Republican presidential candidate Texas Governor Rick Perry listens to a question
from the audience at a town hall meeting in Derry, New Hampshire September 30, 2011.
Posted on 10/01/2011 1:40:24 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Voters encountered a confident and combative Rick Perry last night at the first New Hampshire town-hall meeting of the Texas governor's presidential campaign.
After uneven debate performances, Perry didn't hesitate as he took questions from voters about job creation, Social Security and global warming at the Adams Memorial Opera House in Derry. Throughout, he pitched himself as the Republican candidate who presents the clearest contrast to President Obama.
"We need a nominee for the Republican Party that is a clear contrast with Barack Obama," Perry said. "Ronald Reagan said it pretty good when he said 'Now is the time for bright colors, not pale pastels,' and let me tell you I am that bright color."
Perry needed little prompting to repeat his earlier characterization of Social Security as a Ponzi scheme, a description that rival Mitt Romney has seized upon. When state Rep. Al Baldasaro, a Londonderry Republican, praised Perry as the "only candidate that has stood up" and used the comparison, Perry said the government must reform the program so it will be there for younger generations.
"If we have not addressed this issue of Social Security it will not be there for them," he said. "And that is in essence the description and the characterization of a Ponzi scheme, for them to pay into it and those that are in first get the money and those that are in last don't get it."
He advocated allowing states to opt out of Social Security and create their own programs. Perry also said states should receive block grants to pay for Medicaid.
"Washington, D.C., has to get a lesson," he said. "And the lesson is all wisdom does not emanate out of Washington, D.C. They need to let the states be greatly more involved in how our Medicaid populations are taken care of."
When Cindy Brasier, a 56-year-old from Salem, asked if she would lose a portion of her Social Security benefits under his plan, Perry assured her that she would receive her payments in full. He said a new program should be created for people who are still young but said he doesn't know what age should be the cut-off.
Earlier, state Rep. Phyllis Katsakiores, a Republican from Derry, told Perry seniors are having a hard time, in part because their Social Security benefits have not risen in recent years. Perry responded that the government could help seniors by bringing down energy costs. That could be done by reducing environmental regulations that stifle domestic energy production, he said.
"Allow those energy sectors to compete against each other, and that will drive down the cost of these seniors' expenses because they're on fixed income," he said. "Everything that we can do to drive down those fixed costs for our seniors citizens."
One man challenged Perry about his skepticism of global warming. The man charged that Perry had ducked a question in a previous debate when moderators had asked him what sources served as his evidence.
"I'm ready for you this time," Perry said, prompting a laugh. He went on to say that in recent weeks a "Nobel laureate of some acclaim," whom he did not name, had decided there is no definite proof that global warming has been caused by humans. The audience applauded.
"For us to take a snapshot in time and say what is going on in this country today and the climate change that is going on is man's fault and we need to jeopardize America's economy," he said. "I'm not afraid to say I'm a skeptic."
Perry said that Texas substantially reduced its levels of certain greenhouse gases during the decade after 2000.
When the questioner tried to interject, Perry responded, "Hold on, I got the mic here. You got your question, and I'm going to answer." But he let the man speak again afterward.
Throughout the meeting, Perry spoke of the need to foster a strong economic climate by lowering taxes, limiting regulation and erecting barriers to frivolous lawsuits. He also got into the discussion about whether New Hampshire should adopt a right-to-work law, which would prevent unions from charging fees to non-members. The state Legislature passed the legislation, but it was vetoed by Gov. John Lynch. Perry told the crowd last night that New Hampshire could become one of the most competitive states if it adopted the policy.
"Right-to-work is not anti-union bill, it is a pro-jobs bill," Perry said. "And our friends who have chosen to be in unions, they'll have more access to more jobs."
The town hall was moderated by John Stephen, the 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate, who selected the questioners. Perry took questions for a little more than half an hour. He kicked off the meeting by signing an anti-tax pledge before Tom Thomson, the son of former governor Meldrim Thomson.
It seems that Perry is finally doing his homework.
:)
No other country would allow illegal aliens to take full advantage of their welfare benefits, free education, infrastructure, tax breaks, jobs, banking system, etc, etc. Mexico certainly doesn’t. I’m not saying we should “punish” minors for their parents transgressions, but I am saying that they should be returned to their country of origin, who have the duty it is to look after them, or not. Or should we allow all seven billion people on Earth to move here and take advantage of our benevolence? It’s one or the other.
bm
Good article.
I agree with Perry on his views in this article.
Social Security, over-regulation, tort reform, global warming... I agree with him all all these.
Ah..good to read this.
“”I’m ready for you this time,” Perry said,”
Translation: Had to decide what people wanted to hear.
This time? If you actually believe what you’re saying, you are ready EVERY TIME.
LOL. He is. Environmentalism bs is a big issue for him and Texas. Texas Attorney general and Perry are standing up against the EPA and that is not sitting well with the administration.
