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Perry: Yeah, Sorry for That "No Heart" Comment
Townhall ^ | 9-28-2011 | Guy Benson

Posted on 09/28/2011 2:36:00 PM PDT by smoothsailing

Perry: Yeah, Sorry for That "No Heart" Comment

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.

Guy Benson

Guy Benson is Townhall.com's Political Editor.


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: aliens; heartless; perry
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To: Diogenesis

The judgements are the result of feeling, which is why they are so bad.


21 posted on 09/28/2011 2:51:28 PM PDT by ari-freedom (I'm a heartless conservative because I love this country.)
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To: goat granny

I think they call that something like a psychological slip.Like Obama did during that interview before the election where he said, “My Muslim Faith” and had to be “corrected” by the narrator to say “My Christian Faith”.


22 posted on 09/28/2011 2:51:49 PM PDT by Paperdoll (NO MORE RINOS NO MATTER WHAT!)
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To: smoothsailing

Apology aside...I can conclude he just made a stupid mistake which he did not admit to (chose wrong word).

OR

He is not capable of say what he means and/or he is not capable of meaning what he says.


23 posted on 09/28/2011 2:52:18 PM PDT by PoloSec ( Believe how that Christ died for our sins, was buried and rose again for our justification)
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To: GeronL
He meant the word choice, he just regrets it because it HURT his popularity. That is all.

Precisely. American heard what Perry said to them.

24 posted on 09/28/2011 2:52:43 PM PDT by Ron H. (Loving my Deering Goodtime 2 Classic 5-stringer)
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To: Cincinatus' Wife; RoosterRedux; jonrick46; deepbluesea; RockinRight; TexMom7; potlatch; ...
Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************


25 posted on 09/28/2011 2:52:57 PM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: smoothsailing

I’m not voting for amnesty. period.


26 posted on 09/28/2011 2:52:57 PM PDT by RC one (Voting isn't a simple act of civic duty anymore, it's a complex act of civil war.)
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To: smoothsailing
“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.”

Perry said what he intended to say. He's a "Republican" with Democrat roots and he believes that it's ok to educate illegals (criminals) with OPM (other people's money). Many of the positions he has taken in the state reflect his Democrat roots, just like his chief rival, Romney.

27 posted on 09/28/2011 2:53:12 PM PDT by DustyMoment (Congress - Another name for white collar criminals!!)
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To: ari-freedom

Nope.

The RINO judgments are fascist, Communist,
Marxist, antiAmerican “logic” or treason,
which in either case is “bad”
because Americans are now ... fed up with it.


28 posted on 09/28/2011 2:55:24 PM PDT by Diogenesis ("Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. " Pres. Ronald Reagan)
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To: jessduntno

This cowboy sure knows how to put a gun to his own
mouth. ;-)


29 posted on 09/28/2011 2:55:24 PM PDT by Average Al (Forbidden fruit leads to many jams.)
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To: All

We’re done with you, Rick. You can go home now.


30 posted on 09/28/2011 2:55:48 PM PDT by MeganC (Are you better off than you were four years ago?)
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To: smoothsailing

Right! Let RINO gore RINO until there is nothing left of either of them.


31 posted on 09/28/2011 2:56:16 PM PDT by Paperdoll (NO MORE RINOS NO MATTER WHAT!)
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To: smoothsailing

He so reminds me of Bush. What a disaster that guy was. He and his minions called us all racists over disagreeing with his open-border policies. It’s happening all over again, and we are supposed to take it?


32 posted on 09/28/2011 2:57:16 PM PDT by PghBaldy (War Powers Res: http://avalon.law.yale.edu/20th_century/warpower.asp)
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To: smoothsailing
Less than a week later, Perry is backpedaling and apologizing

It took him SIX freaking days to come up with this weak BS?

Obviously, he still doesn't get why that was a campaign-killing comment. He was done the minute it came out of his mouth, though it may take all the professional political geniuses around him a few weeks to realize it.

33 posted on 09/28/2011 2:57:45 PM PDT by M. Thatcher
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To: GeronL; AuntB; Tennessee Nana; Condor51; stephenjohnbanker; South40; cripplecreek; ...
Offering regrets is another disturbing side of Perry's character........definitely not someone who engenders trust and confidence.

He now says he "regrets" labeling 81% of Americans who disagree with him .......only because it collapsed his campaign.

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.

If using the word did the opposite----and heightened his popularity----Perry would be saying "heartless" over and over and over.

Perry's monumental ego is showing. His naked ambitions are scary.

34 posted on 09/28/2011 2:58:08 PM PDT by Liz (The rule of law must prevail. We canÂ’t govern ourselves by our personal point of view.)
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To: smoothsailing
I was hoping he'd apologize for that. Glad to hear that he did. That was a definite misstep, but at least he's big enough to acknowledge that and issue a mea culpa, unlike the current occupant of the White House.


35 posted on 09/28/2011 2:58:35 PM PDT by Allegra (Hey! Stop looking at my tagline like that.)
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To: smoothsailing
When is Perry going to apologize for what he said in the earlier debate, i.e.,insinuating that if you are against in-state tuition for illegals you are some sort of racist or bigot/

“In the state of Texas, if you've been in the state of Texas for three years, if you're working towards your college degree, and if you are working and pursuing citizenship in the state of Texas, you pay in-state tuition there,” said Perry.

“And the bottom line is, it doesn't make any difference what the sound of your last name is. That is the American way,” said Perry. “No matter how you got into that state, from the standpoint of your parents brought you there or what have you. And that's what we've done in the state of Texas. And I'm proud that we are having those individuals be contributing members of our society rather than telling them, you go be on the government dole.”

36 posted on 09/28/2011 3:00:43 PM PDT by kabar
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To: shield

Well, it’s done. He can go back on offense now. Kick some pansy mittbutt.


37 posted on 09/28/2011 3:00:51 PM PDT by smoothsailing
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To: smoothsailing

I’ve read that too. He is just warming up.


38 posted on 09/28/2011 3:02:04 PM PDT by World'sGoneInsane (The terrorists attacked us--and don't you forget it!)
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To: smoothsailing

Either I missed it or you didn’t ping me to your thread. I found it...still wish Perry would have held off and stood by his comment.


39 posted on 09/28/2011 3:03:05 PM PDT by shield (Rev 2:9 Woe unto those who say they are Judahites and are not, but are of the syna GOG ue of Satan.)
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To: smoothsailing

Too late Rick.

I “have no heart” to vote for you now.

And it’s not because I’m offended. I may be very heartless. It’s because you decided to extend privileges to illegals in the most liberal way possible at the expense of American citizens. What could be more liberal than that?

It’s not the comment that’s the problem he should apologize for, he should apologize for passing that law.


40 posted on 09/28/2011 3:05:53 PM PDT by NYCslicker
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