Rick Perry Slams Mitt Romney, Talks Gun Control and Church on Sunday
EmailTexas Gov. Rick Perry came out swinging today in South Carolina, making his fiercest hit yet on former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and his record as a job creator.
“There is no one going to be sitting on that stage who has the record of job creation that I have,” Perry said at Rep. Tim Scott’s, R-S.C., town hall in Conway, S.C. Monday morning. “There’s going to be some that get up and say ‘Well I’ve created jobs,’ and that’s true. There’s one in particular who’s created jobs all over the world, but while he was the governor of Massachusetts, he didn’t create very many jobs.”
The two were set to appear at Sen. Jim DeMint’s Palmetto Freedom Forum in Columbia, S.C. Monday afternoon, but Perry, who overtook Romney’s position as front-runner in recent polls, cancelled his appearance to attend to the wildfires scorching thousands of acres across central Texas
“I’m leaving directly from here and going back to Texas. Our state has got wildfires that are running quite wild and zero containment right now, and the winds are supposed to pick up again. So just keep those folks in your prayers if you will as we go back and try to get people out of harm’s way,” Perry said. “Pray for rain as well.”
The Texas governor, who is the third candidate to participate in Scott’s presidential town hall series, answered questions from the crowd ranging from his commitment to pro-life issues to explaining where exactly he stands on gun control.
“I’m actually for gun control – use both hands,” Perry quipped.
Perry, whose book “Fed Up!” has drawn scrutiny in the past week, did not back off claims he made about social security in his 2010 book.
“I call it a Ponzi scheme. I call it a monstrous lie for our kids, and it’s true. Anyone who is running for the presidency of the United States and wants to keep status quo on entitlement is suspect. They don’t want to be honest with the American people, and we have to have that conversation.”
Perry stressed his commitment to balancing the federal budget, ridding the country of over taxation and over regulation, and downsizing the federal government, including reforming the Department of Education and Department of Energy.
“If you want to leave the education department there for a while to be a repository of best practices, I could get along with that, but the fact of the matter is they have not educated one child, just like the department of energy has not created one bit of energy.”
Perry, who hosted a day of prayer attended by 30,000 people in early August in Houston, Texas, vowed to incorporate his Christian faith in his work as president and shared a story of his wife, Anita, recently boasting about her husband’s commitment to his faith.
“She took the microphone and she said, ‘Let me share with you one thing. On Sunday morning, you won’t see my husband playing golf. He’ll be at church.’”
Many Republicans, including Perry, have criticized President Obama for spending time golfing on weekends.
A man described at the event as an 84-year-old veteran closed out the question and answer session by telling Perry he appreciated his candor, service and for distinguishing himself as different from other Texans who ascended to the presidency.
“Clearly you are a different kind of Texan. We had Lyndon Johnson and two Bushes, and we don’t need no more of them. We need you,” the veteran said.
The Texas governor flew back to Texas following the town hall to help emergency officials deal with the wildfires spreading across the state. Perry has cancelled his events in California for Tuesday but still plans on attending the Republican debate in Simi Valley, Calif. Wednesday evening.
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Perry’s “flock of Sunday sheep” seems always to forget that the distinguished
governor has several times urged that Texas secede from the Union if the
Texan’s “way” is thwarted. Seceding was considered Treason in the Civil War–
Andrew Johnson, the famous “impeachee” remained un-impeached largely
because he stronglly advocated, what Lincoln admitted, that secession was
Treason and should be regarded as such.
There has to be a better criterion for a President than going the route of seceding
unless one gets, say, maybe 20 states to follow, which of course gets us back
to slavery and the Civil War. Horrified at 74, James McC
Posted by: james mc cormick | September 5, 2011, 12:44 pm 12:44 pm
No big deal, Texans have been talking about secession since 1846.
The only things that bother me about Perry are his support for Nafta and the Trans-Texas Corridor and the evangelical belief that their religion should be used as a guide for everyone’s life and a basis for government.
I also disagree with his idea of gun control. Within 25 yards you shouldn’t need both hands on a handgun.
Posted by: oonogil | September 5, 2011, 1:51 pm 1:51 pm
Perry scares the Hell out of me with all his religious talk and Ponzi schemes rhetoric.
