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.
just upgraded it a little....:O)
In my opinion the filthy attacks on Perry supporters are UNACCEPTABLE.
I have never in all my years seen the level of hate that is being spewed on this site. Facts do not stop it either, then you all become personal. If Jim wants me to leave because I support Perry. then so be it.
You all say you want the ILLEGALS run out of the country.
Well just WHO do you think is going to do THAT.
Are you all going to apply for the job of rounding them up and putting them in boxcars for the border?
Dane is that you? Can't help but notice the writing styles are the same.
*******************************
Don't you think that such a charge should include a ping to Jim?
My advice.... He's damaged goods, and find a new horse in this race.
:o) Oh that’s a good one!
Fortunately our governor agrees...sadly he is the only top POTUS candidate that does ....but many people are more concerned with their hurt feelings.
Those dam Yankees up North size up a candidate and take special notice of the quality of his character.
That really worked out well for us last time...John McCain!!! ROFLOL!
And Romney leads now! Heaven save us from the damn Yankees!!!!
Where in the world do y'all learn character?
If we get many more of your candidates with your idea of "character," we're going to need our guns...if your characters haven't taken them away!
Many times I have stated, you can smell an election in the air when Perry talks conservative.
I have never in all my years seen the level of hate that is being spewed on this site. Facts do not stop it either, then you all become personal. If Jim wants me to leave because I support Perry. then so be it.
****************************
I'm simply aghast at some of the things that you have said on this thread.
I had the honor of voting for Reagan every chance I had I think it was 5.
Twice for Gov, Twice for Pres. Not including primaries etc.
It always infuriates me to see people try to attribute positions to Reagan I KNOW he would not Condone. He didn’t have that kind of hate in him. Not one ounce.
Eisenhower kicked out the illegal aliens. Other countries have done it. There are both effective direct and indirect ways - such as denial of welfare - of getting them out of our country.
If the shoe fits. Maybe you all better reread your post with the eye of an outsider.
Some of the remarks are straight out of you know where.
History is your Friend.
I have no idea what you are talking about.
Back home he could simply blow off the tough questions and dance around the questionable aspects of his record knowing we would sure as hell hold our nose and vote for him over a Dem. or someone like Medina that crashed and burned in the run up to the gubernatorial election.
He better get his mind right. Would he be better than the ersatz man-child we now have? Yep. But he's a straight-up good old boy crony capitalist who considers himself beyond having to account to the great unwashed (once elected), so just know what's in the package you're getting.
I don’t care about the “No heart” comment. But I am very much annoyed that illegals paid the same amount of tuition as I had to for sending our kids to Texas public universities.
But saying the people you need to vote for you don’t have a heart is poisen. He needs to apoligize for using that language, at least...I want to support Perry, but he needs to understand how bitter people are over this, acknowledge their concerns, and promise to enforce the current law and not to try to ram any “Comprehensive Immigration Reform” bill down the throats of the conservative base.
He's done the first half. He just needs to work on the 2nd half. I don't expect him to flip-flop, I just want a commitment to rigorously enforce current law.
“He meant the word choice, he just regrets it because it HURT his popularity. That is all.”
Yep, exactly - otherwise why WAIT NEARLY A WEEK. He needed to see what the polls were showing first. Since it hurt him bad enough, yea, what the hell, tell the Tea Party what they want to hear.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
