Perry: We Don't Need to Elect the 'Smoothest Debater'

National Review ^ | Sept. 23, 2011 | Katrina Trinko

[Clairity]

In his CPAC speech today, Rick Perry came out swinging, criticizing Romneycare vigorously and stressing that there was no connection between good debating and good governing.

"As conservatives, we know that values and vision matter," Perry said. "It's not who is the slickest candidate or the smoothest debater that we need to elect. We need to elect the candidate with the best record and the best vision for this country."

[nhwingut]

Epic Fail Rick Perry Style

Wow! I never saw that before.

I love when he emphasizes "abstinence works"... He sounds exactly like W when he was rambling for an answer. He'd prolong a word.

[Presbyterian Reporter]

“”So it really ticks me off to see illegal aliens coming across the border in Texas so they can put their own kids through school at no expense to them””

---

I believe the Texas law allow in-state tuition for illegals.

It is not true to say illegals can put their kids thru college at no expense to them.

[seoul62]

Thank you.

[WOBBLY BOB]

All sombrero, no cowboy.

[South40]

Good grief! What conservatives are going to toss those illegal immigrants brought here through no fault of their own and who are applying and waiting on citizenship papers?

ILLEGAL aliens cannot apply for US citizenship.

In order to become a U.S. citizen, you must:

(1) have been admitted to lawful permanent residence for five years (three years if Green Card obtained through marriage to U.S. citizen);

(2) you must be 18 years old;

(3) you must be maintain continuous residence for five years (three years if Green Card obtained through marriage to U.S. citizen);

(4) you must be physically present in the U.S. for at least half of the 5 years (or half of the 3 years if you obtained a Green Card through a U.S. citizen spouse);

(5) you must be a person of good moral character for the 5 years (or 3 years if the alien obtained a Green Card through a U.S. citizen spouse);

(6) you must demonstrate an elementary level of English (reading, writing, understanding); and,

(7) you must have knowledge and understanding of the fundamentals of history and government of the United States.

http://immigration-law.freeadvice.com/immigration-law/citizenship/become-us-citizen.htm

[allmendream]

He's not a smooth GOP debater. Smooth GOP debater....

[jonrick46]

Governor Perry failed to deliver a clear answer to the question question concerning children of illegals. This issue I consider is the question of the two magnets. The one magnet is the one that smooths the road to the magnet of higher education. This magnet attracts the children of illegals so they can do well in high school so they can go to college. Without that magnet, these children would drop out of high school and be more likely to enter the world of drug trafficking and other illegal activities. They would also be on the welfare roles. Is that cost larger to society than the savings in tuition costs and other grants such children may receive?

The other magnet is the one that attracts illegals to come across our borders to make a better life for themselves and their children. Many of these people live in communities that are unsafe for their children and have no chance advance their children through the education route. Mexico is in the process of social dishevel and is a terrible place to raise children. America is their escape route as long as Mexico fails to reform their society. By plugging that escape route, you push Mexico to a crisis point and revolution. We would be having a “Southern Spring” on our southern border.

I would hope this puts a better focus on the debate.

[South40]

I love when he emphasizes "abstinence works"... He sounds exactly like W

Very much so. Which is why I think he would be an easy target for Obama and the DNC. Remember the attacks ads they ran comparing McCain to Bush? Imagine how easy that would be were Rick Perry the nominee.

I don't think this country wants 4-more years of Obama but I also think it doesn't want 4-more years of Bush. We need a stronger candidate than Rick Perry.

[montag813]

Perry was given "gotcha" questions and the moderators avoided giving him questions where he could showcase his record and plans.

Is this a comedy thread?

Perry calls 81% of Americans racists without a heart, in reponse to "gotcha" questions? Seriously? I guess you are forgetting the first debate, in which the "Texas Economic Miracle" dominated the discussion - you know, where he could "showcase his record and plans".

Unfortunately we see now that this "miracle" was mostly for the benefit of immigrants, 40% legal, 40% ILLEGAL, while native-born Texans received only 20% of the new jobs since 2007. Is that the sort of "record" you want to see him "showcase"?

[RitaOK]

I see the litany of the law requirements. So? Perry has not flouted that law. So? Your point is???? Nevermind, you are one of those hopeless place holders with your needle stuck on that broken record called, Waiting for Palin. You have given us, instead, Romney.

