Be Very Wary Of Perry

America Talks ^ | 7/23/11 | David Zublick

[AmericaTalks]

There has been much buzz about the possibility that Texas Governor Rick Perry will throw his hat into the GOP presidential ring. Many conservatives and Tea Party activists see him as a very attractive and viable candidate, one who would liven up a field that seems devoid of exciting prospects.

But before Republicans start salivating too heavily, it is important to examine Perry closely. His conservative bonafides leave much to be desired.

Let's examine his record.

Prior to 1989, Rick Perry was a Democrat, who supported Al Gore for president. Perry was Gore's campaign manager in the state of Texas that year.

As Governor of Texas, Perry would have us believe he is a small government guy. But the facts say other wise.

Total spending in Texas the year he became governor in 2000 was approximately $49 billion. Last year it was approximately $90 billion. That is hardly reducing the size of government over a 10 year period.

The total debt of the state of Texas has more than doubled since he became governor. The debt to GDP ratio in Texas is 22.9% and the debt per citizen is $10,645. That's worse than California.

Perry claims he is for keeping taxes low. Not true. He has raised taxes repeatedly during his tenure as governor. Texans have higher taxes and fees than they had before he was elected.

While everyone lauded Perry's leadership by pointing to the low unemployment rate in the Lone Star State, it should be noted that 23 states have a lower unemployment rate than Texas. And Texas has the highest percentage of workers making minimum wage out of all 50 states. In 2007, 221,000 residents of Texas were making minimum wage or less. By 2010, that number had risen to 550,000.

The education system in Texas is abysmal. Barbara Bush, in an op-ed piece in the Houston Chronicle, wrote:

•  We rank 36th in the nation in high school graduation rates. An estimated 3.8 million Texans do not have a high school diploma. •  We rank 49th in verbal SAT scores, 47th in literacy and 46th in average math SAT scores. •  We rank 33rd in the nation on teacher salaries.

What does that say about the stewardship of Rick Perry with regard to education?

Rick Perry also claims to have a tough stance on illegal immigration. But the facts indicate otherwise.

He signed the DREAM Act in 2001, giving in-state tuition to undocumented students. Perry said at the time, "We must say to every child learning in a Texas classroom, ‘We don’t care where you come from, but where you are going, and we are going to do everything we can to help you get there". This measure is similar to the one the Democrats are pushing at the federal level, one which conservatives vehemently oppose.

Perhaps the biggest issue people opposed to the nanny state should be concerned about is Perry's issuance of an executive order back in 2007 that would have forced almost every single girl in the state of Texas to receive the Gardasil vaccine before entering the sixth grade. Perry was in the tank with Merck. There were apparent financial connections between Merck and Perry reported by news outlets, such as a $6,000 campaign contribution and Merck’s hiring of former Perry Chief of Staff Mike Toomey to handle its Texas lobbying work.

The Texas legislature put the kibosh on that idea by crafting a bill that overturned the executive order.

Subsequently, very serious safety issues with the vaccine came to light. The biggest problem with regard to the Gardasil issue was that Perry appeared to be condoning premarital sex, or at least assuming that middle school girls were going to be engaging in sexual activity, which is the only way that the cervical cancer that the vaccine prevents can be contracted. Many parents and conservatives were justifiably outraged.

When one takes into account these facts about Rick Perry, the only conclusion that can be reached is that Perry is for the expansion of government and its intrusion into our lives.

On Perry's possible run for the White House? No thanks. I think I'll pass.

Listen to America Talks Monday through Friday at 6 pm Eastern Time and Saturdays at 9 am Eastern Time on www.blogtalkradio.com/americatalks and at www.americatalks.com.

[83Vet4Life]

I thought he might make a good VP to Bachmann, but now he’s cheering on gay “marriage”. Forget it.

[gleeaikin]

Any information on right to life, Planned Parenthood and Obamacare??

[Kieri]

I have one word about Perry:

Gardasil.

[cripplecreek]

I’m not thrilled with the strictly pro amnesty Somos Republicans calling him the number 1 hispanic friendly US politician and in another story they suggest that the use the “un American” tea partiers to win and then toss us aside.

[q_an_a]

Hope this story gets 200+ comments and opens a few eyes - what he left out was the biggest land grab in TX history for the benefit of a spanish company - to build a toll road. He did this with no hearings and on his orders without input from the highway dept except that they could see it would be a part of their future.

