Posted on 09/28/2011 2:36:00 PM PDT by smoothsailing
Guy Benson
September 28, 2011
Last Thursday night, Rick Perry put his foot in his mouth on a question about immigration, education, and illegals.
Less than a week later, Perry is backpedaling and apologizing for his word choice:
“I probably chose a poor word to explain that to people who don’t want their state to be giving tuition to illegal aliens, illegal immigrants in this country,” Rick Perry told Newsmax.TV in an interview in a response to question about his comment during the debate that those who opposed tuition breaks for illegal immigrants lacked a “heart.”
“That’s their call and I respect that,” Perry continued. “And I was probably a bit over-passionate by using that word and it was inappropriate. But here’s what I do believe: It is a state’s sovereign right to decide that for themselves. In Texas in 2001, we had 181 members of the legislature — only four voted against this piece of legislation — because it wasn’t about immigration. It was about education.”
First of all, kudos to Perry for the mea culpa. His "heartless" line really ticked off a lot of conservatives -- even Chris Christie hammered him for it -- so this apology is both the right thing to do, and is good politics. I'd also submit that the final bit of his explanation above might be his strongest defense of Texas' controversial policy. Perry's home state is a pretty conservative place. The legislature in Austin is controlled by Republicans. Yet a nearly-unanimous bipartisan majority of Texas state legislators voted for this policy.
You may disagree with the substance of the policy, but the politics -- apparently -- were a no-brainer in the Lone Star State (a place where the GOP is adapting to survive and thrive in a jurisdiction with a swelling Hispanic population). For that reason, it's a little hard for me to stomach Mitt Romney exploiting this issue to beat up on Perry. Remember, Romney made huge concessions to Democrats on a universal healthcare bill that he championed and signed into law. A beaming Ted Kennedy stood over his shoulder as he put pen to paper. Does anyone believe that Romney would have vetoed an education bill in Texas that had the support of roughly 97 percent of the legislature? I ask that question seriously.
Finally, is support for this sort of policy a deal-breaking example of unforgiveable conservative heresy? If your answer to that question is "yes," it's time to go RINO-huntin' for....Marco Rubio:
In 2001, Perry signed the first state law in the country that allowed the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates. Former Florida state Rep. Juan Zapata said the Texas law was "the model" for legislation that he repeatedly—but unsuccessfully—pushed in his state. Two of his key allies then are now among the GOP's most sought-after stars: Bush, the subject of perpetual draft movements to run for president, and his fellow Floridian, Sen. Marco Rubio, a sure bet for the GOP's vice presidential shortlist in 2012.
About one dozen states offer some form of tuition assistance to the children of illegal immigrants. Rubio, the son of Cuban exiles, was the co-sponsor of such a bill in 2003 and 2004, before he became speaker of the Florida state House. Bush, whose wife was born and raised in Mexico and who speaks fluent Spanish, also championed the legislation.
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Free in Texas posted: "Perry is campaigning nationally as if he was in Texas, where he was beatified as The Anointed One."
"In Texas, candidate Perry was the only game in town."
"He would simply blow off the tough questions and dance around questionable aspects of his record, even refusing to debate, knowing Texans would hold their noses and vote for him over a Dem. "
"2012 voters need to know Perry considers himself superior to the Great Unwashed electorate. And if elected, he considers himself beyond having to give the public an accounting of his actions..........."
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Perry's finding out the hard way, there's a whole other political world outside Texas. Those dam Yankees up North size up a candidate and take special notice of the quality of his character.
Now when a candidate slaps down a Yankee and says they are "heartless," Perry's finding out those dam Yankees are not going to take that lying down.
Perry has been taking heavy fire on FR for months. This latest “heartless incident” is just a target of opportunity.
What motivates the Perry haters?
Some I take at their word: they are strong conservatives who don’t believe Perry is conservative at all.
Others I think are actually pro-Romney. Being openly pro-Romney is a fast-track to ZOT on FR, so what better way to covertly support Romney than to blast away at Perry... at every opportunity?
I thought he was saying “No Heart” in response to the Rock and Roll HoF nominations.
Interesting...I hadn’t thought of it that way.
Perry is not a follower of the Christ.
Perry does not understand "you shall not STEAL"
As a Texas PROGRESSIVE, he steals from Americans
and gives the money to criminal aliens.He can apologize all he wants, he is still a PROGRESSIVE.
Immigration and the Border Patrol. They have their rules of engagement throttled back so they can’t defend themselves or even deport.
