Posted on 10/30/2011 12:21:46 PM PDT by smoothsailing
October 30, 2011
These days, no news is good news for Texas Gov. Rick Perry. In the first two months of his presidential campaign, Perry's media appearances have been associated with blunders, a big reason why he quickly tumbled from frontrunner status to the back of the pack in polls. But in an extended interview with Fox News Sunday's Chris Wallace this morning in Austin, Perry was able to stay completely on message and was unrattled by critical questions about his campaign and policy proposals.
“I’ve laid out a plan, and I’ve got the record and courage to put that in place,” Perry told Wallace, getting at the heart of the case for his candidacy. The clear message was that his new tax and spending plan was superior to Herman Cain's 9-9-9 plan while his record as a conservative governor in Texas and willingness to stick to his principles makes him a better choice than Mitt Romney.
“I have been a consistent conservative," Perry said. "I have always been in favor of the Second Amendment, protecting the Second Amendment, I’ve always been pro-life. I’ve always been a fiscal conservative. And Mitt’s been on both sides of those issues. He’s been for a ban on guns in Massachusetts. He’s been for pro-abortion. He’s been for supporting gay rights and now, he’s on the other side of those issues.”
When Perry released his plan this week, one question was whether he'd be able to defend it in interviews and debates. At least this morning, he was able to deflect Wallace's challenges to it, at least in a way that would reassure conservative primary voters.
For instance, when asked if his plan would blow a hole in the federal budget given that it would slash revenues, Perry talked about the economic growth that would help generate revenue and the spending cuts that would accompany lower taxes.
When Wallace followed up by asking the usual trap question for Republicans about what specific area they would cut, Perry noted that Sen. Tom Coburn, R-Okla., had released a plan detailing $9 trillion in possible cuts, and then explained a specific education reform that would save $25 billion.
Policy analysts would quibble -- it would have been better had he spoken about how to reform Medicare, which is the biggest problem facing our nation's long-term budget outlook. But the point is, agree or disagree, he did provide cogent answers to questions about his plan.
This leaves us with the following questions about his candidacy: can Perry replicate this performance in the coming months, most importantly, in upcoming debates? And even if he does drastically improve as a candidate, has he already dug himself too deep of a hole to recover? A Des Moines Register poll taken this morning shows Cain at 23 percent, Romney at 22 percent and Perry in fifth place with just 7 percent.
Thanks for the link! :)
I watched the interview and thought Perry was excellent. It’s too bad they titled the article this way as other candidates have made a number of gaffes recently.
Perry is great on the stump and in most sit down discussions. This is his venue and he should do a lot of it.
I'd have to say that no one dedicates this much time, effort, and money on a 'back of the pack' nobody. No one does.
That so many have dedicated so much against a so-called 'has-been' shows that he is nothing of the sort.
I agree with you. I have been surprised by the fixation on a candidate who is supposedly “toast”.
In this economy and with our record levels of debt and unemployment, and with our federal government practically forcing anal probes up the @sses of every last man, woman, and child in our country (TSA, overregulation)... I don’t really give a flying “eff” about it.
There are more important issues right now.
Nada ;o)
How about an honest debate of the pluses and minuses?
I remember back in 2008 I was called the most vile of names here for daring to critique Mc Cain (albeit just a few, but the same scenario is gelling now)
I have misgivings with EVERY candidate that is on this particular stage, but it is what it is.
Is it really any wonder the commies have succeed to where they are....gee, wonder how they did it.
usconservative: there are a lot of misconceptions out there and your concern is one of them. Hope this helps you.
The Supreme Court ruled that all states have to pay for the education of all students - legal or illegal.
The in-state tuition law in TX is for kids that were brought across by their illegal parents and have lived in Texas most of their lives. Texas has no choice but educate them to high school.
They PAY for their tuition. Some get financial aid from state and federal sources but they pay more then the aid that they get.
The NET profit from illegals and legals attending college under the TX in-state tuition law is over $11 million dollars.
Therefore, you do not pay for their tuition. No taxpayer does.
His original apology was a few days after saying it.
He has repeated it numerous times since.
Regarding Perry’s apology: this is the first page of google search hits out of almost 900,000 results:
Rick Perry apologizes for ‘heartless’ comment on immigration ...
thehill.com/.../184433-perry-apologies-for-heartless-immigration-co...
Sep 28, 2011 – break to the children of illegal immigrants did not have a heart. inappropriate,” Perry said in a interview with Newsmax.
Rick Perry Apologizes for ‘Heartless’ Immigration Comment During ...
www.theblaze.com/.../rick-perry-apologizes-for-heartless-immigratio...
Sep 28, 2011 – Will Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s immigration policies harm his presidential prospects? As time progresses, it seems like more and more ...