[nhwingut]

Why should my daughter, a U.S. citizen, have to pay more than an illegal to attend Texas A&M? Answer me that.

Glad to! Because your daughter hasn't lived in TX for three years!

No sh!t Dick Tracy. My question is... Why is this okay with you? Why should a U.S. citizen pay more to go to a Texas college than an illegal alien of this country?

[Grunthor]

Did he call us heartless again? How about hint that we (racists) don’t like people with different sounding last names? Did he steer clear of those particular talking points in this speech? I’ll watch it but not if he’s just going to spend his time attacking me personally like he did last night and in the previous debate.

[steel_resolve]

You did not answer the question and don’t play like you did.

[jackv]

I really like Perry but was troubled by his performance and the tuition fees to illegals is just unacceptable to me.
Help me like the guy. I want to but....

[montag813]

We would be having a “Southern Spring” on our southern border.

We are going to have that anyway, because of Ethnic Studies courses at TX, AZ, NM and CA schools, groups like La Raza, MEChA and LULAC, and traitorous politicians like Raul Grijalva, Gil Cedeno and others who openly say that Hispanics will overwhelm America through their birth rates. You are so naive, as is Perry (at best). God help us.

[South40]

I have been told by more than one FReeper that they will stay home on election day if their preferred candidate is not the GOP nominee. Practically speaking, what’s the difference?

Firstly, those would be but a very few of the many FReepers on my ling list and on others. That said, I understand that position but it is not mine. Obama will likely be a lame duck if reelected...especially if the Republicans maintain control of the House and most certainly if Republicans take control of the Senate. So 4-more years of Obama would likely not be as bad as 4-years with a RINO the likes of Rick Perry who carries the torch for the pro-amnesty crowd. Yes, Perry is pro-amnesty and has said so.

But the election is many months away so all this at this point in time is irrelevant. We may end up with a real conservative nominee, one who we don't have to worry will stab us in the back with amnesty and other handouts for the ILLEGAL hordes who have invaded this country.

[Jeff Head]

I have read a lot of Perry's writings and speeches. I watched his entire Hannity interview. I have read his histtory.

He has pretty much an all-America background and story, from his days as a young man, eagle scout, high school football, college, military, working for his dad on a cotton farm, to politics, where he started as a democrat (as a lot of Texans from that era did) and ended up changing to the GOP when it was clear the DNC had left them.

I have to say I genuinely like the guy.

I agree with a lot of what he says, from foreign policy, to his basic feelings about Social Security and how to deal with it, to a lot of his economic sense.

However, even though he described his reasoning for the Texas, illegal children in-state tuition, I cannot agree with it, and also reject his feelings about the fence. As a politician he pandered in 2010 to La Raza, a racist organization with goals that would lead to a dividing of American terrirory. He should never have given them the time of day.

There's a lot of his immigration policy I can agree with...but those points about in-state tuition for illegal's children, about the fence, and being willing to pander to La Raza are big negative issues for me.

Also, there seems to be a lot of political deals he makes where those who support him end up getting sweetheart taxpayer funded positions and deals. I do not like that. People and companies should support him for his positions on their own, and thaat general impact for good that they will have, not for special "deals" they may get...and the same should apply vice-versa from his perspective.

So...I believe Perry can improve in those areas. Right now, I am a Palin supporter and will support her should she enter the race.

I know that Perry would be orders of magnitude better than Obama, and that many, many of his ideas and positions are mine and would support him in the general election should he win the primaries.

[wolfcreek]

We don’t need to elect someone based on one or two issues either. Perry has a good record, both fiscal and social.

[Travis McGee]

The debate format is excellent for seeing how somebody can communicate their ideas, and not just read a teleprompter.

Perry can’t communicate. That has become clear. I wonder who ghost wrote his book? (Not Bill Ayers, at least.)

But I’ll never support another open-borders RINO. If he’s nominated, I’ll vote for him over the communist traitor in chief we have now, but that’s it.

[Marty62]

Do you really think making unfounded smears against Perry will win your arguement? This type of tactic remind me of Charlie Sheen.
I guess telling Obama to keep his DOE funds because of the strings attached is Maxist. Really Pathetic.