The Rangers and Wildlife are under no such constraints. ICE/CBP are grateful for the help. The Ranger Interdiction Team can defend themselves and Texas. They just shot three of them about a month ago.
Gov. Perry says what he means - and means what he says.
Thank G-d for Perry!
Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
Luk 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven:
Here’s an article out of the Houston Chronicle describing one such incident:
The Ranger Interdiction Team was there and acting on Gov. Perry’s orders.
That group I understand and can appreciate. Perry might not be conservative enough for them but then the problem becomes, who is?
The ones that I have no respect for are the Pauliwogs, secret Mitt lovers, and the extreme Palinhalers.
I just looked it hasn’t been posted at FR so I’m posting it.
Time is long past for American citizens to vote for only pro-American candidates.
A pro-Mexican candidate cannot be pro-American.
A pro-Chinese candidate cannot be pro-American.
A pro-India candidate cannot be pro-American.
A pro-globalist of any stripe cannot be pro-American.
A pro-corruption candidate of any flavor cannot be pro-American.
” Perry meant what he said——he meant to say conservatives are “heartless”....viewers can see him deliberately punctuating the word to reinforce it.
He used the word b/c he wanted to demean conservatives and advance his ambitions at their expense. “
Perry: Yeah.....Ize a ho !
b u m p TO THE FRIGGIN t o p !
Perry’s underlying illegal alien problems remain.
Perry’s better than Mittens, but that’s not saying a lot.
Yup---a frightening scenario, to be sure. And thanks for the realtime input. A Texan's first hand experience w/ Perry cannot compare w/ those dam Yankees lambasting Perry.
Senor Ricky gets away with mucho BS in Texas. Perry's been described by some Texans as a kind of a Punxsutawney Phil. When it's time for election he's out there, packing/campaigning in a cowboy hat, pushing all the right Texas buttons. After he's elected, he disappears into his cave until it's time to gear up again.
When he does that disappearing act, big-hearted Rick gets down to the real business of governance----enriching himself. He has amassed hundreds of millions of dollars in countless "do-good govt agencies," self-serving political committees, using his office to buy millions in campaign contributions......even his wife worked for a govt agency that rec'd state grants from the governor's office. Perry's got a lot of skeletons in his closet.
Self-serving Perry has brought attention to vote-crazed politicians' opportunism, giving away the store to buy votes and campaign dollars, having little or no regard for the citizenry.
Perry's Texas Dream Act and other giveaways, brought him accolades from Mexico.......when he was entrusted with enforcing immigration law for the good of the US......not a foreign country.
QUESTION Did Rick Perry endorse the Comprehensive Immigration Reform Act introduced by Cong Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill)?
BREAKDOWN Over and above the millions who violate our borders, 1.5 million legal foreign workers come to the US each year, as a matter of course.
But this number isn’t high enough for Dem Cong Gutierrez and his 92 co-sponsors. The "Comprehensive Immigration Reform" bill includes a provision called “recapture” that will add up all the supposedly “unused” work visas since 1992 and issue them immediately.
This is a complete fraud, as all unused work visas are rolled over to the family reunification category the next year under existing policy.
Gutierrez' Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill will create 100,000 visas from countries that send the most illegal immigrants every year. According to the State Department, this will mean 550,000 new foreign workers.
Gutierrez' bill will make it much easier for more illegal aliens to break in. Under the Bill, to prove they have jobs and were in the country BEFORE Congress passed amnesty, illegals are allowed to use stolen ID's, fake green cards, and fraudulent SS numbers....... without fear of prosecution.
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Mexico facilitates the profitable staging area for Third World, and other illegals, preparing to violate our borders. The Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill rewards Mexico b/c they calculatedly promote illegal immigration. Contrary to Obama’s claim that CIR bill will increase border security, it does just the opposite.........
<> it guts successful enforcement measures,
<> limits raids on illegal immigrants,
<> prohibits use of troops on the border,
<> replaces E-Verify used to ensure employers hire legal American workers,
<> overturns all state and local US laws that crackdown on illegal immigration,
<> abolishes 287(g) that allows local L/E and federal authorities to apprehend criminal illegals.
Gutierrez and Rick Perry---perfect together.
af, you just don’t like the Governor.
I do like his pro-life, pro-marriage and family conservatism. I appreciate that he comes to pro-life rallies (and was always disappointed that Bush didn’t).
I agree with him on a lot more, and have disagreed with him on some issues. He won me over with his understanding of pro-life issues. It amazed me the first time I heard him talk about embryonic stem cells - he understood what he was saying. He wasn’t just spouting words, he understood the terms.
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