2010: Rallying Cry

The Republican gubernatorial primary was on the minds of the crowd gathered on the South Steps of the Texas Capitol for the annual Texas Rally for Life on Saturday.

Introducing Gov. Rick Perry, state Sen. Dan Patrick of Houston alluded to U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison’s difficulty crafting a clear answer on the issue of abortion in the first primary debate (she's not in favor of overturning Roe v. Wade, but she supports the vast majority of restrictions on abortion). Of Perry, Patrick said, “He does not hesitate, he does not equivocate, to say that Roe v. Wade should be overturned.”

Perry did not reference either Hutchison or his other primary opponent, Debra Medina. Though he did pose a rhetorical question: “Why do legislators hide behind Roe v. Wade claiming it somehow protects babies? We know it doesn’t.”

Even in her absence, Medina took attention away from the governor. James “Patriot” Dillon (pictured), who ran against Perry as a write-in candidate during the 2006 race stood stage-right of Perry holding a sign that said “Debra Medina for Pro-Life Governor.” When state troopers surrounded him, Perry knocked them for “interrupting a person who’s simply trying to speak his mind.” Dillon, who described himself as “a lone wolf,” said more people would think like him “if they knew the truth.”