Posted on 02/05/2015 2:21:59 PM PST by 2ndDivisionVet
For any Texans torn between Rick Perry and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz as likely presidential candidates, the states former governor argued Thursday that executive experience matters.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Texas Tribune and The Washington Post, Perry discussed international, presidential and Texas politics.
Asked about what separates him from Cruz, Perry never mentioned his potential rival by name. Instead, he downplayed Senate experience and alluded to the fact that Cruzs tenure in office is the same as then-Sen. Barack Obama's when he ran for president in 2008.
Its one of the selling points, if you will, to the American people as they decide whos going to follow Barack Obama, he said. I think theyre going to make a rather radical shift, away from a young, untested United States senator whose policies have really failed.
Perry, Cruz and around a dozen other Republicans are in the early stages of building expected campaigns for the Republican nomination. Texas will probably be a battleground for donors, political operative talent and delegates.
Other Republican candidates with Texas roots like former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul are not ceding the state to the former governor. But the competition could be potentially fierce with Perry's fellow Texas resident, Cruz.
Theyre going to look for somebody thats got the executive experience, Perry said of possible supporters. And my feel, my advice and my instinct is that theyre going to look for someone who has a substantial track record, someone whos been tested and someone who has the results of what they put into place.
But that message could be lost amid his ongoing legal problems stemming from his veto of funding for the state's public integrity unit.
GOP operatives have speculated that Perrys indictment and the subsequent negative publicity put donors at risk. His camp sought to undercut that argument by unveiling 80 donors on Wednesday.
I cant think of maybe one or two donors in this whole process thats even asked about it, Perry said Thursday. Most people see it for what it is its a political prosecution.
He said his legal team is confident the case will be thrown out and he will survive politically.
What you cant do at the ballot box, lets try and do at the courthouse, he said. They couldnt defeat me in 14 years as governor, so 'Lets try to go and besmirch him and at least try and keep him from being the president.'
Now out of office, Perry is fully concentrated on that potential campaign.
He now lives in a 1,400 square-foot condominium with his wife, former Texas first lady Anita Perry a contrast to the Governors Mansion that he often jokes about. They are building a home east of Austin.
And it's from there, as a state government outsider for the first time in 30 years, that he's watched some of the recent controversies at the state Capitol.
He said he was not impressed with state Rep. Molly Whites recent Facebook post ordering her staff to ask Muslim representatives visiting her office "to renounce Islamic terrorist groups and publicly announce allegiance to America and our laws."
Its every legislator's right to say what they want to say, he said of the Belton Republican's Facebook comments. I certainly wouldnt have.
I think the message needs to be sent and has historically been sent that we are a very diverse state, he said. We have a lot of different people, different religions, different cultures that call Texas home. We want them to feel comfortable there.
He also commented on the other controversy consuming debate in Austin: the open carrying of handguns.
Perry said he was not necessarily all that fond of this open carry concept, adding that those who carry guns ought to be appropriately backgrounded, appropriately vetted, appropriately trained.
We license people to drive on our highways, he said. We give them that privilege. The same is true with our concealed handguns.
But also, he said he prefers concealed handguns for a more practical reason.
I dont want the bad guys to know if Im carrying," he said. "I dont want to be the first person shot if somethings going down.
His successor, Gov. Greg Abbott, recently proposed the end of Perrys Emerging Technology Fund and diverting some of that money into another program Perry backed, the Texas Enterprise Fund.
Both funds have come under scrutiny and criticism. Perry insisted the changes do not bother him.
Im not the governor anymore, he said. Theres never been a program that has been put in place from my perspective, whether its my program or whether it was another governors program, that ought to be in place forever.
Theyll either stand or fall on their own, and I hope theres a good thoughtful conversation, and if the governor decides he doesnt want to have that tool in his toolbox, thats his call.
Perry also discussed several national issues. Among them:
ISIS: Perry, a former Air Force pilot, was visibly angry about ISIS's immolation of a Jordanian fighter pilot. Asked if Americans and their allies should kill every member of ISIS, he answered: "That would be my preference."
Vaccines: Perry came out in strong support of parents getting their children vaccinated.
Read more about the interview from The Washington Post.
Times change, as you know.
There’s a judge in TX named Bert Richardson, a “Republican” who won’t throw out the suit against Perry. I’m not sure how this will play out. Many thought the suit is frivilous.
As poorly informed as are so many TX voters, I would think Jebbie would take the primary by plurality at this time.
As a Texan, my thought is — the state has done well under Perry, but no way do I want to end up in the position of depending on him to debate the eventual dem nominee. I have heard nothing from him that would give me any confidence he won’t melt down and wilt again under debate pressure. Meanwhile, in Cruz, we have a debate champion. Cruz 2016, all the way!
At this rate of rino exposure, I’m planning to write in Jeff Sessions name in 2016.
Perry didn’t really refer to RKBA as a privilege granted by the State, akin to the privilege to use public roads.
I don’t believe that.
He’s been a politician in Texas for 30 years, and has national aspirations. This is Texas Politics 101. I know conservatives that disagree with open carry. I don’t know any that confuse a right as a privilege that should be regulated by the State.
The Texas Tribune is a pretty far left publication out of Austin. I get the impression that it works hard at driving wedges between various republican groups.
I would like to see what Perry says happened.
If they were misquoting him, wouldn’t Perry’s people be making a fuss about it?
Maybe they will. Lt. Gov Abbot fought back against them, but it was just at his site.
Uh, Greg Abbott was the attorney general and is now the governor, he was never the lieutenant governor.
...you would know Perry is NOT slamming open carry and welcoming muslims.
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Agree with you. He didn’t indicate either in the quotes in the article.
I didn’t like his comments where he was trying to diminish Ted Cruz’ experience and abilities by comparing them to Obama’s.
“Uh, Greg Abbott was the attorney general and is now the governor, he was never the lieutenant governor.”
Right, I meant Lt. Governor Dan Patrick.
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