I once learned that repeated talk about and ongoing reliance on religion is a sign of mental illness.
Is America ready to elect a nutjob as its POTUS? Don’t think so!
Posted by: J. R. Alexander | September 5, 2011, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm
What an absolute joke. Given his university transcripts perry doesn’t have the business acumen to think his way out of a paper bag. Tell me how he is going to run this nation, because we AIN’T Texas!.
Posted by: Vicki | September 5, 2011, 2:19 pm 2:19 pm
Vicki, Obama has never released ANY of his university transcripts.
Posted by: Jason | September 5, 2011, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm
While Rick Perry is off in South Carolina, fooling more Republicans that he’s a “job creator” (LMAO!)…. his Rome burns:
“Texas Burning: 63 Fires Since Sunday; More Than 300 Houses Damaged or Destroyed”
Posted by: Georgie_Bushie | September 5, 2011, 3:27 pm 3:27 pm
If you like a guy and he’s in your party he can do no wrong.
If you don’t like someone or he’s in the other party, he can do no right.
Partisian thinking doesn’t require a lot of thought does it?
Posted by: oonogil | September 5, 2011, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
Georgie_Bushie
Everyone knows you can stop the fires. Texas is waiting for your call
Posted by: oonogil | September 5, 2011, 3:50 pm 3:50 pm
I am not crazy about Perry,,, but I just don’t think a group as poitically connected as Southern and Midwestern Evangelicals are would ever sit still for a Mormon President. and I think Rick and DeMint,,, soon with the help of the Rev. Huckabee will remind them over and over again,,, He, too is “Different” from us. Palin,, I don’t think she cares as long as she is center stage,,,, and it is’t Bachmann,,,, Even if she does finish Perry’s Book before years’ end.
The only hope Romney has is that he pick an one time Catholic converted Evangelical like Pawlenty as VP.
Posted by: Jane | September 5, 2011, 3:51 pm 3:51 pm
Some one here said ….”I once learned that repeated talk about and ongoing reliance on religion is a sign of mental illness. Is America ready to elect a nutjob as its POTUS? Don’t think so!”….
Well I would say that is true simply by the fact we tried that and look what it got us OBAMA!
Now do I believe one should practice what they preach you better believe it! Once again unlike Obama who says he is one thing but acts and dose just the opposite of what he says he is.
No I would rather have some one in the white house who says what they mean and means what they say and in that it rules out any liberal or Progressive as they will rule or vote one way forcing it on all of us as they exempt them self’s (take health care for example passed by all Dems and they excluded them self’s from it as proof). no I will support some one who has the record to prove they have done what they say they have over someone that hides there records or has to be forced into showing them or admitting to them. dose that mean I will vote Perry no but it sure as heck means I will not support Obama just as I did not the first time as any one who is not wiling to show there record and back there talk up with facts as I have said I will not vote for them and that said Obama is nothing one can support the rest we will see but there so far is only a few worth looking at and Romney is not one of them at all. best way to judge see who the Liberals and progressives are the most afraid of and attack the hardest as that is the person that is most likely telling the and acting as they will if elected destroying there goal of changing America from what it had been for over 200 years into what they want it to be and that has never worked in any other country as its nothing more then pipe dream!
Posted by: Marty Gilbertson | September 5, 2011, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
Yep. He is a Democrat with a Republican label.
Posted by: MikeB | September 5, 2011, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
Perry is a crook that the powers that be like as much as they do their other little crook Obama.
Posted by: RedistributionisAnotherwordforSTEAL | September 5, 2011, 4:21 pm 4:21 pm
Hey Rick…”all over the world” is bigger than the state of Mass. That’s WAY more jobs than you have created. How can anyone not vote for that ability? Romney ’12 GUARANTEED.
Posted by: Pete | September 5, 2011, 7:36 pm 7:36 pm
While his state burns up Righteous Rick is talking about guns. NIce.
Posted by: E | September 5, 2011, 9:15 pm 9:15 pm
I couldn’t bear having Perry as President for even one term. I can’t take him as governor of Texas and I don’t live there.
Posted by: Thomas | September 5, 2011, 9:16 pm 9:16 pm
Perry sounds exactly like an old recording of fmr MA Governor
Mike Dukakas. Best he stay home and put out his own fires.
