FIRST-PERSON: Rick Perry is no George W. Bush

Baptist Press ^ | 9-14-2011 | Richard Land

[smoothsailing]

FIRST-PERSON: Rick Perry is no George W. Bush
By Richard Land
Sep 14, 2011

Richard Land

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (BP) -- Many people assume Texas Gov. Rick Perry is a carbon copy of George W. Bush. Well, he isn't. Those who either love or despise former President Bush need to understand that Perry should be neither accepted nor rejected based on their opinion of Bush. Indeed, as the nation heads with full force into the 2012 election cycle, many of Perry's opponents in and out of the news media will try to tear down the Texas governor as "Bush, continued." To do so would be neither honest nor fair to either man.

As a sixth-generation Texan of similar age and life experiences, perhaps I can explain some differences between the two. Of course, it will be up to voters to decide whether these differences make a difference.

THE SAME, ONLY DIFFERENT

Bush moved to Texas as a toddler and eagerly embraced the Texas ethos. Texans love people who move to the state and embrace its "Don't Mess With Texas" creed. They smile when they see bumper stickers proclaiming, "I wasn't born here, but I got here as fast as I could."

Perry, however, is the son of tenant farmers from the West Texas hamlet of Paint Creek, outside Abilene. Texas is his DNA. Perry has often said that while they did not have much financially, his family was rich in the things that mattered. He attended Texas A&M when it was permeated by an all-male, all-military culture, which Perry embraced, becoming a "yell leader" (A&M's version of a cheerleader on steroids).

Bush, by contrast, was raised by wealthy New Englanders, summered in Maine and attended Yale and Harvard. In this case, parentage made more than just a stark economic difference.

In many ways, I have lived between George W.'s and Rick Perry's worlds. Like Perry, I was raised in modest circumstances. Like Bush, I went to an Ivy League school (Princeton). Like Perry, I had a Texan father, and like Bush, a New England mother. My father imparted to me the sheer sense of "anything is possible" that is the Texas heritage, but my Bostonian mother reminded me that biggest is not always best and loudest is not always wisest -- Texas with perspective, a rare gift. All three of us had fathers who were World War II combat veterans. Their dads were pilots, my dad a Navy chief. We are all proud of our fathers' patriotic service.

In 2010, Newsweek featured Perry with a revelatory cover photo. Perry's boots were adorned with what Texans call "the first Texas flag." What that flag says about Texans of the Bush-Perry era is instructive. In 1835, Mexico demanded that rebellious Texas settlers return a cannon it had lent them to ward off hostile Indians. The Texans responded by drawing a replica of the cannon on a bed sheet and writing under it, "COME AND TAKE IT." Mexico did not get the cannon back. That Texas folklore was a significant part of every young Texan's upbringing. That Perry would put that flag on his boots tells us more about him than anything in Newsweek. This "Don't Mess with Texas" mindset is embraced by both men, but Perry, the Aggie, had neither Bush's parents nor Yale or Harvard to tone it down.

It is clear to those who know former President George W. Bush that he has great respect and affection for the average man and tremendous appreciation for those who have risen through the meritocracy from humble beginnings. However, as one of those "up from the ranks" individuals, I don't believe George W. Bush or any such son of privilege can as fully identify with the average family that lives from paycheck to paycheck as Perry can. Bush loves and appreciates them, Perry is them.

Their different backgrounds make them different men. Perry is less subtle. While both are men of genuine faith, Perry (life-long evangelical) is going to be more overtly Christian in his faith statements than the former president, who became a Methodist but was raised by New England Episcopalians. Perry is more conservative than Bush. He would be the most conservative president since Calvin Coolidge both fiscally and in foreign policy. He would be less interventionist in the latter and far more frugal than "compassionate" in the former. Perry also has a well-deserved reputation in Texas as being a less-forgiving political opponent than Bush. If you cross Perry, he will get even.

NATIONAL APPEAL?

It would be a mistake to underestimate the appeal of this candidate's conservative populism. Perry has never lost an election and while he would be offended if you called him an intellectual, Perry is far more shrewd than people assume. His brain trust in his past election, where he defeated the George H.W. Bush-backed establishment candidate, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, included a group of Ivy League brainiacs on the cutting edge of campaign and election research.

The USA is not Texas, but large chunks are similar. Perry's appeal increases the farther you go from either the east or left coast. Large numbers of Americans are moving to Texas. Enough people moved in the past decade to give the state four new congressional seats. The question for Rick Perry and GOP primary voters: Does America want to be more like his pro-business, pro-growth Texas? If the answer is "yes," Perry is the "down to his bone marrow" Texan who is eager to lead them in that direction. However, George W. Bush he isn't.

