Rick Perry Slams Food Stamps, Government Subsidies

Texas Governor Rick Perry, the latest GOP candidate to enter the 2012 presidential race, looks to challenge former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney’s status as the frontrunner for the Republican presidential nomination. Perry entered the race on August 13th after announcing his candidacy at an event in South Carolina. Perry’s announcement, which stole the spotlight from the Ames Straw Poll, put to rest several months of speculation about the Texas Governor’s decision to run for the GOP nomination.

During his presidential announcement, Perry said “we cannot afford four more years of this rudderless leadership.” Perry also added that “page one of any economic plan to get America working is to give a pink slip to the current resident in the White House.”

Ever since his presidential announcement in South Carolina, Perry’s criticism of the Obama administration has been relentless. More recently, Perry criticized the Obama administration’s comments on food stamps or the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

This week, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said “when you talk about the SNAP program or the food stamp program, you have to recognize that it’s also an economic stimulus.” Vilsack also added that “it’s the most direct stimulus you can get in the economy during these tough times,” because of the work that goes into an item of food before it ends up in the grocery store.

While campaigning in South Carolina on Friday, Perry slammed the Obama administration’s view of food stamps and other government subsidies. “Most Americans do not yearn to be dependent on government subsidies, they want economic freedom, and economic freedom comes from work and wages, not welfare,” Perry argued.

One of the focal points of Perry’s presidential campaign is the longest serving Texas Governor’s record on job creation. Forty percent of the nation’s new jobs have been created in the Lone Star State since June 2009. “Our message is clear, we’ve got to get America working again,” Perry said during a campaign stop in South Carolina on Saturday.

Perry believes strongly that government subsidies, such as food stamps, shouldn’t be on the government’s list of responsibilities. “The central issue of this election is an Administration that believes Washington must be our caretaker, and a people who want Washington to only take care of their constitutional responsibilities,” Perry professed.

Besides reiterating his belief that food stamps aren’t “economic stimulus,” Perry talked about the need to focus on the private sector when it comes to job creation. “We have tried two and a half years of government trying to create jobs, it’s time to let the private sector get to work,” Perry argued.

Background:

Perry's story as told by him to the Texas Monthly

The son of tenant farmers from Paint Creek…

…who became an Airforce officer, married his high school sweetheart and went on to become the longest serving governor in Texas history

On the Fed:

Perry would consider Bernanke printing more money "almost treachorous, or treasonous."

Perry refuses to apologize for remarks on Bernanke.

Perry advocates audit of the Federal Reserve.

Economy:

Over the past 5 years, Texas has created more jobs than all other states combined.

Perry against raising debt ceiling.

Wants to scrap the federal income tax by repealing the 14th amendment

Perry calls for 6 month moratorium on government regulations.

Supports balanced budget amendment.

Since June 2009, 37% of all jobs created in the entire U.S. were created in Texas.

First governor since WWII to reduce general revenue spending – by $3 billion using line item veto.

Cut billions in property taxes

Cut taxes on small business and instituted tort reform

”Texas isn't just the fastest growing... it's growing over twice as fast as the second fastest state and three times as fast as the third. “

Guns:

”Perry’s pro-gun resume reads like something the late Charlton Heston would have been proud of… strongly supports the individual right to gun ownership and the subsequent right to use guns in self-defense.”

"Card carrying" member of the NRA

Fun video: Perry takes Andrew Breitbart and a bunch of bloggers to the range.

Perry has a permit to carry a concealed firearm

Perry Signs Legislation Protecting Texas Workers’ Right to Self-Defense

NRA Endorses Perry in Governor's Race.

Rick Perry's speech at the NRA convention

Perry carries a laser sighted .380 loaded with hollow points.

While jogging, Perry shoots and kills threatening coyote with one shot

Press: Are you packing heat? Perry: No comment, "that's why it's called 'concealed.'"

Supports campus concealed carry.

Military:

Perry spent 4 years active duty (not Reserve or Nat'l Guard) as an Airforce pilot.

Left Airforce with the rank of Captain

Was in the Corps of Cadets at Texas A&M

Opposes the repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell."

Lifetime member of the American Legion.

Social Issues:

Supports constitutional amendments against abortion and for one-man, one-woman marriage amendments.

Opposes gay marriage, opposes special protection for homosexuals in workplace and housing, opposes the repeal of DADT

Pushed bill for ultrasounds before abortions and pro-life license plates

Abortion should be made illegal

Properly defines contemporary evolution as a “theory.”

Education:

Perry behind removal of left-wing textbooks from Texas schools.

Texas home schoolers endorse Rick Perry

Perry speaks at home school rally

Perry refuses millions in Obama education funds because of federal mandates

Perry seeks major reform of higher education

Fought for school vouchers.

More…

Perry rejects global warming - science skewed by financial interests.

Perry signs anti-eminent domain bill protecting Texas property owners.

"I'll work every day to try to make Washington, D.C., as inconsequential in your life as I can."

TX Gov. Rick Perry Reintroduces TSA Anti-Groping Bill

Advocated for and eventually signed a voter stringientID law

That headline is a lie. Perry *did not* “slam food stamps”. Instead he “slammed” the Obama apparatchik who said that “food stamps stimulate the economy.”

This is NOT a subtle difference, so it is pretty obvious that whoever wrote the headline did so to attack Perry.

That being said, supporting food stamps right now is essential to Republican victory, as people who rely on food stamps, more and more that are middle class unemployed, MUST have food stamps if they want to eat.

Mind you, they WANT employment, but there is no employment, so they are pretty desperate. And anyone who even talks about cutting food stamps right now they must think of as their enemy. They have no choice. Vote for whoever keeps giving food stamps or starve.

That is not a good choice, because they would vote for the devil himself, if it would keep food on their table.

So no matter what any of us philosophically think about the wisdom of food stamps, for heaven’s sake, DO NOT encourage ANY Republican candidate or office holder to talk about cutting them back AT ALL.

Once unemployment is back down to 3-5%, then maybe. BUT NOT NOW.

“Wants to scrap the federal income tax by repealing the 14th amendment”

The Federal Income Tax is the 16th Amendment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Amendment_to_the_US_Constitution

The 14th Amendment gives black Americans citizenship, makes the Bill of Rights apply to the States, requires equal protection before the law, abolishes legal segregation, etc.

Granted, *parts* of the 14th Amendment need to be changed or reinterpreted, such as giving citizenship to children of illegal aliens born here. But not repealed.

Repeal the 16th, agreed. Repeal the 17th, the Direct Election of Senators, agreed.

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