Rick Perry Doubles Down on ‘Lazy’ Ad; Slams Obama as a ‘Socialist’
EmailTwo days after releasing a television ad chastising President Obama for calling Americans “lazy,” Texas Gov. Rick Perry stuck to the claim in his TV spot despite having taken Obama’s comments out of context.
“Yeah it’s a fair ad absolutely,” Perry said on “The O’Reilly Factor” Friday evening. “This president’s traveled around the country making excuses for America, apologizing for America, saying that America is not an exemplary country, and then he gets on TV and talks about that Americans are lazy, that they’ve lost their ambition, that they’ve lost their imagination.”
Even after Bill O’Reilly played President Obama’s entire comments, which show the president was referencing the government and business sector not Americans, Perry still clung to his belief.
“He said we’ve been a little lazy,” Perry said. “I think he’s talking about Americans.”
“Do you really?” O’Reilly asked. “Is that what you took away from that?”
“Absolutely,” Perry said. “I think that’s exactly what he’s talking about. I think this is a man who really, if he believed that Americans were hardworking, that they were ready to ignite this economy, then we wouldn’t have the tax policy, wouldn’t have the regulatory policies in place that are killing jobs in this country.”
Perry did not hide his contempt for the president and his policies and directly labeled Obama a “socialist.”
“Absolutely,” Perry said. “I think Barack Obama is a socialist.”
“I think he cares for his country, don’t get me wrong about that, but I think he truly misunderstands what this country was based upon, the values that America was based upon, which was free enterprise and having the ability to risk your capital and having a chance to have a return on your investment,” Perry said. “When you talk about printing money and spending government money, and trying to spend it out, that conversation he had with Joe the Plumber, kind of redistribute the wealth – the best I can tell that’s socialism.”
In the opening week of his campaign, Perry suggested Obama might not bear passion for this country.
“I think you want a president who is passionate about America – that’s in love with America,” Perry said during a visit to the Iowa State Fair in August.
Later that evening, at a GOP event in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, a reporter asked Perry if he was suggesting the president does not love America, but Perry would not give a direct answer.
“You need to ask him,” Perry responded. “I’m saying: You’re a good reporter, go ask him.”
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Well, I have to agree with Governor Perry. When Obama said “we’ve gotten a bit lazy”, who else would he be talking about but Americans? When he said “we’ve lost our imaginations”, who else would he be talking about, if not Americans? When a President speaks, does he not speak for ALL of us? I don’t see how anyone could possibly think he meant anything else. He IS the leader of this country and when he uses “we”, that includes ALL of us unless he otherwise clarifies that by pointing to a specific person or group.
Posted by: Phedra | November 18, 2011, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
Maybe Perry is right. Where is Obama’s respect for the country? He goes home to Hawaii and doesn’t even wear a aloha shirt.
Posted by: pete | November 18, 2011, 9:46 pm 9:46 pm
Phedra: if the shoe fits . . . . . People who get offended CHOOSE to be offended.
Posted by: chuxworld | November 18, 2011, 9:47 pm 9:47 pm
Phedra, did you even bother reading, or listening to, President Obama’s full remarks? He was directly answering a question about foreign investment in the US, and saying that “we” have gotten a little lazy and started taking it for granted. The reference was to the government and the business community needing to make an effort to represent US investment as more attractive.
Posted by: ch | November 18, 2011, 9:49 pm 9:49 pm
Perry’s brain is blond.
Posted by: sameagain | November 18, 2011, 10:24 pm 10:24 pm
How is it that the nut case from Idaho goes to jail for firing shots, but the nut from texas is free take more shots?
Posted by: Guinness | November 18, 2011, 10:29 pm 10:29 pm
Desperation. Sad really.
Posted by: lexingtonlady | November 18, 2011, 10:47 pm 10:47 pm
There is a simple explanation for Perry’s outrageous claims: when you’re circling the drain, you start spinning faster and faster.
Posted by: RC | November 18, 2011, 10:48 pm 10:48 pm
Stick a fork in Perry…he’s done!
Posted by: Ed | November 18, 2011, 11:01 pm 11:01 pm
You posters are a bunch of blooming idiots. Obama was talking to American businessmen in Hawaii about the laziness of companies to secure foreign investments. Nothing to do with the character of the citizens of this country. When you start believing everything you hear come out of the mouths of morons, you become one yourself. Do a little investigating, it’s really not that hard. You might actually learn something.
