At CPAC, Humor Prevails Among Former Presidential Candidates
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(Image Credit: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
At the Conservative Political Action Conference in Washington, D.C., jokes were a common thread between the speeches of former GOP presidential candidates Michele Bachmann and Rick Perry.
Bachmann and Perry each received warm receptions at the conference, being held Thursday, Friday and Saturday in downtown D.C. Their speeches were short and addressed different policies of the Obama administration that they believe to be failures.
Perry’s speech focused on domestic issues, drawing heavily upon his identity as a “10th amendment conservative,” a reference to the 10th amendment to the Constitution, which stipulates states have powers not specifically allocated to the federal government. Bachmann focused her speech on the Obama administration’s foreign policy, specifically its policy with regards to Israel.
The two former presidential candidates overlapped in their respective introductions. Both Bachmann and Perry started off their remarks with jokes about their failed bids.
“Running for president of the United States is really one series of humiliations after another,” Bachmann told the crowd.
The Minnesota congresswoman went on to lay out the three lessons she’d learned on the trail - where John Wayne was born, when Elvis Presley was born, and to never forget the three things you’ve learned.
Rick Perry also embraced the idea that one must be able to joke about himself in his remarks.
“As many of you know, I had certain ideas about putting an end to this president’s failed administration, but the people of Iowa and New Hampshire had a different idea,” Perry said. ”But back at Texas A&M, my alma mater, we had a very unique way of addressing defeat: Aggies never lose, we just run out of time. So you can say that my presidential campaign ran out of time.”
Neither candidate made reference to the current GOP field. Rick Perry has endorsed Newt Gingrich, but he did not mention the former House speaker while speaking to audience. Michele Bachmann has not endorsed a current candidate yet.
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Yes we are still laughing about their failed bids also. With the exception on Hunstman not a living brain cell between them.
Posted by: Tim C | February 9, 2012, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm
How much will the citizens of Texas be charged for this trip, Rick?
Posted by: befair1265 | February 9, 2012, 5:45 pm 5:45 pm
I can’t say I appreciated ABC’s hidden jab at conservatives in the story title, nor the misspelling of “Michele.” Look, we all know the network hates the GOP but please, PLEASE proofread your scripts. How do people with such poor grammar skills make it to this level of journalism?
Posted by: K.D. | February 9, 2012, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
Bachmann should know a good joke. She is one.
Posted by: Jim Bob jr. | February 9, 2012, 6:55 pm 6:55 pm
Wow, two individuals who couldn’t even win a nomination for the presidency now talking about Obama as a failed president. Bachmann and Rick “Oops” Perry are a joke.
Posted by: NoFlyZone2 | February 9, 2012, 7:09 pm 7:09 pm
NoFlyZone2 – Sounds like you’re referring to Hillary “couldn’t even win a nomination for the presidency and now talking about Obama as a failed president.” – Correct? LOL
BTW – I REALLY wish I would have voted for her instead of this joker …
Posted by: Just Saying | February 9, 2012, 8:04 pm 8:04 pm
I can’t remember enjoying a Republican campaign as much as this one. The candidates are a laugh a minute, so funny. But, who should really be laughing? Obama and the Democrats. The Republican clowns don’t have the chance of a snowball in h—! Still laughing.
Posted by: Larry Cosgrove | February 9, 2012, 8:09 pm 8:09 pm
CPAC should be a conference on how to fix the economy with the president’s help rather than repeated chop-busting the president. Rick Perry, the Texas streaking turkey who flamed out, crashed and burned repeatedly should be back in Texas paying off his debt to the Texans for not being on the job and spending tax money wastefully. All the other flame-outs should be paying back their squandered money chasing their fairy tale. Bachmann and Perry both have said they would run again for their old jobs. They weren’t doing their jobs when they were riding the merry-go-round, so they should both leave the political arena for others. No one likes burnt toast!
Posted by: Rudy Gonzales | February 9, 2012, 11:17 pm 11:17 pm
Most people in this country are moderate. I am voting for Romney. I trust his integrity and economic ability. He knows how to help encourage business growth and prosperity. I hear attacks on his integrity, with no fact to back it up. He has lived a pretty clean life and I have been watching for many years. He understands the economy and how to fix the mess we are in. I notice that a lot of people who blog would never hire a rich person, they prefer an inexperienced person who has never even run a lemonade stand to fix this huge economy. That person has a lot of audacity to even run. According to the stats, we are now over 15 trillion in dept and borrowing over 10 million a day. Don’t they understand that when the well runs dry there will be no one to bail us out. Greece is just a small microcosm of what is in store for us. I checked the government’s own web site and found that Bush increased spending 3,478 trillion in 8 years. In Obama’s 4 years, spending increased a whopping 5.993 trillion and he did not have to contend with 911 or Katrina. We are still over 8 percent unemployed and that is probably inaccurate because so many people have quit looking and are not part of the record.
Posted by: Mrs D | February 10, 2012, 12:44 am 12:44 am
All three were rejected by their party. By definition, except possibly Huntsman, all three are losers.
Posted by: Bob Ramos | February 10, 2012, 4:32 am 4:32 am
they are laughing all the way to the bank…..they never really cared about America
Posted by: mjbrin | February 10, 2012, 5:54 am 5:54 am