‘Adios, Mofo:’ Rick Perry’s Words Back to Haunt Him
EmailABC News' Sarah Parnass reports:
From Joe Biden to Howard Dean, presidential candidates have made some pretty interesting remarks on their way to the White House. Rick Perry’s dirty-mouthed moment came back in 2005 and is set to haunt him by way of an upcoming book.
Ted Oberg, a reporter for ABC’s Houston affiliate, was covering education funding at the time and trying to find out Perry’s plans. After an unsuccessful interview, Oberg told Perry, “Try as I may, Governor, I guess I can’t win this one.”
With cameras still rolling, Perry turned to his spokesman, Robert Black, and gave his own interpretation of Oberg’s words.
“Try as I may, Governor, I’m not going to wait that long,” Perry chuckled. “Adios, mofo.”
As Oberg put it back in 2005, “Those last words aren't exactly part of the seven dirty words, but it isn't something you want to say to your mother or use in good company.”
Perry later apologized personally to Odberg, but those infamous words did not go away so quickly.
They inspired the title of anti-George W. Bush author James Moore’s forthcoming book, “Adios Mofo: Why Rick Perry Will Make America Miss George W. Bush.”
The insider's look at Governor Perry is set to come out in early 2012, according to the Associated Press.
Moore’s most recent work, “Bush’s Brain,” asserted that the former president was not the most powerful man in the world but was instead propped up by Senior Advisor Karl Rove.
Biden Reflects on Grief, Suicidal Thoughts 
Is Congress Sounding Dumber?
He must have a good chance at winning if the media are attacking him so early on.
Posted by: INman | August 16, 2011, 4:06 pm 4:06 pm
ANYBODY BUT OBUMMER !!!!
Posted by: Sully | August 16, 2011, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm
OK, it happened 6 years ago…. he not only privately apologized, but did so in public as well. I have seen the press so a great deal worse and then either deny or not apologize for what they did….
Posted by: Tickedoff | August 16, 2011, 5:23 pm 5:23 pm
As a Texan,everyone needs to look long and hard at Perry,if you haven’t noticed,his support for running for President is from every state in the union,BUT, Texas.With Rick,he’s for something before he is against it,he believes in property rights,unless your land is in the way of a foreign toll road.he’s for seat belts,that isn’t gov overreach,but he’s for texting while driving,because the gov. shouldn’t tell you what to do.He’s for education,but only if they don’t teach that evil science,and oh well,can’t teach because he let teachers go,but increased the size of school administrators
Posted by: a sane txn | August 16, 2011, 5:25 pm 5:25 pm
any similarities to bush? or is it just me that saw and heard that goof!
Posted by: todd | August 16, 2011, 5:39 pm 5:39 pm
You are a fool if you vote for this man. He has “arrogant” and “sex scandal waiting to happen” written all over his face. That pretty, handsome, woman-loving face. Enough with the typical politician. I’d vote for a person without politician hair, without a suit and without status-quo politics who uttered every dirty word in the book on camera. Out with Washington elitists.
Posted by: 7geez | August 16, 2011, 5:49 pm 5:49 pm
Lots of simularities to Bush,Lt gov.under Bush,assumed the unserved term of Bush,became rich,then became a Republican,C&D student,cheerleader,(this doesn’t mean much at Texas A&M)lOTS OF PEOPLE ARE CHEERLEADERS. some in Texas say he is GWB just not as smart.
Posted by: a sane txn | August 16, 2011, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
Liberals already getting out the big guns to cut down Perry because he is a conservative and upsets their progressive socialist agenda.
Posted by: opinionator | August 16, 2011, 6:53 pm 6:53 pm
I think the assertion about former Presiedent Bush was pretty much common knowledge. I think the other assertion that we will miss Bush if Perry is elected. Frightfully correct.
Posted by: Thomas | August 16, 2011, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
I am a libertarian and will vote for anyone over obama…………..but Perry is a dirtbag.
Posted by: Evilbunnies | August 16, 2011, 7:30 pm 7:30 pm
Typical liberal tactics,”Name Calling!” If we Texans dislike Perry so much then why do we vote him in office? If President Bush was so stupid as the leftist claim then why did he serve 2 terms as Pres. If Bush had others be his “Brain” then it is a shame that Obama has know one that can do his thinking! Since Gov. Perry is a sex scandal waiting to happen he would be following in Clinton’s footsteps and should win most Dem votes.
Posted by: Jerry | August 16, 2011, 7:58 pm 7:58 pm
Sure hope Perry doesn’t have migraines! He already has the fact that he is a Christian and a Texan going against him! You know liberals hate both!
May God Bless America!
Even those intellectual atheist. Who, Though they think themselves wise are but Fools, exchanging the inborn knowledge of the Creator for un-natural things. Money is there God and they worship themselves.
Posted by: Jerry | August 16, 2011, 8:06 pm 8:06 pm
You liberals are are in fine form tonight. You definitely are worried about Perry becoming President. Yes, we were worried in the last election because like you, we had no one who could beat Obama. At this point, anyone could beat him! The person who claims to be a Texan who stated: “his support for running for President is from every state in the union,BUT, Texas” must live somewhere in the union other than Texas. Perry has been Governor of this state for 10 years and has done an outstanding job despite having to govern from Austin, the most liberal city in Texas. The majority of Texans do support Perry and he will get elected!!! And by the way, yes, we still like Bush.
Posted by: witchdoctor | August 16, 2011, 9:56 pm 9:56 pm
Oh yes, an innocuous comment made off-air six years ago. That’ll dog him the rest of his life.
