Rick Perry Lists 3 Departments He’d Cut, But Adds One, Misses Another
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BLUFFTON, S.C. – Oops he did it again. When asked to name and provide the number of federal departments he’d eliminate as president, Texas Gov. Rick Perry managed to list three, but they weren’t the three agencies he consistently names on the stump or that he attempted to name when he committed his now infamous “oops” moment.
“Three right off the bat, you know, commerce, interior and energy are three that you think,” Perry said during a radio interview with Bill Edwards on WTKS Radio in Savannah.
Perry made no mention of the Department of Education, one of the agencies he consistently rails against on the campaign trail, until Edwards asked Perry later in the interview if he’d eliminate that department as well.
“They are blackmailing states with our own money, basically saying here is the national test, and here are the national standards you’re going to put into place,” Perry said. “One size fits all doesn’t work. Well maybe it does in gym socks but it sure doesn’t in how we educate our children.”
Asked if Perry meant to include the Department of Interior in his list, Mark Miner, spokesman for Perry, told reporters: “It shouldn’t be surprising the governor is talking about another federal agency that needs to be looked at and cut.”
During a November CNBC debate in Rochester, Mich., Perry committed the now famous gaffe where he forgot the third agency he’d eliminate as president.
“I will tell you, it is three agencies of government when I get there that are gone. Commerce, Education, and the — what’s the third one there? Let’s see,” Perry said in November.
Mitt Romney tossed a suggestion Perry’s way by saying “EPA,” but Perry knew it wasn’t the right one and continued to think of the answer.
“The third agency of government I would — I would do away with, Education, the…,” Perry said.
Another person on stage volunteered Commerce.
“Commerce and, let’s see,” Perry said trying to think of the third agency. “I can’t. The third one, I can’t. Sorry. Oops.”
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He is a moron.
Posted by: Texan | January 13, 2012, 9:20 am 9:20 am
Who ever told him to run has to be a frustrated liberal disguised as republican.
Posted by: Lizzie | January 13, 2012, 9:31 am 9:31 am
He’s confused. He use to support Al Gore. That pretty much says it all.
Posted by: newcountryman | January 13, 2012, 9:46 am 9:46 am
Not ready for prime time. Stay in Texas, Rick, and stop embarrassing yourself.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 13, 2012, 10:00 am 10:00 am
For me this is quite revealing. I will give the Governor the benefit that he is tired but when you are missing the basics of your own platform (something you have said over and over again) and others know your position better than you do, then that’s telling. It tells me that the Governor really hasn’t put any thought into what he plans to do and what he says about it. There certainly isn’t any passion about it. How would such “off the cuff” thinking affect other decisions. He should really consider getting out. He is only embarrassing himself.
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | January 13, 2012, 10:12 am 10:12 am
Well, I guess since Texas is so big, they actually DO need TWO Village IDIOTS! Move over GW!!
Posted by: demNme5 | January 13, 2012, 10:30 am 10:30 am
Ron Paul offered up the EPA, not Romney.
Posted by: Steve | January 13, 2012, 10:37 am 10:37 am
MyTakeOnThis61 10:12 AM); I pretty much agree with your analysis.
Posted by: newcountryman | January 13, 2012, 11:30 am 11:30 am
mytakeonthis61 wrote:”How would such “off the cuff” thinking affect other decisions.”.
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Guess he should get him a teleprompter and a Blackberry. Look how smart that makes 0Bama.
Posted by: Melon Collie | January 13, 2012, 12:10 pm 12:10 pm
“Guess he should get him a teleprompter and a Blackberry. Look how smart that makes 0Bama.”
Well… it surely helps!
Posted by: MyTakeOnThis61 | January 13, 2012, 1:17 pm 1:17 pm
Incorrect statement in the article. It was Paul that offered up EPA, not Romney.
Posted by: Jeff | January 13, 2012, 2:43 pm 2:43 pm
why he keep bring this up? so strange…
Posted by: digg reader | January 13, 2012, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm
Anyone who takes advice on education from someone who doesn’t believe in education has already failed education.
Posted by: mike dillinger | January 13, 2012, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
Seems to me he’s perfectly qualified to be President, a job where the monied interests will tell him what to say.
Posted by: LibertarianAtHeart | January 13, 2012, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
Guess he should get him a teleprompter and a Blackberry. Look how smart that makes 0Bama. Posted by: Melon Collie | January 13, 2012, 12:10 pm.
As usual, you have it exactly backwards. BECAUSE Obama is smart, he uses tools like a teleprompter and a crackberry. Smart people use the right tool for the job. Stupid people do not.
Posted by: A Cynic | January 13, 2012, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm
a cynic wrote:”As usual, you have it exactly backwards. BECAUSE Obama is smart, he uses tools like a teleprompter and a crackberry. Smart people use the right tool for the job. Stupid people do not.”
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You’re wrong as usual. No evidence whatsoever that 0Bama possesses anything resembling “smart”. 0Bama uses those tools because he has to. Empty suit otherwise. Its pretty obvious watching him. Without the teleprompter? Face palm moment. Teleprompter for talking to a 6th grade class? Smart? LOL
Posted by: Melon Collie | January 13, 2012, 4:42 pm 4:42 pm
You’re wrong as usual. No evidence whatsoever that 0Bama possesses anything resembling “smart”. Posted by: Melon Collie | January 13, 2012, 4:42 pm.
LOL! Yeah, that whole ‘Columbia University’ and ‘Harvard Law School’ thing is a piece of cake, any moron can go there and graduate near the top of their class. Ignoring the obvious preponderance of evidence that supports the fact that Obama is a very smart guy is a typical, stupid Republican thing to do. Y’all have become the most anti-factual and anti-intellectual Party in history. Congratulations for that. You must be so proud. But what else can we expect from a Party that thinks people like Newt or Herman Cain or Michelle Bachmann of even Caribou Barbie are presidential material………….
Posted by: A Cynic | January 13, 2012, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
a cynic wrote:”Yeah, that whole ‘Columbia University’ and ‘Harvard Law School’ thing is a piece of cake, any moron can go there and graduate near the top of their class.”
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Glad you’ve seen his grades. No one else has. But somehow people still fall for the lie that the guy did something besides smoke dope during his “time” in college.
Posted by: Melon Collie | January 13, 2012, 5:36 pm 5:36 pm
Rick Perry would forget the words to the theme song of the old Batman show.
Posted by: Aaron | January 13, 2012, 10:17 pm 10:17 pm
The article is correct, it was in fact Romney who offered up “EPA”.
Posted by: Jason Bourne | January 13, 2012, 11:29 pm 11:29 pm
Is there someone who still doubts that Perry is too dumb to be president? The guy can’t even manage to RUN for president without making a fool of himself every day. Palin at least had the smarts to take her millions and go home.
Posted by: Bernard Webb | January 15, 2012, 10:04 am 10:04 am
Gov Perry…..The people of Texas beg of you…..Come home to your rented mansion and stop disgracing the State and people of Texas.
Posted by: Bob Ramos | January 15, 2012, 3:28 pm 3:28 pm
Stop riding a dead horse and move on. People are sick and tired of the Liberal Media’s candidate bashing and most of it is aimed at Gov. Perry. It tells me that they fear Gov. Perry more than any other candidate!!
Posted by: Suzye M. | January 16, 2012, 1:28 am 1:28 am
The lights are on but no one is home.
Posted by: suzieQ | January 17, 2012, 6:33 pm 6:33 pm