But just like Gov. Perry did with Big Education (sued for our education dollars w/o federal rules attached - AND WON) and Trial Lawyers (lawsuit abuse reform and loser pays) he’s pushing back hard against the rules and regulations of the EPA (only state that took the “unfriendly approach”).
And the same with illegal immigration and the border (driver license denial, Photo voter ID). Perry has been demanding the Federal government step up and seal the border, as is their duty. This situation must not (can not) remain as it is. It’s costing lives and money. Right now Texas is paying for the border patrol and Texans are being shot at and killed (with weapons bought by this adm and given to drug cartels).
Nice basket of demagoguery there. Talk to the Federal government about their “social engineering” draws, not Texas. We’re here on the front lines using our own money and rangers on the 1250 mile international border. We’re dealing with reality.
I’ve lived in Texas. Please tell all that to someone who doesn’t know any better.
The MSM likes the names of books you read, names of famous environmental deniers you get your information from, etc.
The truth of the matter is, Perry doesn't need to cite someone else's understanding of this major regulation-lawsuit attack on our economy. Other states have been following his battle with the EPA. Perry, just as other thinking people, has been living, learning and fighting this socialist encroachment for decades. But the media wanted him to give an example. So now they're happy.
I live in Texas. I’ve lived in Arizona. I understand the issues, the problems and the solutions. And Rick Perry has this understanding too. This problem has been brought down on our heads here on the border, it’s been left to fester and we’re dealing with it. The border must be sealed. Perry wants this more than any of the other candidate out there who act and talk like they know what they’re dealing with — they’re just mouthing the words. Perry knows this issue coming and going (so to speak — little humor there).
Then why give in-state tuition to illegals? That’s just ONE MORE reason for them to stay in Texas rather than going back to whatever third-world country they came from. It makes absolutely no sense and smacks of Bushie/LBJ bleeding heart liberalism, not conservatism and rule of law! What part of ILLEGAL ALIEN are you all having trouble with? If a stranger breaks into your house, do you offer him an English muffin with butter and jam?
The truth of the matter is that Rick Perry is PARTLY responsible for the political career of Al Gore and his continued rise to power in the ‘eco-elite’. He assisted him, helped to build his political power and thus Gore was able to help create the very laws that plague us and particularly TEXAS today. That RP is fighting them now is good. But it’s a problem he helped create when he was still a DEMOCRAT. Now the Feds are raping Texas and he wants to duck any responsibility in his helping the situation come about.
Do you Deny that Perry assisted the Gore campaign?
Yes or NO?
Do you deny Gore is a major reason for the current EPA power, regulaions and problems in America?
Yes or no?
And please answer this time. Stop ducking legitimate questions that are ‘Incontinent Truths’ for you and your chosen candidate. If you are going to be his full-time FR Apologist, at least try.
That he lied about Gore’s radicalism less than a month ago is not fiction. It took me exactly 1 keyword search on You Tube to prove without question RP Lied that Gore was no radical in 87/88.
Gore was spouting eco craziness on PBS NOVA in the EARLY 80s. Of course I have written on landuse/eco matters in depth for well over 10 years now and didn’t need that vid to know that.
Perry FLAT OUT LIED. What will it take to make you stop pushing a proven liar on a Conservative website? I notice you completely IGNORED my post yesterday on JR’s feelings about Perry. Lying to cover his past is not helping him and it is not helping your credibility.
Why are the majority of ‘12 GOP Presidential candidates so weak on illegal immigration issues? Just by allowing more amnesty for illegal immigrants to occur, the entire U.S. would become a third world country, possibly forever!
To the elites, that’s a feature, not a bug.
The newly-minted "eager-to-please" Perry is patently offensive......he makes you want to say "yuck."
He forgets that we already know: rank politicians, like Perry, entrusted with enforcing immigration law, deliberately ignored the law and pursued a sub rosa agenda they never bothered to inform the tax-paying public about. Once the public was alerted to pols' deceit, they became involved. It has been a matter of the public learning about deceitful politicians... both Bushes, Ted Kennedy, John McCain, Slick Willie, Obama, Rick Perry and many others......particularly GWB's attempts to grant amnesty to millions of illegal aliens.
More egregiously, these same politicians whose negligence exacerbated the illegal problem, then began offering 'solutions'.....amnesty......which also bought vote-crazed pols like Perry, votes and campaign contributions.
The Dream Act, the in-state tuition giveaway, is a show of shameless pandering to ethnic groups. When voters became aware of politicians' pandering, they opposed it by large margins.
As FlingWingFlyer insightfully posted: Illegal immigration is the new “third rail” of American politics. Politicians better learn that, subito. Americans have had it with freeloading foreigners.
Even if by some quirk of fate, Perry survives conservative ire, he would still have to face the disaffection of the general public, at a later date. Today some 81% of Americans oppose giveaways to illegals......and that cuts across the political spectrum.
Oddly you continue to distort the reasons we're doing this in Texas, so I will continue to respond with humor, "That's just the sort of blinkered, Philistine pig-ignorance I've come to expect from you non creative garbage." -- The architect sketch - Monty Python.
Gov. Perry just said you don't have a heart.
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