Perry Shares Staunch Commitment to Conservative Values at Thanksgiving Family Forum

The Cypress Times ^ | November 20, 2011

[Cincinatus' Wife]

DES MOINES, Iowa – Texas Gov. Rick Perry Saturday participated in the Presidential Thanksgiving Family Forum, hosted by the Family Leader, where he reiterated his principled and longstanding commitment to conservative values.

“I am a faithful, fiscal and social conservative of conviction, not of convenience,” said Gov. Perry. “As Governor of the State of Texas, I have signed more pro-life legislation than any governor in my state’s history and championed and signed the Texas Defense of Marriage Act. Traditional family values are important to me, to the people of Iowa and to citizens and future of our nation. America needs to reenergize limited government, entrepreneurship and the traditional values that helped us become the greatest, most prosperous nation in history.”

Gov. Perry is a staunch defender of life, having signed more pro-life legislation than any other governor in Texas history. He most recently demonstrated his commitment to protecting the lives of the unborn in his Uproot and Overhaul Washington plan, in which he pledged to eliminate the federal funding of organizations that fund abortions, such as Planned Parenthood. He supported this same measure in Texas’ most recent legislative session by signing important legislation, Senate Bill 7 and House Bill 1, which contain provisions prohibiting tax dollars from funding abortions.

Gov. Perry strongly supports traditional marriage. He signed the Defense of Marriage Act in Texas in 2003, and supported enshrining this law in the Texas Constitution, a measure approved by voters in 2005, which defines marriage in Texas as a union between one man and one woman. He has also pledged to support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that legally defines marriage as a union between one man and one woman.

As a life-long hunter and concealed handgun license holder, Gov. Perry has been a strong advocate for Second Amendment rights. During his tenure in Texas, he has signed “Castle Doctrine” legislation ensuring that citizens have the right to defend themselves in their homes instead of retreating. He has also worked to prevent local governments from infringing upon Texans’ rights to have legally concealed weapons on public property, cut concealed handgun license (CHL) renewal fees for military, veterans and senior citizens, and labored to protect shooting ranges from expensive, frivolous lawsuits as part of his tort reform efforts.

Last Tuesday, Gov. Perry announced his Uproot and Overhaul Washington plan, which would establish a part-time, citizen Congress, cut congressional salaries, end lifetime appointments of federal judges, issue an immediate moratorium on new and pending federal regulations, and dismantle wasteful, redundant federal agencies.

Gov. Perry has unveiled other bold and conservative policies in recent weeks, including his Cut, Balance and Grow plan and his Energizing American Jobs and Security plan. Cut, Balance and Grow cuts personal and corporate tax rates to a lower, flat 20 percent rate, cuts federal spending, ends earmarks and corporate loopholes and calls for a federal Balanced Budget Amendment. Energizing American Jobs and Security will create up to 1.2 million jobs in every sector, reduce our nation’s dependence on hostile foreign oil, revitalize manufacturing and help contain the cost of electricity and fuel.

The Presidential Thanksgiving Family Forum, hosted by the Family Leader, included discussion among GOP presidential candidates about the conservative values Americans have long cherished. The forum was moderated by Dr. Frank Luntz, with faith leaders and socially conservative activists from counties across the state of Iowa in attendance. Citizen Link and the National Organization for Marriage served as keynote sponsors.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Thanksgiving Family Forum Video

[truthkeeper]

What a nice - and timely - post. Thank you.

[TexasFreeper2009]

I was surprised that no one had a live thread on this, it was actually a VERY good forum/debate and it was very telling that the two non-christians (romney,huntsman) in the race didn’t bother to show up at the ONE debate/forum that was dedicated to social issues.

I think all the candidates did very well at it all all were given fairly equal time, which was nice for once to have a debate where 90% of the time is given to the liberal Romney.

[TexasFreeper2009]

grr... why doesn’t FR have an edit feature.

[shield]

p> Perry Ping....

IF you'd rather NOT be pinged FReepmail me.

IF you'd like to be added FReepmail me. Thanks.

*****************************************************************************************************************************************************Per SD
This is just how Rick Perry is. After Hurricane Ike devastated my community, he came here to survey the damage. He did not just walk through here surrounded by security and news cameras an...d then make a speech. That's not Perry. He showed up in jeans and a work shirt, no cameras, no press conference, and he walked among all of us who had been hit. A hug, a pat on the shoulder, a listening ear, and an encouraging word. He saw to it that emergency shelters were being set up and food and water were available to everyone. When Obama/FEMA refused to help us, Governor Perry set up state funding to help us rebuild our homes and our lives. My home is at 'ground zero' where Ike came ashore. We all took tremendous damage. FEMA sent me a check two months later for $600 dollars. Governor Perry set up the Recovery Fund to help us all rebuild. That is what a true leader and a true Christian does. That's my Governor! I can't wait to see America under the caring wing of Rick Perry.

