"Comeback Kid?" Perry Interview by Parade Magazine (comming out 10-23)

TimesFreePress ^ | 10-10-11

[TexMom7]

So, what happened to you in the early debates?

Rick Perry: "A debate is an eight-ring circus, and you have a minute to talk. Sometimes it can be hard to explain your position on a host of issues. I readily admit I’m not the slickest politician nor the smoothest debater."

Do you feel as if the other candidates have been ganging up on in the debates?

RP: "When you come into the fray and you’re leading in the polls, you’re going to get attacked by everyone. I get it. I’m a big boy, and I know how to play that game. "

Your critics say you’re not electable. Your response?

RP:"Well, I disregard that. Americans are looking for somebody to stand up and tell them the truth, and I have a record to back it up. Ultimately, if I can explain my heart, my jobs record, and my philosophy to Americans, I’m pretty confident that I’ll win."

You’re a very successful fund-raiser. But it’s been reported that nearly half of the major donors during your governorship ended up receiving business contracts, political appointments, or tax breaks. The word that’s been applied to you is “cronyism.” How do you respond?

RP:"That’s the same old, tired criticism which comes when people don’t want to talk about the real issues, like how do we create jobs."

But is there any truth to it?

RP:"No. Decisions in Texas are generally legislative, with the lieutenant governor, speaker, and governor making them together. There were no unilateral decisions from my office dealing with those issues. And I’ll go back to my record. I’ve been elected three times as governor. The people obviously have confidence in me."

Your wife, Anita Perry, tends to stay out of the spotlight. At the Sept. 12 debate, you described her as “beautiful, thoughtful, incredible.” What is she like as a person?

RP:"She’s very smart and loyal. She’s not predisposed to be a public figure since she saw how her father, a small-town doctor, had to be shared with all these other people. She’s also a great patriot. "

Some of our recent presidents have admitted to experimenting with drugs. What about you?

RP:"No, ma’am. Not unless you call caffeine a drug. Or cold beer or whiskey."

Governor, how would you make the White House more like Texas?

RP:We’d have Blue Bell ice cream and Hill Country barbecue.

Look for the full story in the Oct. 23 issue of PARADE.

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"Who Is Anita Perry?"

http://www.parade.com/news/2011/10/23-meet-anita-perry.html

LYNN SHERR: Let’s start with an easy question. How would you describe your husband?

ANITA PERRY: I think he’s the most handsome man. And he’s creative, smart, kind, thoughtful. …

What’s your pet name for him?

Ricky. He calls me Nita.

Your husband says you urged him to enter the race. Why?

My daddy was a family practice doctor, and in the 1970s after Medicare began, I remember him telling me, as wise as he was, “We’re moving towards socialized medicine. The first time you take a dollar from the federal government, they’ll start trying to control your life.” I became a nurse, and I’ve seen government take away more and more of our freedom to choose the care we want and the drugs we want.

When did you first talk to your husband about running?

I started thinking about it last November after his reelection. Then in June a friend sent me a magazine article; it was about Obamacare. I read it and thought, “I don’t want more of the same.” One day Rick and I were talking and I said, “I am so concerned with our children’s future and their children’s future and what will happen to them. We’ve given so many years to public service, and we need to make a difference.” I didn’t want us to wake up when we were 80 and regret we didn’t do this. Our country is in danger, in my opinion.

He’s taken a lot of heat over his 2007 executive order mandating that sixth-grade girls get the HPV vaccine unless their parents opted out. [It was overturned by the state legislature.] What role did you play in his decision?

I didn’t know anything about it.

What was your reaction when you heard about it?

I wish he’d talked to me first.

Was it the wrong decision?

No, but I thought he handled it the wrong way. I’ve been cochair for the March of Dimes immunization program, and I’m pro-immunization. I would have supported the vaccine. I do not see it as an opening for sexual promiscuity in any way. I see it as another immunization.

Do you think your husband’s taking some unfair hits?

Yes, he’s said he made a mistake. He just wants to get rid of cancer in our lifetime. I don’t know how many other men would admit, “I made a mistake.”

Presidential campaigns usually get very ugly. Can you handle it?

It’s already ugly. [laughs] It’s so unkind and unfair, because you know what? All we want to do is serve our country, fight for freedom, and bring back America, the greatest country in the world. The other day, an older lady asked me, “What do you think about the polls?” I said, “I can’t look at them. All I can do is get up every day and tell everyone what a wonderful man and leader Rick Perry is.”

If he is elected president next year, what issues or causes will you take up as first lady?

It’s hard to say. I’m a health care professional. I love our military. But we’ve got a lot of work to do before we make it to the White House.

You’ve said your husband prays every night and morning. Yes. He always asks for wisdom for our president. What about you?

I pray that God will send his angels to protect my children.

Is it hard for you to go out and make campaign speeches?

It’s not hard. I’ve had lots of years to do it, and I’ve become comfortable in that role. I love meeting people—goodness gracious, that’s the best part.

When your husband gives speeches, do you ever find yourself wanting to put words in his mouth?

No, because he always says the right thing.

Always?

Well, most of the time. Whether he says it in a way that you or I want to hear …

Let me ask you one last question about the future. If you make it all the way to the White House, what will you bring with you?

Fun, humor, kindness, and a love for our country.

[Sacajaweau]

http://www.city-data.com/forum/texas/829051-texas-government-collecting-collecting-baby-dna.html

[deport]

Interesting statement in your link. Seems this isn't just a Texas issue but rather other states do the same.

Government taking newborn DNA samples

quote......
The issue of retaining newborn screening samples is not unique to Texas. Other states are dealing with the same issues. Balancing privacy issues with what is in the best interest of the public is a fine line. The federal government has invested millions in regional and national newborn screening collaborations.
end quote.......

[Sacajaweau]

It’s the same case with the tuition issue. Most every state does the same...some by legislation....some by simply not asking “status”.

[editor-surveyor]

I know all I need to know about Reagan; I worked all of his campaigns.

I know that he and Perry are diametric opposites on moral issues.

Perry is fake.