Kudos, ABC News. It’s not too early to start planning that celebration in the office for the night the Pulitzer announcements are made….
Posted by: Va_lawgal | August 16, 2011, 10:10 pm 10:10 pm
George Bush was told by the CIA that Iraq had no connection to 9/11 and posessed zero nuclear weapons. Yet Bush and his squeeze Condoleezza both lied and said Iraq would explode a nuclear bomb in an American city if we didn’t attack them first. So Bush slaughtered 400,000 innocent people, including thousands of civilians living in their apartments when Bush bombed them. And the CIA was right, Iraq had posed no threat at all. *** And Bush added $4.9 trillion to our debt, and caused a Depression in 2008. Why would anyone trust Bush’s handpicked replacement as governor of Texas TO BECOME THE PRESIDENT? Bush was the arsonist, and Perry carried the gasoline for him, while Rove drove the getaway car.
Posted by: R.T. | August 16, 2011, 10:37 pm 10:37 pm
Ha! I bet on the POTUS any day. This clown will soon crash and burn.
Posted by: raven wilson | August 16, 2011, 10:56 pm 10:56 pm
Anyone but Obama!
Posted by: Suzy m | August 17, 2011, 12:08 am 12:08 am
“As Oberg put it back in 2005, ‘Those last words aren’t exactly part of the seven dirty words, but it isn’t something you want to say to your mother or use in good company.’ ” Apparently Perry didn’t consider Oberg to be either. And my guess is that mothers and good company already have heard and read much worse on award-winning HBO shows and best sellers.
Posted by: Publius | August 17, 2011, 12:52 am 12:52 am
If dumb-boy Perry is the answer, then someone is asking way the wrong question.
Posted by: Malcolm | August 17, 2011, 12:58 am 12:58 am
Perry = Jobs
This makes me want to vote for Perry even more. At least he is human.
Plus, alot of F bombs have been reported by those in the White House coming from “O.”
Posted by: Little Guy | August 17, 2011, 1:16 am 1:16 am
The book won’t matter. Died-in-the-wool republican voters would vote for Bealzebub as long as he went to church and waved the American flag and Texas spawns the worst of ill-informed, right-wing republican hypocrites.
Posted by: Bign | August 17, 2011, 7:07 am 7:07 am
Is “MoFo” a biblical term?
Posted by: d2wave2 | August 17, 2011, 9:26 am 9:26 am
Now THAT was a riot! Why apologize? I’m sick and tired of thin skinned people like this reporter. The guy was looking for a gotcha when he interviewed him and when he couldn’t get it he used this instead.
Hey ABC, Adios MOFO!
You guys are nothing but a bunch of wussies.
Posted by: THAT_WAS_AWESOME | August 17, 2011, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Perry’s disgusting choice of words, (Mofo), should make him inelectable for now and forever for any high office in this country. It’s as simple as that.
Referring to Mr. Bernanke’s position as a treasonable offense is one thing, using gutter language of the lowest denominator is abominable for anyone at any time, especially for one who is seeking the highest office in the land.
I am afronted by the nonchalance with which some of the commentators of this particular blog have wanted to treat this matter. What happened to decency and respect? Is this sort of indecency what we can expect to pass on to future generations of Americans? Åre we to embrace “the ugly Åmerican” as a standard for all the world to see? Shame on Perry and shame on anyone who thinks he should be a contender for the office of these United States.
Posted by: ArlineO | August 17, 2011, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm
If one of you Obama supporters can name just one Obama accomplishment or give me one real life workable solution to any of our countries parasitic politicition problems I’ll vote for your muslim in 2012………..did’nt think so!!!
Good luck with your loser. We need a president who is tough, not a liar and not afraid to call a spade a spade. (as in if you don’t have a solution of your own keep your mouth shut until you do) when you do you can complain.
For all the rest of you ignorant people who support Obama stay home. Coming to Texas for a job is ruining our state. Fix your own government.
Posted by: fnewsreader | August 17, 2011, 5:31 pm 5:31 pm
Really? This is a news log and this is the level of discourse? I find Perry to be far too similar to Bush in concept and ideas. And those who would support him for his promise of jobs are fools who still check under their pillows for money left by the tooth fairy. This country needs to end the polarization of it’s voters and attempt civil discussion on major issues. Not whether Perry curses but whether that slip signifies a larger problem with thinking before he speaks.
Posted by: Asp2000 | August 19, 2011, 11:35 pm 11:35 pm
Malcom said “Perry = Jobs”
Yes, as pointed out in a recent Wall Street Journal article, in the ten years Parry has been governor, private sector jobs have increased some 9%. But public sector, government jobs, have increased by some 19%.
In the last couple of years, during this recession, most of the jobs created have been public/government jobs. I believe there has been a very slight decrease in private sector jobs in this same period.
In that Wall Street Journal article, they raise the issue about what will happen when Texas actually starts cutting their budget. Parry signed a $5B cut in the state budget in July.
Posted by: Richard B | August 20, 2011, 1:59 pm 1:59 pm
Wow the main stream media will go all out to carry the water for Obama. Destroy anyone that opposes him. I dont know if we should laugh or cry as we watch this.
Posted by: chadp71 | August 20, 2011, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm
This isn’t the first time the Adios MO FO has been said by Perry. He said these works after the Department of Public Safety pulled him over and they were leaving the scene. The mic was on and he didn’t know it. Some words by a Gov ah, especially to law enforcement.
Posted by: Joe | August 21, 2011, 10:28 pm 10:28 pm