Answer to Bias Against Governor Rick Perry

WingRight.org ^ | August 28, 2011 | Beverly Nuckols, MD (hocndoc)

[hocndoc]

“We would be wise to remember a universal truth: No government has ever taxed and spent its way to greater prosperity.” Governor Rick Perry, 2005

This is in response to a post by blogger "MarkAmerica" at FreeRepublic.com. Unfortunately, there are many bloggers out there making the same accusations and false statements. Hopefully, this will clear up some of the questions less biased people might have.

To MarkAmerica:

Incredulously, your statements here imply that you are privy to the thinking and motives not only of Governor Perry, but of Mark Davis! Your comments are skewed bias and nothing more useful than shotgun accusations without evidence to back them up.

You falsely state that the Governor does not represent the same ideals as those of us in the Tea Party. I attended my first Tea Party event on February 27, 2009 in San Antonio and I say that you are flat wrong. Governor Perry met with 3 separate Tea Party groups on Tax Day, April 15th, 2009 - the day he's accused of suggesting that Texas might secede. We know he never suggested any such thing, but he has always firmly stated his belief in small government, less taxation, and greater accountability to the people.

You also falsely claim that Governor Perry has less in common with regular Texans than with Wall Street “types.” I think his history is at least more familiar to Texans: he grew up far away from the city on a tenant farm, became an Eagle Scout, flew C-130’s as an Air Force pilot, and spent a few more years back on that farm as an adult. You falsely claim that the Governor is uninterested in individual rights. A review of his speeches and of his books prove that to be a lie. He said in his first State of the State in 2001, that “We must preserve freedom and opportunity by extending it, one Texan at a time.” In his 2003 State of the State address, the Governor made his concern for the individual even more clear by telling the Legislature to remember that “behind every government program, there is a real taxpayer funding it.” He also reminds us that "The right to life is a fundamental right declared by our forefathers" and has consistently championed prolife laws each session.

Your false claim that the Governor only talks tough when he’s running for office is easily dis-proven by looking at 2003, when he had just won re-election for four years. Texas, like the Nation was reeling from the financial fallout of September 11, 2001. The Governor had already led State agencies to cut spending for the fiscal year by 7-13% and called on the Legislature to pass the first budget to cut State spending since World War II by prioritizing education, security and “fiscal responsibility, because neither of these priorities can be met unless our spending is disciplined.”

The Governor has always been adamant about cutting taxes, too. He’s repeatedly called for cuts in property taxes. Look at this, from the 2005 "State of the State"speech:

It is time to cut property taxes for the hardworking people of Texas. In fact, let's not only give Texans property tax relief...let's give them appraisal relief too.

Texans don't like taxation without representation, and they are sick and tired of taxation by valuation.

The time has come to draw a line in the sand for the taxpayer: Let's cap appraisals at three percent.

If you oppose a three percent cap on the philosophical grounds of local control, I can respect your position. But then I would hope you would be consistent, and advocate for the repeal of the ten percent cap on the same basis. There is no point in being lukewarm on this issue. Either be hot or cold; either provide real appraisal relief, or none at all. But let's stop this false pretense of taxpayer protection at ten percent.

You falsely claim that the Governor has had a “more recent conversion” on tightening border security, ignoring the fact that Texas spends about a million dollars of our own tax funds each year to secure the border. Back in the Spring of 2001, he vetoed a driver’s license bill because it did't limit illegal aliens. He has consistently demanded that the Federal government do its job on border control by authorizing National Guard deployment. In 2005, he used money from his own office budget to increase funding for local law enforcement and set aside a task force from the Department of Public Safety.

You falsely accuse that the Governor is guilty of “corporate-cronyism.” The Governor promotes privatization rather than growth of government and taxes wherever possible, encourages Texas to compete with other States for jobs and business investments, and most of the business owners appreciate his efforts. Our 2005 tort reform - and the new "loser pays" law - has benefited every business except the trial lawyers. The Toyota plant that opened in San Antonio and a $3 billion dollar Texas Instruments plant are just two strong examples that our Texas policies work to bring jobs to Texas.

Your false claim that the Governor is a “statist” is ridiculous. The entirety of the book Fed Up!: Our Fight to Save America from Washington is proof against your statement. Here’s just a couple of quotes:

"The statists believe in a powerful, activist central government that advances a radical secular agenda in the name of compassion. The hide behind misguided notions of empathy and push token talking points about fighting for the little guy, all the while empowering the federal government to coercively and blatantly undermine state-, local-, and self-governance.” Location 320

“The truth is, I don’t care what party the statist is in. The fact of the matter is, it is the statist, and those who support or enable him, who is the problem. For too long he has undermined this country by empowering the national government at the expense of liberty. An America defined by the statist in Washington is an America doomed to fail.” ” Location 338

(both quotes from Perry, Rick; Newt Gingrich (2010-11-15). Fed Up!: Our Fight to Save America from Washington. Little, Brown and Company. Kindle Edition., the Kindle PC edition. And, no I don't get a dime from Amazon.com, either. I just do my homework.)

Since you dismiss anything since 2010, here’s an earlier example that the Governor has a clear understanding about personal responsibility, opportunity and a better understanding than most about the differences in power of local governments, the States and the Federal government. He testified before the US House of Representatives against federalization of emergency first responders in 2005. (Testimony here.) (Yes, the response of Washington to the crises after Katrina was to propose to federalize EMS.)

I’ve blogged on the Gardasil Executive Order at LifeEthics.org since February, 2007 and have written more in the last month at WingRight.org. It’s foolish to continue to claim that the Governor was bribed by $6000 in donations (he raised $20 million dollars that year). There is no evidence that the Governor had any motive other than to decrease disease, speed up the coverage of the vaccine by private insurance, and to strengthen parents’ rights by making it easier for them to opt out of any or all mandatory vaccines.

