Posted on 10/04/2011 12:46:57 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Updated 2:22 p.m.
Wallace Jefferson, the first black chief justice of the Texas Supreme Court, said the hunting ranch name controversy is "much ado about nothing" and argued the implication that Rick Perry is insensitive to matters of race is flatly wrong. Jefferson, who was appointed to the post by Perry, and whose great-great-great-grandfather was a slave owned by a Waco district judge, said the reality is quite the opposite: Perry "appreciates the role diversity plays in our state and nation."
Jefferson said he can recall his first conversation with Perry, in 2001, like it was yesterday. They talked about how Jefferson's father and Perry had both been Air Force officers. Jefferson said Perry shared his view that in all circumstances, merit mattered, not race.
"To imply that the governor condoned either the use of that word or that sentiment, I find false," Jefferson said.
[snip]
Even some of Perry's fiercest Texas critics say they do not believe he is racist. They point to his record of appointments as evidence: He appointed the state’s first African-American state supreme court justice, Wallace Jefferson, and later made him chief justice.
...Perry’s former general counsel and former chief of staff, Brian Newby, is black; so is Albert Hawkins, the former Health and Human Services commissioner who Perry handpicked to lead the massive agency in 2002.
“He doesn’t have a racist bone in his body,” said former Democratic state Rep. Ron Wilson, who is black and served with Perry in his early years in the Legislature. “He didn’t then, and he doesn’t now.”
Added Dallas Democratic Sen. Royce West, who is also black: “I don’t agree with him on policy issues, but you can point to many things he has done that were sensitive to ethnic minorities.”
(Excerpt) Read more at texastribune.org ...
You know my feelings about Gov. Perry, but this so-called “scandal” shows you just what is wrong with this country. A guy who favored Hamas, the Black Panthers, Hezzbollah, Nation of Islam, and all that as an adult is a hero, but another candidate is smeared for something that might have happened when he was a kid?
You should listen to the LINKED video above of the interview w/ Chief Justice Wallace.
It is VERY interesting.
can you post the link?
It’s the second link in Post #1.
I'm not sure what you're saying but if you're talking about this "rock" name and Gov. Perry -- nothing happened.
Thanks!
There might be more reaction to the reaction, than anything else. Probably as a desperate attempt to prop Perry up in the polls because he was already slipping badly.
No.
SO you believe everyone lying about this?
I’m sure the race-card was pulled to hurt Perry (duh).
But people who play that game, are the ones who get burned.
It’s not what I believe, it’s what the foolish voters who put Mr. Obama in office 3 years ago believe. I’ll vote for just about anyone against this president, but millions of people believe whatever the enemedia tell them, thinking “where there’s smoke there’s fire” and so on.
The truth will be told. But since you don’t like the idea of a President Perry, your position on this is suspect — and I’m sure you will be adding fuel to that anti-Perry fire.
It’s a “macaca” moment.
Something that means nothing is being used to destroy a good candidate by a media that has ulterior motives. The point is to remove competition to a candidate who really DOES have issues in the same area. It’s all strategy.
Very possible. It did knock his support for illegals off the tv and front pages and gave Cain an uppercut at the same time.
Who's "us?"
You started out fine but just couldn't resist implying that something was done by Perry in his youth.
Wow! is right.
If ‘Bammy continues to play this right...any Republican/Tea Party backed candidate will be in a KKK sheet, draped over them by the media, come October 2012.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.