When Rick Perry Praised HillaryCare (1993)

The Atlantic ^ | Conor Friedersdorf

[Tempest]

So what does a complete review of Perry's record reveal? As it turns out, he sent a letter during his tenure as Texas Agricultural Commissioner that praised Hillary Clinton's 1993 health care reform efforts. "I think your efforts in trying to reform the nation's health care system are most commendable," he wrote. "I would like to request that the task force give particular consideration to the needs of the nation's farmers... Rural populations have a high proportion of uninsured people, rising health care costs, and often experience lack of services." He concluded by noting, "your efforts are worthy, and I hope you will remember this constituency as the task force progresses. Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can be of any assistance."

Dan Amira at New York magazine dismisses the story and mocks the Daily Caller for publishing it. "He didn't even say anything about the substance of Clinton's health-care reform plan," Amira writes, "just that it was 'commendable' to try to reform the system in some way, which is hardly controversial."

I disagree.

Clinton's efforts were widely criticized by Republicans at the time, and the substance of her reforms obviously constituted a substantial federal intervention into health care, the very thing Perry now claims is obviously unconstitutional and ruinous to liberty. (And yes, Clinton's plan did call for both an employer mandate to provide health care and an individual mandate to be covered.)

[Tempest]

[Tempest]

The Perrybots will be here soon to try to deny the fact that the Clintons healthcare reform plan was a cornerstone of the Clinton campaign and thatr everyone and his dof already kneew of what the principal policies would consist of.

They will lie to your face because they worship false idols.

[CGalen]

This is not good for Perry.

[Diogenesis]

. Guard the Borders!! .... "Gard a sil?"

RINO Rick (Captain Gardasil) says he opposes a fence along the U.S. border with Mexico

[Mr Ramsbotham]

That’s nothing. Right after he was elected, Margaret Thatcher said in a TV interview that she liked Jimmy Carter because he was “a conservative with a small ‘c’.”

[rjeffries]

Oh not this B.S. Again. Temp. Why you keep on bringing up proven crap to try to make your case?

Perry 2012!

[Fred]

A transparent attempt to curry favor with the Clinton admin....Perry has no shame...

[South40]

Outlines of 'HillaryCare' were known before Perry wrote letter praising reform effort

[Fred]

rjeffries
Since Jul 6, 2011....

a texican???

[cripplecreek]

He's quite the letter writer.

[onyx]

He signs a formal letter to Hillary Clinton, *Rick*.

LOL.

Perhaps he also knew her personally at the time.

[Liberty Valance]

Perry and Hillarycare? Four words. Tort reform in Texas. Perry has done more to protect doctors and traditional health care in Texas with tort reform than any previous governor. Just ask the personal injury trial lawyers in Texas. Wonder why the Atlantic didn’t mention that?

That said, I hope Palin runs.

[South40]

A transparent attempt to curry favor with the Clinton admin....Perry has no shame...

And this was YEARS after RINO Mitt Perry was supposed to have become a Republican.

[Tex-Con-Man]

I’ll bet his constituents were glad he was looking out for them. After all, that’s why they voted him into office.

[onyx]

You’re baaaaaaad....LOL.
The kitty cracks me up.

[GeronL]

Sounds like he was begging for rural public hospitals

[RoosterRedux]

This letter is date April 1993. The task force was formed in January 1993 but Slick Willie didn't deliver a speech clarifying the plan until September 1993 and even then the plan was presumably to work through HMO's in the private sector. The plan was a dog of course but Perry was just trying to get in a good word for America's farmers (just in case a stupid plan was effected).

And you think this is going to torpedo Perry's campaign some 18 years later?

Is it that you really hate Perry or that you just love Sarah that much?

I love Sarah too, but give the attacks a rest.

Just waiting with bated breath for you to resort to the "newbie" accusation...check it out.

[South40]

I’ll bet his constituents were glad he was looking out for them. After all, that’s why they voted him into office.

That same mentality is why he took billions in stimulus money after trying to convince everyone he was opposed to it.

How noble.

[Jean S]

Jean S
since sometime in April 1998

I am sick of Tempest attacking Perry. Why in the heck are we eating our own?

[Fred]

This letter pretty much says, hey y’all lets give universal healthcare to the entire world...(attemptin my texican talk so the perritos can qien sabe)

[RoosterRedux]

This is not good for Perry.

Moochelle...is that you?

[Tempest]

because he has nice hair.

[Fred]

Sorry ,give it up on the Palin lover crap, little perrito.

This is about ISSUES...and Ricardo stinks on the issues that are critical to resolving the gigantic problems in this country...

[South40]

Perry was for universal healthcare (aka, Hillary’s socialized medicine) before he was against it (Obamacare).

[RoosterRedux]

This is about ISSUES...and Ricardo stinks on the issues that are critical to resolving the gigantic problems in this country...

Oh Noes...this little perrito bows to your superior knowledge of such critical issues.

You vote for Obama (or stay home...same thing), I'll vote for Perry to win!

[Tempest]

WOOOAAAHHHHH When was that letter written. I'd really like to know the context.