[smoothsailing]

It’s a video well worth watching, here’s that link again...

http://www.citizenlink.com/2011/11/19/thanksgiving-family-forum-complete-video/

The actual debate/forum starts about 37 minutes in to the three hour video.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Can Rick Perry rebound in Iowa?………….”That moment inside the Schebler plant on the banks of the upper Mississippi River illustrates one of Perry's inherent political strengths - his ability to connect with people, most notably potential voters. Campaign professionals call it retail politics. And Perry will need all he can deliver - plus much more - if he hopes to rescue his foundering pursuit of the 2012 Republican presidential nomination...

A hopeful sign for Perry is the fact that many likely caucus-goers haven't firmly committed to a candidate. Bloomberg's poll found that 60 percent of those surveyed could be persuaded to back someone other than their top choice. Ten percent were undecided.

There were also indications last week that Perry was picking up converts after a two-day Iowa trip that included his policy address to "uproot" all three branches of the federal government. "I think that was one of the best speeches that I've heard from Perry," said Scott County Republican Chairwoman Judy Davidson of Bettendorf, who is neutral in the race. "He might have gained some additional support. I think people were impressed."………..

Anything can-happen feel in Iowa's 2012 vote ANAMOSA, Iowa — “The race for the Republican presidential nomination is deeply unsettled with an anything-can-happen feel six weeks before Iowans start the state-by-state process of choosing a GOP challenger for President Barack Obama.”…………….

[Wild Irish Rogue]

” (romney,huntsman) in the race didn’t bother to show up at the ONE debate/forum that was dedicated to social issues. “

Huntsman was in NYC doing a cameo as himself on SNL.
He was actually pretty funny and not as sanctimonious as usual.
But..he shouldn’t have skipped the forum for SNL.

[mazda77]

What these six people displayed in that forum is exactly what we should all extoll.

CW, you and I have had our spats on this forum over “implied agendas” in posting certain news, or more often blog stories, negative to other candidates. The way that all the candidates showed a mutual respect for each other is the means by which we should all conduct ourselves in debating the issues and not personalities or drive by attempts to impugn.

Everyone should view the entire event because it is definitely worth the time. Rick Perry showed in this forum why I liked him before his missteps caused me to look elsewhere. I honestly do like him personally even though he considers some of my views a heartless.

[Reagan Man]

Perry is a solid fiscal and social conservative with a successful executive governing record to back it up. Perry is the best Reagan conservative of all the 2012 wannabees. Hopefully folks will come to their senses and turn back to Perry before we are left with a candidate not qualified by conservative standards to represent the GOP.

(ps-The last thread you posted was pulled because it was put into "extended news". Guess that is a BIG no no. Instead of pulling it, they should have simply moved it out of "extended news". To be fair.)

[Wild Irish Rogue]

A writer for the UK Telegraph on what he learned from the forum .

” Rick Perry enjoys talking to Christians. After several awful debate performances, Perry was surprisingly good...... Funny and warm, the audience got a glimpse of a Perry who is much sharper on the stump. “

http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/timstanley/100118603/saturday-nights-presidential-debate-suggests-that-former-bad-boy-newt-gingrich-is-a-born-again-front-runner/

[dennisw]

Good for ruff tuff guy Perry but a real ruff tuff guy is ruff and tuff on America as a soverign nation. Leaky borders and instate tuition for illegals are utter BS. I’ll still gladly vote for Rick Perry but he should stop being so gay when it comes to Mexico. And in advance I will tell anyone, I can give a flip about the “rich” Tex-Mex heritage of Texas. Just commit to building a fence in a way that sounds believable. So far RP has not done this

[CajunConservative]

What a nice story and a great contrast to how zer0 handles a natural disaster.

[shield]

Agree!!!

[shield]

You must have the hispanic vote to win. It is a smart tactic in how Perry is handling this. Newt is for amnesty Perry is NOT. Cain wants fo fry illegals which has enraged all legal Hispanics. You just might want to read the ‘Art of War’ before making such statements.

[Irish Eyes]

It was a very good view of the candidates.

[MrEdd]

You don’t need the illegal vote to win.
just enforce our borders.
Legal immigrants don’t need pandering.

I know, Perry thinks it is heartless of us to keep pointing that out.

[dennisw]

You must have the hispanic vote to win.

Actually you still need the nativist white vote to win, Hispanics tend not to vote. Plenty of liberals are disgusted by the Third Worldization of America. I have talked to them. One example was a university professor from Amherst Massachusetts and his wife  

You beat the jug eared Kenyan by appealing to fed up white boys and gals. Let the Hispanics fall where they may. Unfortunately Gov GoodHair buys into your theories which only work in Texas

[TexMom7]

I’ve seen the Governor time and time again handling disasters here in Texas and he never ceases to amaze me.

He gets right down into the action, he delegates, he works out glitches and just plain leads.

He can be very compassionate and then be stern in a “let’s get er down” now. Things start moving when the Governor speaks. Things get done.

He shows up dressed just like everyone else, rolls his shirt sleeves up and takes the lead.

I just wish sometimes that everyone could see the Governor as some of us Texans have seen him for years. I think they would be stunned.

Definitely a compassionate Leader.
Definitely a good Christian Man.

[shield]

I have a huge number of conservative Hispanic friends who are involved with huge conservative hispanic groups throughout this country...and your statement is flat out wrong. Glad to know where you stand today regarding Governor Perry.