Posted by: Red | November 18, 2011, 11:20 pm 11:20 pm
What a freakin’ moron! Let’s see? Texas or Canada?! CANADA PLEASE!!!!!!! And a note to Perry’s wife: People are being mean to your husband because he’s an absolute moron and an embarrassment to Americans. Nothing personal. Good job, Texas, you should be so proud for electing that amazingly brilliant man (sarcasm) to lead your State.
Posted by: GU | November 18, 2011, 11:22 pm 11:22 pm
Perry has change into a new character…He is now a buffoon
Posted by: michael | November 18, 2011, 11:23 pm 11:23 pm
Palin … Bachman … Perry. Larry … Curly … Moe.
Posted by: Carol S | November 18, 2011, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
Actually the 3 stooges were already in charge: Obama-Reid-Pelosi
Posted by: EPU | November 18, 2011, 11:33 pm 11:33 pm
EPU, you have absolutely no idea what you are talking about….
Posted by: RodneyT | November 18, 2011, 11:53 pm 11:53 pm
Don’t forget that the SINCE-PROVED-INNOCENT Cameron Todd Willingham was executed in TX after THIS governor refused to grant a stay or clemency.
Posted by: Demo | November 19, 2011, 12:03 am 12:03 am
A losing candidate squirming for the spotlight. Rick Perry, you will NEVER be the President. We will not elect ANOTHER puppet cut from the same wood as George Bush.
Posted by: dan | November 19, 2011, 1:00 am 1:00 am
Perry is obviously playing to the simple minded. Commonly known as the republican base.
Posted by: mythoughts57 | November 19, 2011, 1:18 am 1:18 am
After Ann Richards they started a 21 chromosome minimum for Texas governors.
Posted by: Dave | November 19, 2011, 2:47 am 2:47 am
wait wait, he blame Obama for calling Americans “lazy” ?
Wasn’t he and the rest of the major GOP candidates blaming the “99%” for being lazy? and wanting the government to take care of em?
get a clue…
Posted by: Fan | November 19, 2011, 3:36 am 3:36 am
What happened to Rick Perry? :(
Posted by: Mberwa | November 19, 2011, 4:30 am 4:30 am
Ricky Perry is wasting his time and money, he will not be elected President, we do not need another Bush nor an Idiot! He forgot it is the republicans that created the mess that we are in. I believe that he needs to take an English lesson, apparently, he does not understand our language very well, do they have their own language in Texas? President Obama was not referring to the American people as been lazy. I believe that he perhaps was referring to all the congressman that do nothing for their paycheck but yet get PAID. Why don’t they complain about the free healthcare and retirement plan that we provide them, not to mention, their expense account. Is it not on house!
Posted by: Elvira Ramirez | November 19, 2011, 6:40 am 6:40 am
Just hang on for one more year, then, finally, we will see this country begin to crawl out of this pit. And when it starts to move, it will pick up momentum. Now, that is only possible if Obama is replaced. He is not business or job friendly.
Posted by: angie | November 19, 2011, 6:51 am 6:51 am
Perry proves his stupidity by not understanding what Obama said and to whom he made the comments. Of course, this is just politics and truth has nothing to do with it.
Posted by: pksk531 | November 19, 2011, 8:53 am 8:53 am
Well, I have to agree with Governor Perry. When Obama said “we’ve gotten a bit lazy”, who else would he be talking about but Americans? Posted by: Phedra | November 18, 2011, 9:23 pm.
Listen to the actual interview where Obama said it and you will CLEARLY see that it was taken completely out of context. Perry is lying, plain and simple. He’s a liar. And he calls himself a Christian, which means of course that he is also a flaming hypocrite. He’s desperate, because he knows he has no chance to get the presidential nomination from the GOP. So he makes up outrageous lies, and the IDIOTS who follow him believe it. Without bothering to verify for themselves his statements. Republican politicians are amazing, in that they will lie like rugs all day long because they KNOW their base will never bother to take the time to check the facts for themselves. The Republican Party has become a pathetic joke, a pale and sad parody of what they used to be……………..