[Falcon28]

Ricardo Perry is also an open-border RINO who spoke at a LaRaza convention. But the Perrybots don't care.

[Tempest]

It’s now apparent that Rick Perry has a history of supporting or imposing government health care mandates.

[cripplecreek]

We allocated an additional $4 billion to the Medicaid program, and more than $900 million to the Children’s Health Insurance Program. I urged legislators to pass a telemedicine pilot program that will enable, through technology, a sick border resident of limited financial means to receive care from a specialist hundreds of miles away. But the effort to combat disease and illness requires greater cooperative efforts between our two nations. It is a simple truth that disease knows no boundaries. An outbreak of drug-resistant tuberculosis, for example, endangers citizens of both our nations.

Legislation authored by border legislators Pat Haggerty and Eddie Lucio establishes an important study that will look at the feasibility of bi-national health insurance. This study recognizes that the Mexican and U.S. sides of the border compose one region, and we must address health care problems throughout that region. That’s why I am also excited that Texas Secretary of State Henry Cuellar is working on an initiative that could extend the benefits of telemedicine to individuals living on the Mexican side of the border.

Gov. Rick Perry's Remarks to the Border Summit

[bushwon]

Stuff just keeps bubbling up. He really needs to explain his past record :(

[volunbeer]

I am sick of Tempest attacking Perry.

---

Me too. There is no candidate including Obama with a more extensive record in this campaign than Perry. Nobody. He has to find a letter from 1993?

How about tempest talks with some doctors in Texas to find out why healthcare is so much better in Texas. I am sure it has nothing to do with the Governor... afterall, there was that horrid letter in 1993 he wrote to Hillary.

Pathetic.

[Falcon28]

Ricardo signs Halal law:

[Tempest]

The guy is a cheap suit.

[Falcon28]

Ricardo and Acorn:

[Tex-Con-Man]

That same mentality is why he took billions in stimulus money after trying to convince everyone he was opposed to it.

And just where do you think that money came from...the IRS fairy?

[Fred]

Ole saw, if it is not Palin then it is Obama....I am not a big sissy like you and I know that our conservatives can and will beat Obama....

Why not run over to the dems and rollover and expose your throat like a good rino...

Yawn on the Obama Palin Obama Palin Obama Palin....

Now who is next...mister I am afraid of my own shadow???

[bushwon]

After thot, I hated Hillarycare and was very busy lobbying against it in 1990s. I know it was a long time ago, but how in the world could a conservative EVER have supported Nationaol Healthcare in any way??? Even way back when there used to be conservative Blue Dog Dems, they opposed it.

[RoosterRedux]

Even worse, he's responsible for the flash mobs in Chicago and Philadelphia. And I have a letter to prove it.

He's even in one of the videos...he's the large cowboy stealing the big bag of Cheetos cheese snacks.

Got on boots with a pistol strapped to his hip.

[Fred]

Ok, so Perry wants to be ruler of the universe...Clue, he has to make it thru the primaries first..

[Tempest]

So what your saying is socialized health care is good for politicians because you're looking out for your constituents?

[Tempest]

The Clintons campaigned on health reform who are you trying to kid with this revisionist history crap.

[comebacknewt]

It’s now apparent that Rick Perry has a history of supporting or imposing government health care mandates.

Which, of course, is why he loudly condemned HillaryCare when the details of her plan were actually known.

Give me a break.

Your habit of posting left wing hit pieces to trash a legitimate GOP candidate is curious to say the least.

[South40]

And just where do you think that money came from...the IRS fairy?

I know damned well where the money came from, Obama borrowed it from China.

You should be asking that question of your hero, Señor Ricardo Perrinista. Apparently he thinks it came from the IRS fairy.

[RoosterRedux]

Oh, big sissy that I am...I didn't know Palin had declared.

If she does declare and gain some steam, I will gladly vote for her.

But if Perry leads the pack...I will wave to you over at the Obama rally (because by attacking our own...you are supporting Liberals).

[cripplecreek]

That letter was written during the 08 TARP debate.

[Sudetenland]

Oh yeah, that's a real smoking gun there./rolleyes

"You so funny!"

[GOPyouth]

Tempest, I called you out on this nonsense earlier, and you still post this crap.

Fact: Hillary was named the head of a healthcare task force very soon after Clinton was inaugurated in late January 2003.

Fact: Perry, in his role as Ag Commissioner wrote a letter to Hillary 2 months later commending her for her role on the task force to reform health care.

Fact: Hillarycare was nonexistent until November 1993 when it was unveiled.

So, tell me how Perry supports Hillarycare in April 1993 when Hillarycare isn't born until late Fall 1993?

Also, what's your proof on the accusation that Perry's gay? You push that nonsense, so I'd like an answer.

Also, since we're on to your "crap", as the moderators have called your posts, where in the US Constitution does it define marriage?

[RoosterRedux]

You are a racist.

You know Rick Perry is part Injun, and you don't want a Redman in the White House.

[Sudetenland]

What's the matter, can't find anything new to try to smear Perry with. This has already been posted and laughed at.

You Perry haters are really pathetic and your desperation is apparent.