If Perry is the Republican nominee, what presidential debates those will be. The contrast could not be more stark. In one corner the whippet-thin, fastidious, ultra-urbane, somehow detached Siamese cat that is President Obama. Across from him the muscular, Marlboro man, Rottweiler that is Gov. Perry. Wow! The debate moderators will need striped shirts, whistles and yellow flags to throw during those debates.
--30--
Richard Land is president of the Southern Baptist Convention's Ethics & Religious Commission. A version of this column first appeared in USA Today.

© Copyright 2011 Baptist Press

Original copy of this story can be found at http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=36117

[shield]

This is typical libtard tactics....so we know what types we’re dealing with...

[smoothsailing]

Any mention of the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders requires a picture of them as part of your post. It’s Freeper rules, you must obey.

[GourmetDan]

"Oh yes.....that script has been written for over a hundred years."

Yeah, well over.

"There has always been an agenda with this perverted, powerful leftist movement with various names but same agenda."

It's actually not 'leftist', it's satanic. Genesis is true and so is Revelation. And everything in between.

"Being a Christian...I do not put my hope in man completely, but every hundred years or so some brilliant mind/saint appears. I don’t suppose Perry is that guy though."

All I want from Perry is a t-shirt that says "Perry for President" with a picture of Perry the Platypus. :-)

[xsmommy]

Your’s,saxxxonwoods, is the most logical post on the thread;contains no vitriol, no adulation, just commonsense.

[Paperdoll]

Reagan would never have spoken to me as you have done. Unfortunately too many FReepers have not learned that you catch more flies with honey than you do with vinegar! Incidentally, I worked very hard in two of his campaigns to get Ronald Wilson Reagan elected in my precinct, and the city where I lived in those days was, and still is, extremely left wing.

So I repeat, give me substance every time. President Reagan had both real star quality AND genuine substance, but very few people do. Shame on you.

[CA Conservative]

So, American kids do not get their places hijacked by illegals in Texas. That is great news.

No, they don't. Everyone has to earn their way in, whether legal or illegal.

[CSI007]

Yup. Just like rino rick. :(

[SZonian]

No, it just means that there are now more kids competing for the same number of seats in the classrooms. And by not paying out of state tuition rates, they’re receiving an incentive that was normally reserved for the children of taxpaying residents of the state(s).

That’s my problem with these “DREAM” Acts (CA & TX). A larger pool of applicants means less kids accepted.

Which kids do you think are going to get the “sympathy” acceptance letters? The white Americans or the brown illegals?

In CA, the taxpayers are soon to be on the hook to pay for those illegals to bump our kids out of college, if Gov. moonbeam signs that pos legislation.

[Reagan Man]

Get over yourself already. You've been acting like a prima donna far too long.

First you infer that star power among GOP candidates is not worth remembering because in your opinion, its a non factor. Now you agree with me about Reagan and his star power being formidable. So which is it? You can't have it both ways.

We know you don't like Perry. And you said, you're "leaning toward Bachmann, Santorum and Cain" but I have my doubts. Besides, none of them can win. IIRC, the last time around you supported the liberal, Myth Romney. Would you consider supporting him in 2012?

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

It sounds to me like Perry jumped the shark then. If a Oklahoma citizen wants into a Texas school he is slammed with an out of state tuition in Texas but not an illegal from Texas. That, to me, is criminal and Perry should be embarrassed instead of proud. This kind of stuff really irks me. CA is about to do the same.

[TexMom7]

That is a state issue. The Texas Legislature passed it with flying colors - only 4 nays. Perry would not be able to change that even if he wanted to.

This Act was only for Texas.

It involves approx 8,000 to 12,000 kids per year and only gives them approx $500-1000 off tuition fees. They have to pay their tuition and there is nothing else to it.

[Goreknowshowtocheat]

I don’t have to vote for him even though it is a Texas only issue. It is the same nasty act that they are doing here in CA. It is the same issue. Illegals pay less (from mexico or whereever) than a citizen child from another state. It makes you want to scream. We have a “flying colors”
Assembly and Senate here in CA. They are certifiable.

[Paperdoll]

>Get over yourself already. You’ve beren actin like a prima donna for too long. Ect, ect,c.<

Reagan man, how old are you 17? Did your high school education ream out a;; common sense, and who is responsible for your utter lack of good manners? My opinion is as valid as anyone else’s on Free Republic. I do not personally attack my fellow FReepers. But neither do I roll over for them.

Ronald Reagan had a record to stand on, first as a clean cut screen personality, and later as governor of California for several terms. He was pretty much a known entity when he decided first to run for the presidency.

Until recently, I had never heard of Rick Perry. I am trying to learn about him, but rather than supplying the facts about him, his FReeper supporters can only stoop to the same old name calling insults as did those of you who jumped like fleas that complete globolist, RINO, Freddi Dalton Thompson.

I am not a Mormon. I have never supported Mitt Romney. In fact, I coined the phrase “Malibu Ken” to describe the man i8n 2008! So stick that in your pipe asnd smoke itk, little man. And for heaven/’s sake, get over yourself!

[smoothsailing]

[TexMom7]

Okla does not offer in state tuition to Texas students either.

There are some who are offered in-state tuition from a few other states - read below.

Residency Requirements for In-State Tuition in Texas has exceptions:

A non-resident may qualify to pay in-state tuition if:

The student or student’s spouse or parent is a member of the Armed Forces or a commissioned officer of the Public Health Service and is stationed in Texas. (Military and Public Health Service personnel who maintain their official home of record as Texas or who meet the criteria for establishing a domicile in Texas are considered to be Texas residents. Contact the Office of Undergraduate Admissions for specific requirements.)

The student or student’s spouse or parent is employed at least half-time as a teaching or research assistant in a position related to the assistant’s degree program at a Texas public institution of higher education.

The student or student’s spouse or parent is employed at least half-time on a regular monthly salaried basis as a teacher or professor at a Texas public institution of higher education.

The student holds an approved competitive scholarship from Texas State of at least $1000 for the academic year or summer awarded by an official Texas State scholarship committee.

The student or student’s spouse or parent has located in Texas as an employee of a business or organization that became established in this state as part of the state economic development and diversification program.

The student is a New Mexico resident who resides in a county bordering Texas.

The student is a Louisiana resident who resides in a parish bordering Texas.

[hobbes1]

Regardless of what these morons think, in 20/20, GWB was the most conservative Domestic agenda President ever elected.

His HONESTY (on Social(ist In)Security), is the reason Perry is palatable.

(and does anyone even recognize that Obama is governing according to the Bush Doctrine? I missed that acknowledgment)

Here’s the deal

Perry Is PREFERABLE, for one reason only.

‘If you cross Perry, he will get even.’

No regrets, Coyote
I just get off up aways
You just picked up a hitcher
A prisoner of the white lines on the freeway

[SZonian]

I was told that Perry had virtually no choice in the matter, it was veto proof. Yet, if Perry is as conservative and anti-illegal immigration as we’re being told, he would have forced the legislature to over ride his veto of this legislation.

Instead, it appears he’s since endorsed it and embraced it.

I’m still reading up on this, but the crux of the matter for me is that another pool of bodies has now been entered into the mix for applications to state schools that doesn’t deserve to be there.

But then again, it’s Texas’ burden and soon to be CA’s.

I just don’t want to see this become the USA’s burden if he becomes President and decides something like this would be “the right thing to do” for the USA.

In another thread, it was brought up that, there is a provision that the illegals have to sign papers showing they “intend” to apply for legal status or actually apply at some point.

But I haven’t seen anything yet that indicates an enforcement provision, meaning they could sign a piece of paper yet not follow through with the provisions.

But mayhap I should just shut my yap and quit asking questions about this. It appears to be a bit of a touchy subject amongst many of those who have already made themselves known as Perry supporters.

[Reagan Man]

"There you go again."

My replies to you have been focused on conservative politics and the GOP candidates running in 2012. Specifically, Myth Romney v Rick Perry. Nothing more, nothing less. I was not ill mannered. Discussing politics is not for the faint of heart. You took it personal.

>>>>>I am not a Mormon. I have never supported Mitt Romney.

Unless they are a zealot, or cultist I don't much care about a persons religion. I just wanted to know if you supported Romney in 2008 and if you support him for 2012. You FINALLY answered that simple question. Thanks.

>>>>>Until recently, I had never heard of Rick Perry. I am trying to learn about him..

I follow politics closely. If you wanted to know about Perry you could have asked. Imo, Fred Thompson was a good candidate until he realized Gentleman Jack and the good life couldn't accompany him on the campaign trail.

[CajunConservative]

You do realize that the primary audience he was writing to is far larger than this site.

[TexMom7]

That’s fine. I’m not pressing you to vote for him.

I just wanted you to know the facts especially that he did not initiate the bill. Could not have stopped it in any way and he is not a dictator.