Which leaves the TransTexasCorridor. That was a now-defunct attempt to solve a lot of problems including the need to move more traffic and freight faster, safer and outside city congestion by a combination of privatization and tolls. We had concrete examples of the need for more roads leading across the State during the evacuation of South Texas in response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Ike. The Governor encouraged the 2005 law to protect private property rights through the control of eminent domain and signed even stronger protections this year.

Conservatives and Republicans shouldn't forget that our enemy is big federal government and that States are better suited and have the Constitutional authority to try many more solutions to many more problems. As someone who's been accused of being a "Perry operative" due to my answers to the multiple political rants against Governor Perry, I assure you that some of us have sincerely come to the opinion that Governor Perry should be our next President by the same process that others have decided to advocate for their own particular candidate. We recognize that in his 10 years as Governor, he has boldly practiced what he professes: that States should be "laboratories of democracy." Not every experiment works, but the Governor has demonstrated that he can learn from mistakes and has the flexibility to change course when the people object.

[Bigun]

“We contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.”

Winston Churchill

You are right on Rick Perry! RIGHT ON!

[wolfcreek]

All those sources are a bunch of flaming Leftists. No need to be concern, just accept it as fact. (if you have ot use them, scroll odwn the page to find a familar/trusted link)

I know you know where you can find *actual* info on Perry but, if you have any other questions (or know someone who does) contact hocndoc or me and we'll do our best to fill you in.

(we both live within shouting distance of Austin)

[wolfcreek]

Nice! :o)

[LOC1]

“Seventeen things critics are saying about Rick Perry” (and the truth)....http://peskytruth.wordpress.com/2011/07/19/rick-perrys-negatives/

This puts Perry’s record, which is very positive, in perspective. It also talks about the relative strength of the Texas governorship.

[Bigun]

GREAT post!

Thank you!

[Clint N. Suhks]

Thanks for answering some questions I had but probably ought to at least ping the man in question.

[hocndoc]

Whoops! Thank you for pinging the other guy. I did on the other post, but not here.

You are right, I should have.

[RitaOK]

” I know you know where you can find *actual* info on Perry” <<<

I do now, sir. The eyes of Texas have Romney and Obama in their political crosshairs. The sight master is Rick Perry and we’re going national fast. God bless Texas....again.

[hocndoc]

I’m wondering where the bashers all are.

[RitaOK]

” I know you know where you can find *actual* info on Perry” <<<

>>>> I do now, sir. The eyes of Texas have Romney and Obama in their political crosshairs. The sight master is Rick Perry and we’re going national fast. God bless Texas....again.

oops. Failed to ping up hocndoc. Thanks.

[HerrBlucher]

I think the Perrybashers are actually converting people INTO, instead of away from, the Perry camp with their childish kneejerk spam posts and emotion riddled nonsense and falsehoods. This smear campaign is only matched by the smears against Palin.

[Graewoulf]

Please s’plain “Barret Law” real slow, one more time - - - .

[hocndoc]

They certainly helped me talk myself into becoming a Perry “operative.”

The more I researched the negatives, the more I saw how few they were and how consistent the Governor has been with his basic conservative views. He is able to change his mind or at least back off on an unpopular policy, and adapts to the right or conservative stand, never toward the center.

[KingKongCobra]

Indeed. I love Sarah and have since the first time I laid eyes on her. But, her ignorant trolls have so turned me off that if she enters now, I won’t support her any more. They have ruined her for me. When I see her, all I feel is disgust at her fanatics.

[Niteflyr]

But, her ignorant trolls have so turned me off that if she enters now, I won’t support her any more. They have ruined her for me. When I see her, all I feel is disgust at her fanatics.

Same way I'm beginning to feel about Perry supporters ...especially those who use name-calling towards anyone who counters them...

[HerrBlucher]

Me too, Perry started out with huge negatives in my book but the more I read about him the more I liked him and even his negatives, in proper context, are not as bad as they appear at face value.

[wolfcreek]

I'd like to apologize for any Perry supporter who might of called you a name or any other negative remark. That is uncalled for from any political supporter.

It is going to get real ugly around here before we settle on the Republican nominee. Some of us may no longer be FReepers, others will have strong resentments but, we have to show a united front against Obama..

I know this sounds a lot like a certain president but, I call for a high level of CIVILITY on FR before another purge of it's fine members occurs.

[muawiyah]

http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/incode/36/9/37 Historically it was a way to arrange funding for public infrastructure without involving the full faith and credit of the government using the law. It’s been modified through the years but the basic idea was pioneered extensively in Germany in the Middle Ages ~ and can result in thousands of “tax districts”.

[muawiyah]

IGNANT, darn it, IGNANT, not Ignorant ~ if you can’t speak the language of incivility correctly, don’t say anything!

[narses]

http://www.ontheissues.org/Rick_Perry.htm

Posted on Friday, July 01, 2011 10:13:29 AM by Jim Robinson

“The presidential race is heating up. We now have conservatives Bachmann and Cain officially in the race fending off RINO Romney; and Palin and Perry could possibly jump in. My hopes are with Palin, but if she decides not to run I could be happy with Bachmann or Cain. Also, if Palin does not run but Perry does, he’d probably suck all the air out of the race. Either way, Palin, Bachmann, Cain or even Perry would all be excellent alternatives to Obama the commie. Anyone but RINO Romney the big government chief architect of CommieCare!”

…… Posted on Friday, July 01, 2011 10:13:29 AM by Jim Robinson”

Also see http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2764368/posts