Posted on 09/28/2011 2:36:00 PM PDT by smoothsailing
Guy Benson
September 28, 2011
Last Thursday night, Rick Perry put his foot in his mouth on a question about immigration, education, and illegals.
Less than a week later, Perry is backpedaling and apologizing for his word choice:
I probably chose a poor word to explain that to people who dont want their state to be giving tuition to illegal aliens, illegal immigrants in this country, Rick Perry told Newsmax.TV in an interview in a response to question about his comment during the debate that those who opposed tuition breaks for illegal immigrants lacked a heart.
Thats their call and I respect that, Perry continued. And I was probably a bit over-passionate by using that word and it was inappropriate. But heres what I do believe: It is a states sovereign right to decide that for themselves. In Texas in 2001, we had 181 members of the legislature only four voted against this piece of legislation because it wasnt about immigration. It was about education.
First of all, kudos to Perry for the mea culpa. His "heartless" line really ticked off a lot of conservatives -- even Chris Christie hammered him for it -- so this apology is both the right thing to do, and is good politics. I'd also submit that the final bit of his explanation above might be his strongest defense of Texas' controversial policy. Perry's home state is a pretty conservative place. The legislature in Austin is controlled by Republicans. Yet a nearly-unanimous bipartisan majority of Texas state legislators voted for this policy.
You may disagree with the substance of the policy, but the politics -- apparently -- were a no-brainer in the Lone Star State (a place where the GOP is adapting to survive and thrive in a jurisdiction with a swelling Hispanic population). For that reason, it's a little hard for me to stomach Mitt Romney exploiting this issue to beat up on Perry. Remember, Romney made huge concessions to Democrats on a universal healthcare bill that he championed and signed into law. A beaming Ted Kennedy stood over his shoulder as he put pen to paper. Does anyone believe that Romney would have vetoed an education bill in Texas that had the support of roughly 97 percent of the legislature? I ask that question seriously.
Finally, is support for this sort of policy a deal-breaking example of unforgiveable conservative heresy? If your answer to that question is "yes," it's time to go RINO-huntin' for....Marco Rubio:
In 2001, Perry signed the first state law in the country that allowed the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition rates. Former Florida state Rep. Juan Zapata said the Texas law was "the model" for legislation that he repeatedly—but unsuccessfully—pushed in his state. Two of his key allies then are now among the GOP's most sought-after stars: Bush, the subject of perpetual draft movements to run for president, and his fellow Floridian, Sen. Marco Rubio, a sure bet for the GOP's vice presidential shortlist in 2012.
About one dozen states offer some form of tuition assistance to the children of illegal immigrants. Rubio, the son of Cuban exiles, was the co-sponsor of such a bill in 2003 and 2004, before he became speaker of the Florida state House. Bush, whose wife was born and raised in Mexico and who speaks fluent Spanish, also championed the legislation.
The judgements are the result of feeling, which is why they are so bad.
I think they call that something like a psychological slip.Like Obama did during that interview before the election where he said, “My Muslim Faith” and had to be “corrected” by the narrator to say “My Christian Faith”.
Apology aside...I can conclude he just made a stupid mistake which he did not admit to (chose wrong word).
OR
He is not capable of say what he means and/or he is not capable of meaning what he says.
Precisely. American heard what Perry said to them.
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I’m not voting for amnesty. period.
Perry said what he intended to say. He's a "Republican" with Democrat roots and he believes that it's ok to educate illegals (criminals) with OPM (other people's money). Many of the positions he has taken in the state reflect his Democrat roots, just like his chief rival, Romney.
Nope.
The RINO judgments are fascist, Communist,
Marxist, antiAmerican “logic” or treason,
which in either case is “bad”
because Americans are now ... fed up with it.
This cowboy sure knows how to put a gun to his own
mouth. ;-)
We’re done with you, Rick. You can go home now.
Right! Let RINO gore RINO until there is nothing left of either of them.
He so reminds me of Bush. What a disaster that guy was. He and his minions called us all racists over disagreeing with his open-border policies. It’s happening all over again, and we are supposed to take it?
It took him SIX freaking days to come up with this weak BS?
Obviously, he still doesn't get why that was a campaign-killing comment. He was done the minute it came out of his mouth, though it may take all the professional political geniuses around him a few weeks to realize it.
He now says he "regrets" labeling 81% of Americans who disagree with him .......only because it collapsed his campaign.
Perry meant what he said----he meant to say conservatives are "heartless"....viewers can see him deliberately punctuating the word to reinforce it.
He used the word b/c he wanted to demean conservatives and advance his ambitions at their expense.
If using the word did the opposite----and heightened his popularity----Perry would be saying "heartless" over and over and over.
Perry's monumental ego is showing. His naked ambitions are scary.
In the state of Texas, if you've been in the state of Texas for three years, if you're working towards your college degree, and if you are working and pursuing citizenship in the state of Texas, you pay in-state tuition there, said Perry.
And the bottom line is, it doesn't make any difference what the sound of your last name is. That is the American way, said Perry. No matter how you got into that state, from the standpoint of your parents brought you there or what have you. And that's what we've done in the state of Texas. And I'm proud that we are having those individuals be contributing members of our society rather than telling them, you go be on the government dole.
Well, it’s done. He can go back on offense now. Kick some pansy mittbutt.
I’ve read that too. He is just warming up.
Either I missed it or you didn’t ping me to your thread. I found it...still wish Perry would have held off and stood by his comment.
Too late Rick.
I “have no heart” to vote for you now.
And it’s not because I’m offended. I may be very heartless. It’s because you decided to extend privileges to illegals in the most liberal way possible at the expense of American citizens. What could be more liberal than that?
It’s not the comment that’s the problem he should apologize for, he should apologize for passing that law.
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