Rick Perry Apologizes For ‘Heartless’ Comment During Last Debate
www.thehotjoints.com/.../rick-perry-apologizes-for-heartless-comme...
Sep 29, 2011 – Rick Perry is sorry he called Conservatives who don’t support in-state tuition are “heartless” during the last GOP debate.
It’s About Time… Rick Perry Apologizes For Calling His Supporters ...
www.thegatewaypundit.com/.../its-about-time-rick-perry-apoligizes-f...
Sep 28, 2011 – Rick Perry Apologizes For Calling His Supporters “Heartless” (Video) ... But while Perry walked back his “heartless” comment, he insisted that ...
Afternoon Fix: Perry apologizes for calling DREAM Act foes heartless
www.washingtonpost.com/...perry-apologizes...heartless/.../gIQAXgL...
Sep 28, 2011 – Rick Perry says he shouldn’t have said that, Herman Cain says he’s not the ... Afternoon Fix: Perry apologizes for calling DREAM Act foes heartless .... SuperFan badge holders consistently post smart, timely comments about ...
Rick Perry “Apologizes” for “Heartless” Comment Regarding ...
brianekoenig.com/.../rick-perry-apologizes-for-heartless-comment-re...
Sep 29, 2011 – During the last GOP debate, Rick Perry, on the topic of the DREAM Act and its backwards notion of providing free education to illegal ...
Rick Perry to Newsmax: I Regret ‘Heartless’ Comment on Immigration
www.newsmax.com/InsideCover/RickPerry...heartless.../id/412594
Sep 28, 2011 – Presidential candidate Rick Perry on Wednesday apologized for ... Rick Perry to Newsmax: I Regret ‘Heartless’ Comment on Immigration ...
The Hill: Rick Perry apologizes for ‘heartless’ comment on ...
democratsforsale.blogspot.com/.../hill-rick-perry-apologizes-for.html
Sep 28, 2011 – Rick Perry apologizes for ‘heartless’ comment on immigration question. By Justin Sink - 09/28/11 03:21 PM ET. Rick Perry said Wednesday that ...
Too late! Rick Perry half assed apology for ‘heartless’ comment on ...
www.fireandreamitchell.com/.../too-late-rick-perry-half-assed-apolog...
Sep 28, 2011 – Rick Perry half assed apology for ‘heartless’ comment on Texas Dream Act. rick-perry-dumb Sorry Rick Perry, you’re too late on your “apology. ...
Rick Perry Apologizes For Using “Heartless” During Debate ...
www.realclearpolitics.com/.../rick_perry_apologizes_for_using_heart...
Sep 28, 2011 – Rick Perry says his use of the word ‘heartless’ was inappropriate to describe individuals who refused to provide discounted college tuition to ...
Showing results for rick perry apologizes for heartless comment
Perry did apologize just a few days after...He said he used the wrong word and was sorry.
BTW he never used the word ‘heartless’....he said ‘have a heart’
He never used the word “heartless”. Look it up.
What is it with some of you folks wanting Gov. Perry to “apologize” to you?!? Are you so used to Obama apologizing for the whole country and the media demanding apologies from the entire Republican party that now you all think you should get apologies too? Grow up.
I had hoped that the little cadre of Perry haters might have given up their attacks in the week ... the blessed week... I took away from them.
And yet, here they still are.
In their mindless hate for Perry, they don’t stop to realize that if Cain falters— and it is oh, so, possible, they are leaving the field wide open for Romney.
Their posts are simplistic, repetitive, contain no new information ... just childish insults.
I hope their children never have to see what some of them have posted here.
I never go on Cain threads and attack him ... just today I took up for him on the ‘woman’ smear.
I may post some doubts but I never lie in wait for a Cain thread so that I can post negatives about the man.
I gotta say, you people need therapy.
wuz it’s tiny feelins hurt? Well, he’s already said he is sorry he put it that way.
They are little zombies given marching orders daily...stop Rick Perry...
So easy a child could do it. Maybe one day Perry can do it too."
He did. He made the point about dynamic scoring, which means he completely gets it.
Not for Mexicans who have broken US law, you do know that, don’t you?
Ok, I’m going to dare ask this question: what makes you, or anyone, believe Cain can debate Obama?
He is not perfect but he’s better than perry at explaining and convincing. And he’s very real about it.
Yes, I was pleased at how Perry had prepared to get back at Romney on Immigration. He was waiting for his chance and he did a good job. Can he do such a thing off the cuff? Not sure.
I think mitt’s weakness was that he didn’t think anyone would “dare” hit him on something so personal. He was flustered and ticked! It was very funny to see.
And hand our roads over to Europe’s rich to charge us big dollars.
6 posts for the a-hole brigade to check in.
Well at least nobody has been paying off Perry’s sexual harassment victims. Cain is toast.
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.