Posted by: michael | September 5, 2011, 10:50 pm 10:50 pm
Some one here said ….”I once learned that repeated talk about and ongoing reliance on religion is a
sign of mental illness. Is America ready to elect a nutjob as its POTUS? Don’t think so!”….
Well I would say that is true simply by the fact we tried that and look what it got us OBAMA!
***********reliance on religion was the furthest on Obama agenda, when seeking to be elected,
THAT’s why he got elected.
Posted by: michael | September 5, 2011, 11:02 pm 11:02 pm
Mitt reeled off the 3 D’s for Obama. Let me give you the 3 C’s for Perry; Corrupt, Crooked & Career Politician. This guy has more baggage than Obama. It’s time the Tea Party put their money where their mouth is. I joined the movement to rid our government of the corrupt politicians that were putting their self interests over country. The Tea Party would be better off backing Obama than to back Perry. The only moral one to stand behind is Mitt Romney. Mitt Romney 2012!!!
Posted by: Chris Gagne | September 5, 2011, 11:41 pm 11:41 pm
His state has required the most FEMA money since 2000, yet he speaks of succession, the evil feds, and nanny government being bad if a citizen wants some Social Security they paid into all their working lives. This is dishonest people. He’s so all for those freedoms and then says people should not be allowed to vote for their senators. This is about as anti-American as it gets people. NO WAY could this freak win.
Posted by: Secondlook | September 6, 2011, 7:50 am 7:50 am
SecondLook.
Texas also pays in more to the federal government than any state with the possible exception of California. 25 million people in Texas pay a lot of income tax, fuel taxes and other excise taxes. Mass population for comparrison is about 6.5 million. Illinois just under 13 million.
Some states get back more than they pay in. Texas is one of those that pay in much more than they get back.
The US government would never allow Texas to secede but financially Texas would be better off. One of the reasons the feds would never allow it. They get too much money from Texas.
Posted by: oonogil | September 6, 2011, 10:00 am 10:00 am
“Gun control and Church’…huh? LOL….Well, that may work with the ‘shallow and dumbed down’ but not the important segment of voters he needs to win. He is way too extreme!
Posted by: CND FOX | September 7, 2011, 7:55 am 7:55 am
If Gov. Perry did not get 17 billion dollars from the Federal government he claims to dislike he would be just another so-so public official. He is another hypocrite that has a very low opinion of his subjects. He is a dispensationalist and prays for his “god” to destroy the world after he is safety in Heaven. Read Grace Halsell’s “Journey To Jerusalem” and “Prophecy And Politics” to learn more. Beware of Christian zionists and remember Shakesspeares quote:” …an empty vessel rings the loudest…”
Posted by: e.rebus | September 7, 2011, 9:28 am 9:28 am
Actually, no one can stop Texas from seceding. It is part of the agreement with the US government at the time of admission into the union. The only stipulation is that if Texas should secede, it must divide into five states.
It is Texas choice to secede. No one else chooses.
Posted by: Kathy Geno | September 8, 2011, 10:02 pm 10:02 pm
Well, in spite of all the talk about seccession and Texas wildfires, American conservatives are not ready for Massachusetts-style gun control, abortion rights, Mitt’s version of Obama-care, or a stab at “Obama-lite” in a Romney-Huntsman Rino ticket.
Posted by: Nanjing03 | September 9, 2011, 12:54 pm 12:54 pm
you can go to church every Sunday!……….You can stand up and wave that bible, and know every verse in it………….that does not make you a Christian…. And God Almighty knows it. and i believe in separation of Church and state………and respect for all people, all religions. God never made religion man did and he did a lousy job of it………………..Politics and religion do not go together.
I have been a Lutheran Believer for over 65 yrs and i never had a preacher stand up in the church, outside the church, at gatherings and talk politics…………..never!……………so, no i won’t vote for any bible preaching, bad mouthing others at the same time and have their hands in the pockets of lobbyists……….no they won’t get this Lutheran’s vote.
Posted by: s. mitchem | September 11, 2011, 9:22 pm 9:22 pm
Did he ever balance the TX budget?…or did he leave them in financial trouble?…
past performance is a reliable indicator of future behavior.
Posted by: don | September 15, 2011, 5:04 am 5:04 am