Posted by: Searambler | November 19, 2011, 9:00 am 9:00 am
Well there would be validity to your statement only you represent what is exactly wrong with this country. We always look to those with an opinion about the facts wrather than finding the facts ourselves: case and point: if you were to research and listen to the full sound bite, President Obama clearly states that GOVERNMENT has gotten TOO LAZY when it comes to trying to make our country appealing to businesses. That is why O’Reily was asking Perry if “that is what he took from what the President was saying”. Now what is sad about all of this is that the individuals supporting this are basically agreeing that they are okay with being manipulated: that they have no concern for fact. Well I’ll tell you, there is a flip side to that and I personally would wrather be in Canada than under the Presidency of some of these openly manipulative candidates such as Perry.
Posted by: micflo | November 19, 2011, 10:53 am 10:53 am
“I think this is a man who really, if he believed that Americans were hardworking, that they were ready to ignite this economy, then we wouldn’t have the tax policy, wouldn’t have the regulatory policies in place that are killing jobs in this country” Perry said.
Really, Rick? So you think that the president should have scrapped our tax policies and our regulatory policies? LOL!
What is really pathetic is that Perry probably believes that the president HAS THE POWER TO DO ALL OF THIS ON HIS OWN! This guy obviously has NO CLUE how the federal government works, or which branch of the government does what. None whatsoever. He is literally getting stupider and stupider each and every day. And anyone here defending this complete moron must be just as clueless as he is about how things get done in our government.
Posted by: Searambler | November 19, 2011, 11:12 am 11:12 am
The republicans always use the phrase “the future of our children”. What children are they talking about, the children that will go hungry when school lunch programs are cut, the children that will not have a chance for a decent education when Perry cuts the Education Department, the children whose parents get a divorce because they fight over paying the mortgage or putting food on the table.
Republican parents must go around all day saying “sweetie, we are really taking care of you, see how were fighting to cut the debt and deficit” Give me a break.
Posted by: tmferretti | November 19, 2011, 12:39 pm 12:39 pm
The republicans always use the phrase “the future of our children”. What children are they talking about….. Posted by: tmferretti | November 19, 2011, 12:39 pm.
As a result of their on-going and stepped-up assault on women’s reproductive rights and a woman’s right to choose, my money is on all the children being born in this country to poor people who cannot afford prenatal care or postnatal care (let alone raising a kid). Oh wait, Republicans don’t really give a crap about these children once they exit the womb. Never mind…..
Posted by: Searambler | November 19, 2011, 2:53 pm 2:53 pm
Searambler – The GOP is not pro-life. That is just a marketing phrase to them. The GOP is pro-birth (of GOP leaning babies). Once you are out of the womb you are on your own. Anything necessary for life after exiting the womb is the baby’s problem to solve.
Posted by: Elliot | November 19, 2011, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
Obama was asked about impediments to Chinese investments in the United States. “Well, this is an issue, generally. I think it’s important to remember that the United States is still the largest recipient of foreign investment in the world. And there are a lot of things that make foreign investors see the U.S. as a great opportunity — our stability, our openness, our innovative free market culture. But we’ve been a little bit lazy, I think, over the last couple of decades. We’ve kind of taken for granted — well, people will want to come here and we aren’t out there hungry, selling America and trying to attract new business into America. And so one of the things that my administration has done is set up something called SelectUSA that organizes all the government agencies to work with state and local governments where they’re seeking assistance from us, to go out there and make it easier for foreign investors to build a plant in the United States and put outstanding U.S. workers back to work in the United States of America.”
See, Obama didn’t call the American people lazy. That’s what Perry lied about. Perry presented it as the president slamming you and me and everyone else as being generically “lazy” over the last 20 years. Intelligent people can read his actual statement and comprehend it’s meaning and intent. Perry twisted that all to hell for his ad. Pathetically desperate ploy by a fading flavor-of-the-month……………..
Posted by: Searambler | November 19, 2011, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Shame on Perry for lying about Obama’s quote.
When I first heard this story I gave him the benefit of the doubt, as I thought an overzealous writer on Perry’s staff might have been to blame. But now that Perry is continuing to say the lie over and over, it is on him.
People won’t stand for this kind of dishonesty, his campaign will be finished. Good thing he so blatantly revealed his inner compass.
Posted by: Lydia | November 19, 2011, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm