...But saying people who disagree with you “don’t have a heart” was just stupid. Just as talking about judging people by “the sound of their last name” was stupid. You can defend policy differences — you can’t defend stupid."
It wasn't just tone deaf or even stupid. It was a sign of what his true beliefs are. Debates are good because you get to learn something about the candidate. They tell you what the candidates believe now, and you may even get an explanation as to why what they believe now is different than what they have done in the past. But if you are very observant, a debate will give you something you can't get anywhere else -- information on what the candidates truly believe. How they truly think.
Debaters are placed in a situation where they have to think on their feet. They are under stress and it's extremely stressful if you are wearing a mask trying to keep your true beliefs hidden.
Perry got caught. When placed in a stressful situation, he reverted to the inner democrat that is his true self. Why did he grab for a liberal talking point? Why did he say what he did? Like other liberals, he honestly believes that conservatives are heartless people. No apology. No he misspoke. Those aren't necessary because he really believes he is right.
Keeping up conservative appearances must be more difficult for him than he imagined because Perry is far worse at it than your pal Mitt Romney. Neither of these two RINOs deserves conservative votes.
Was it a stupid thing to say? Yes, especially if you are looking to win the conservative vote. There is little rational explanation for a liberal belief system. The only honest explanation he could have given would have been "sorry, I let my mask slip."
Romney’s not “my pal”.