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.
Far more Texans have been seriously negative about him than positive. His past history as a demrat, Gore campaign strategist, Gore global warming cheerleader, open borders etc. is a matter of record. Exactly how much he has contributed to Texas’ economy is also subject to much debate.
I guess Texans are so negative about him that that explains why he’s in his third term as Governor.
He was a Dem in the ‘80s when TX was Dem and then that party moved to the liberal side and he switched to the GOP.
He was only a member of the TX Legislature in ‘88 who said he supported Gore. He was not a strategist for the Gore campaign (and certainly not his TX campaign manager, as many here on FR have claimed). .......Anthropogenic Global Warming wasn’t even an issue in ‘88 and Perry and all other logical-thinking people would have given a thumbs down to such nonsense if someone had claimed AGW was causing climate change.
Perry has traveled to numerous States to meet with business execs and court them to move to TX. Politicians from other States have come to TX to meet with Perry and find out how they might also lure businesses to their States. ...Bottom line is that TX, under Gov. Perry, has succeeded in bringing in businesses from elsewhere and creating more jobs in the State.
I heard the entire comment.
His reasoning was stated clearly. Right to work laws create more jobs, that’s just a fact. Businesses prefer a right to work state. When there are more jobs, more workers get hired, the economy improves and there are more jobs for everyone needing work, period. (My own comment: Unionization becomes less of an issue, and not speaking of union bosses and paid goons and the politicians in bed with them, but of rank and file workers.).
Watch the whole thing in context. His whole emphasis was on making states more competitive in drawing jobs to their states, because that’s what a NH resident was asking about in regard to right to work.
Perry was saying right to work is an economic issue rather than some kind of knee jerk anti union issue. I watched it, I got it, and if you watched it you would get it, too. So did the audience.
Coming on here and nonchalantly, casually musing that Perry must be stupid, while taking his comment out of context and not evaluationg the whole appearance is, well, some might call that “stupid”.
Maybe it’s just being a bit lazy, or maybe being a bit too quick to take somebody else’s bait...
Well, by golly while we’re at it let’s build one between the U.S. and Canada too. There’s lots of wide open spaces
up there with no boots on the ground. And with our amazing technology and unlimited resources we can sure as hell build one across all the lakes too.
Don’t talk crap about fences. Boots on the ground!
Hey, speaking of the Texas Rangers -
How’s Ameriquest field playing these days down thar in Texicostan?
You totally lost me on that one. lol
What was the point you tried to make by posting a table showing contributions of Dawn Arnall in the mid-2000’s?
How does that relate to this thread that relates to Perry?
You’re easy to lose.
Arnall, Ameriquest, Countrywide, Pritzker, ACORN...
You RINOs evidently don’t have a clue about how our economic infrastructure was systemically corrupted with poisoned Liar Loan-Ranger a$$paper.
Just bidness as usual for the managerial teat suckers on both sides of the aisle, ehh Pedro?
You really don’t like women, do you? I’ll say what I please and you can like it or, hopefully, lump it.
Hey, speaking of the Texas Rangers -
How’s Ameriquest field playing these days down thar in Texicostan?
I also don’t think it’s humorous for you to try so hard to link Texas with Mexico and muslims. ....Just sayin’
Good for Perry.Go to hell Mittens ObamneyCare
So how does any of that crap have some relation to Perry?
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.”.....
You stated further Liz,... “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.”
I agree and unfortunately if Perry takes the Presidency he will go for all the programes and the leveridge he has failed to get as Gov....imagine him with the power of the Presidency.....there would have to be a very tight rein on him and I don’t see any in Washington up to that job.
Unfortunately we see that Perry works against what the public across our nation wants.
>>try so hard to link Texas with Mexico and muslims.
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=Perry+CAIR+Khan
That’s easy, Pedro.
PerryCAIR, ObamaCare... one disaster deserves another, ehh?
No, it's because they know the general populace will not support where Perry stands on illegal immigration....he shot his own foot and continues to do so. Christie is their new" man of the hour to take out Romney.
How about arming and letting those already there do likewise? Their hands are tied currently. Along with building a stable barrier where that is possible...it's not one or the other..it's both
"Angelo Mozilo, thank you"--Governor Ricardo Perry--Tuesday, December 14, 2004
"Rampant fraud in the mortgage industry has increased so sharply that the FBI warned Friday of an "epidemic" of ...
"For the Pritzker family of Chicago, the 2001 collapse of subprime-mortgage lender Superior Bank was an embarrassing failure.."
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&source=hp&q=Pritzker+Subprime+2001
"We'll help you out"
-- BoA/Countrywide to Perry, 2011
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=we'll+help+you+out+perry
>>I have no idea where Ameriquest Field might be.
At least you’re consistently ignorant.
http://www.google.com/#sclient=psy-ab&hl=en&site=&source=hp&q=Ameriquest+Field+Rangers
We need a fence on every inch of the border on which a fence can be constructed and men to patrol as well.
No worries. Walls do help, not going to deny that - but only if you have them constantly patrolled with sufficient troops with very specific ROE. Both Israel and Berlin have/had that.
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