[deport]

Git it on................

2012 Republican Presidential Nomination

Polling Data

Poll	Date	Romney	Bachmann	Palin	Perry	Giuliani	Paul	Cain	Gingrich	Pawlenty	Santorum	Spread
RCP Average	7/5 - 7/20	22.3	13.5	12.4	11.3	11.0	7.8	6.5	5.2	2.8	2.0	Romney +8.8
CNN/Opinion Research	7/18 - 7/20	16	12	13	14	13	8	6	4	3	2	Romney +2
FOX News	7/17 - 7/19	17	10	9	14	9	9	5	4	2	2	Romney +3
ABC News/Wash Post	7/14 - 7/17	26	13	16	8	--	7	7	4	2	2	Romney +10
NBC/WSJ	7/14 - 7/17	30	16	--	11	--	9	5	8	2	3	Romney +14
PPP (D)	7/15 - 7/17	20	16	12	11	--	9	10	6	5	--	Romney +4
Quinnipiac	7/5 - 7/11	25	14	12	10	--	5	6	5	3	1	Romney +11

[DJ Taylor]

Hey, give Perry a break.

I was a Democrat until the American Communist Party seized control of the Democratic Party in 1968.

[deport]

25 States With the Lowest Debt Per Person

11) Texas: $520 Per Person

[MaxMax]

[E. Pluribus Unum]

The pro-Perry bullies don't like it when you question their RINO.

They will tell Mommy if you don't stop.

[smoothsailing]

Be Very Wary Of Perry

[Arthur McGowan]

Any person who reached adulthood, then got involved in politics, and supported a pro-abortion fanatic like Gore, should not be in any public office. I’m putting Perry on my “no way” list with Romney.

[wolfman23601]

Sounds like a carbon copy of Bob McDonnell. Talks a great game, but nothing but a crony capitalist at the core.

[cripplecreek]

Phoney hispanic "republican" front for amnesty says Rick Perry is the number one hispanic friendly US politician of 2010 elections.

Governor Rick Perry is #1 Hispanic-friendly U.S. Politician of 2010 Elections

Phoney hispanic "republican" front group encourages the GOP to use the "un American" tea partiers and then toss us aside.

How Un-American is the TEA PARTY

Are they so “irrational” and merely a self-centered group revolutionary geezers that do not hold American ideal and thus attack our American values—Democracy, Capitalism and Constitutionalism. Strategically, it seems like the right thing to do for Republican to utilize the Tea Party to diminish Obama’s agenda. But it is also time for Republicans that realize that this people merely using the flag colors as facade to promote un-American agenda . While they do have the right to dissent, sadly, their agenda pushed by special interest in Sacramento and D.C. do not embody the original best American values.

Vicente Fox Thanks Rick Perry for allowing "migrants" to utilize Texas schools

RINO Rick with the ACORNs.

[humblegunner]

he’s cheering on gay “marriage”

He's not and hasn't. Read past the spin.

[GBA]

If I understand Texas politics correctly, the Guv, in this case Perry, is only as good as his legislature.

Since my first vote for Reagan, all the other Presidential I've voted for since have more or less been Rinos.

I'm not going to vote that way any more, b/c even though I vote for the Rino to keep the progressive/liberal/socialist out of office, the Rino loses and all I feel is disgusted and the kind of dirty even a long, hot shower won't fix.

If Perry is nominated, I won't be voting for the Republican candidate this election. That will be a first for me.

Thank you, noJuan McLame, for that lesson. You've done your country a service by teaching us to NOT vote for Rinos!

[CowboyJay]

Excellent post, but misses his habit of picking fights with conservatives in the Texas Judiciary. He’s repeatedly given preference to hispanic judges, and went out of his way to run one conservative judge completely out of office.

Perry’s record doesn’t pass the smell test. Not by a mile.

[RitaOK]

One good thing is that the anti-Perry goons from the liberal press and elsewhere are being matched early, hurl for hurl, by those in and out of the media interested in actually winning in ‘12, and over throwing Obama. Perry can do that and the word is starting to get out, especially dragging around a state like Texas as Exhibit A.

[Grunthor]

“but now he’s cheering on gay “marriage”

I read the article that you ar3e reffering to and that is a damned lie.