Rick Perry Says Mitt Romney’s Bain Record Could Be a ‘Fatal Flaw’
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Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry calls his rival Mitt Romney’s work at Bain Capital a potentially “fatal flaw” which could imperil Republican chances to win back the White House in November.
Perry, who is trailing badly in the polls, spent the week attacking Romney as a “vulture capitalist,” whose work at Bain allowed him to reap huge profits by dismantling companies and laying off workers.
Perry’s criticism has sparked a backlash by some prominent Republicans. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani denounced the attacks as “ignorant and dumb.” Fox News host Sean Hannity compared them to the rhetoric of Occupy Wall Street. And influential Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., warned that Perry’s charge “really gives the Democrats a lot of fodder.”
This morning, Perry told me he has no regrets.
“This is not something that we knew wasn’t coming up,” Perry said on “This Week.” “It’s better to be talking about it here in January in South Carolina than it is in September and October with a nominee. So if it’s a fatal flaw, then we need to talk about it now.”
Perry said he’s not ready to buy into Romney’s claim that he created more than 100,000 jobs while at Bain, telling me, “I think the question is out there and it’s a good conversation to have. We’re going to get tested by Obama and his group, so you better have all of these answers done early. No surprises in September and October.”
Perry, once considered a strong contender for the Republican nomination, placed a disappointing fifth in the Jan 3 Iowa caucuses. That night, he told supporters he was heading home to Texas to “reassess” his campaign. Many thought he would give up the fight, but Perry quickly returned to the trail. He has invested heavily in South Carolina, the first primary in the South, which takes place on Saturday.
When I asked him if he’d drop out if he fails to finish first or second in the Palmetto State, Perry told me: “We’ll make that decision on Saturday. Our intention is to win South Carolina and go forward from there. But to try to plan your campaign months in advance, I think is a little bit of a stretch.”
Watch my full interview here.
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I can not see what the big freaking deal is. Mitt Romney did nothing wrong at Bain as he was in charge and trying to turn it into a profit making business. Big deal with people were fired. It is no different that any other employer. Most states have a hire-fire policy. Anyone in charge has the authority to do what he did. It does hurt, but he’s no different that any other employer. He’s just in the spot lite and if Gov. Perry thinks he’s going to pick up point by crucifying Mitt Romney on this issue, he is saddly mistaken. Try debating the policies of the Obama Administration or how to turn the economy, not trying to crucify each other.
Posted by: Tom | January 15, 2012, 1:13 pm 1:13 pm
Why is Perry not questioning the present administration on their TRY in venture capitalist endeavors, and failed every time, Solyndra, GM etc. and they used taxpayers money instead of their own, how many people lost their jobs with the so-called bailouts? How many cardealerships got closed, how many lines of car models got canned, all in the name of streamlining. But if you are a private company and try to make a BANKRUPT company to become profitable and most of the people KEEP their jobs then thats just plain wrong.
Posted by: Lizzie | January 15, 2012, 1:30 pm 1:30 pm
Perry is right Romney is flawed and therefore unelectable against Obama because of bbbbain and not disclosing his tax returns. He does not offer hope and change. Ron Paul may be a better choice because he will win independents and fair number of dems as well as majority of the Repubs.
Posted by: girish | January 15, 2012, 1:54 pm 1:54 pm
this guy is pointing out others flaws…hmmmm
Posted by: michele | January 15, 2012, 2:07 pm 2:07 pm
The theory floating around (which certainly seems to be supported by Perry’s comments here) is that they are simply hammering away on Bain NOW and geting “all these answers done early..” so that come October or November, they can say, “Oh, that’s OLD news…we already resolved that.” In the hopes that the American people will be bored of it by then and accept the “already addressed” position.
No, Romney did nothing ILLEGAL, but a great many Americans DO consider it WRONG (or at least the wrong approach in general for our economy). The practices Bain engaged in are the ROOT of what is wrong with our economy; a few making millions/billions by ELIMINATING the well-paying jobs people rely on just to survive and closing down operations or outsourcing the jobs to cheaper labor markets.
