didn’t do this. Our country is in danger, in my opinion.
He’s taken a lot of heat over his 2007 executive order mandating that sixth-grade girls get the HPV vaccine unless their parents opted out. [It was overturned by the state legislature.] What role did you play in his decision?
I didn’t know anything about it.
What was your reaction when you heard about it?
I wish he’d talked to me first.
Was it the wrong decision?
No, but I thought he handled it the wrong way. I’ve been cochair for the March of Dimes immunization program, and I’m pro-immunization. I would have supported the vaccine. I do not see it as an opening for sexual promiscuity in any way. I see it as another immunization.
Do you think your husband’s taking some unfair hits?
Yes, he’s said he made a mistake. He just wants to get rid of cancer in our lifetime. I don’t know how many other men would admit, “I made a mistake.”
Presidential campaigns usually get very ugly. Can you handle it?
It’s already ugly. [laughs] It’s so unkind and unfair, because you know what? All we want to do is serve our country, fight for freedom, and bring back America, the greatest country in the world. The other day, an older lady asked me, “What do you think about the polls?” I said, “I can’t look at them. All I can do is get up every day and tell everyone what a wonderful man and leader Rick Perry is.”
If he is elected president next year, what issues or causes will you take up as first lady?
It’s hard to say. I’m a health care professional. I love our military. But we’ve got a lot of work to do before we make it to the White House.
You’ve said your husband prays every night and morning. Yes. He always asks for wisdom for our president. What about you?
I pray that God will send his angels to protect my children.
Is it hard for you to go out and make campaign speeches?
It’s not hard. I’ve had lots of years to do it, and I’ve become comfortable in that role. I love meeting people—goodness gracious, that’s the best part.
When your husband gives speeches, do you ever find yourself wanting to put words in his mouth?
No, because he always says the right thing.
Always?
Well, most of the time. Whether he says it in a way that you or I want to hear …
Let me ask you one last question about the future. If you make it all the way to the White House, what will you bring with you?
Fun, humor, kindness, and a love for our country.
You can kiss all the mexican ass you want, but I am not going to join you in a group hug.
I haven’t seen another candidate call me heartless and tell me I should pay for mexicans children’s education. So they don’t have to prove to me like Perry.
I will not support any open borders and mexican loving candidate from either party.
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Thanks, thought they were forecasting the future.
Thanks, thought they were forecasting the future.
Me:are you calling children brought over into Texas by their illegal parents who grew up most of their lives “ticks”?
You:Hell yes I am. They are sucking the life blood out of America and you feel-good types are only encouraging them. And just like the ticks they are, they are killing the host.
There are only between 12 to 16K of them in Texas and they pay for their tuition.
I would rather be a feel-good type than a hate filled bigot.
Are you really saying that there are only 12-16 thousand illegal children in all of TX? REALLY??? There are more than that in TN.
Oh noes, you used the b-word. I guess this means I am supposed to apologize or something. So now, according to you, wanting illegal invaders repelled makes me a bigot.
Better look around as about 75% of Americans feel the same way. I guess that makes America a bigoted country. Why hell then, lets just pay their way all through life and charge it to the US taxpayer.
OOppps, they ALREADY DO!
I love this and both of the interviews of Rick and Anita Perry are really good.
This was great thank you.Love how you listed so many things.
Great post..Thank you!
If you people don’t want him - thats your loss.
It’s no sweat off Texans back - we have a good state to live in with a good leader in Rick Perry.
We will just continue to work and play and enjoy life like we’ve been doing.
BINGO!!!!
I haven’t seen another candidate call me heartless and tell me I should pay for mexicans children’s education. So they don’t have to prove to me like Perry.
I will not support any open borders and mexican loving candidate from either party.
I get a page not found from your kxan link.....
Apparently you don't know anything about Reagan either.
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