This is how we lost our manufacturing infrastructure; hostile buyouts, mass layoffs, operations being shut down, equipment being sold off overseas to the highest bidder….and the venture capitalists who oversaw it all walking away with trillions by GUTTING/DESTROYING the productive business itself.
Many Americans understand that such business experience has NOTHING to do with what it takes to govern…quite the contrary. Government is NOT (and SHOULDN’T be) “business”. it has no profit motive. It is concerned with the general welfare and the interests of the nation as a whole, not the profit/dividends of shareholders. We do not want a government which approaches things the way Bain did.
Our government has faltered as increasing numbers of BUSINESSMEN have infiltrated it; lobbying, funding campaigns, running for office. THESE are the one’s Jefferson warned us about when he foretold the downfall of the Republic when people realized they could get money from the government, not the poor on welfare but those with lots of money who use it to influence the actions of government to their own benefit (tax cuts, subsidies, favorable legislation, de-regulation, etc..)
I don’t for a MOMENT think Perry, Gingrich and the others have any sincere problem with what Bain did (this is the model they tout, as a rule)…they are simply using it to hammer him, hypocritically, imo. But I think they are ALSO very intentionally trying to wear the issue out now so it doesn’t get any play LATER.
Posted by: Raven | January 15, 2012, 2:31 pm 2:31 pm
Rick Perry’s appallingly low IQ is his “fatal flaw”.
Posted by: ToddBruneau | January 15, 2012, 3:03 pm 3:03 pm
Rumor has it that if Romney is Pesident he is going to pardon Warren Jeffs. Jeffs endorse Romney. Also Rumor has it Lyle Jeffs contribute to Romney.
Posted by: Hal | January 15, 2012, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm
I’m one Republican that won’t ever vote for Romney. After his being coddled at birth, to being a spoiled rotten brat through childhood, then favored and pampered as an adult, this favored son of the 1% will never get praised as a true representative of the common American Voter.
Posted by: bob | January 15, 2012, 3:49 pm 3:49 pm
Unfortunately, the Georgey-Peorgie has it correct (for once) when he wrote that the Governor was once considered a strong contender. As a diehard supporter of his I feel like the time to re-think this entire race. I throwing my support to Newt. There is simply no way forward for the Perry campaign. Governor, please come back to Texas where you are appreciated and loved.
Posted by: avagreen | January 15, 2012, 3:58 pm 3:58 pm
HAHA!! Who wrote this article? Don’t quote Perry unless you want to either lose or fail at something.
Posted by: mothy | January 15, 2012, 6:29 pm 6:29 pm
LIZZIE | January 15, 2012, 1:30 PM, SAID:
“Why is Perry not questioning the present administration on their TRY in venture capitalist endeavors, and failed every time, Solyndra, GM etc. and they used taxpayers money instead of their own…”
===================================
LOL! ….. “GM”? Lizzie, as you’re right-whining about GM (wishing that it would have sunk), here’s the current news on that American company, which you are only “hoping” will collapse for the sake of your loyalty to your Grand Old (Whining) Party…
ARTICLE TITLE: “GM Likely to Regain Global Auto Sales Lead: Automaker on Pace to Sell About 9 million Vehicles”
(Associated Press, Jan. 14, 2012)
“DETROIT – General Motors Co. is on track to retake the title of world’s top-selling automaker, riding strong sales in the U.S. and China to beat Volkswagen and Toyota.”
LOL! …. Of course, for those so-called “patriotic” right-whiners (like Lizzie), this must be bad news. Sort of goes along with the typical Republican’s hopes that the economy crashes, for the sake of their party. You know their saying, “PARTY FIRST, COUNTRY SECOND!”
Posted by: Forrest Gump is DEFINITELY a Republican | January 16, 2012, 12:33 am 12:33 am