Rick Perry No Stranger to Controversial Views

by Jay Root
June 28, 2011
13 Comments

Gov. Rick Perry was the first to admit that his views on a host of hot-button political issues — from letting states legalize marijuana and same-sex marriage to describing Social Security as a “Ponzi scheme” — could cause him heartburn in a race for the White House.

On the day he was re-elected to an unprecedented third four-year term as Texas governor, Perry said the string of controversial ideas in his Washington-bashing book, Fed Up!, would make him a downright unattractive presidential contender.

“The best concrete evidence that I’m really not running for president is this book,” Perry said in early ...

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Comments (13)

June 28, 2011 @ 8:54 a.m.

Bologna Vest

Grammar Police Warning: One *pores* over an elected official's record in office; one *pours* syrup over one's pancakes.
June 28, 2011 @ 8:56 a.m.

Bologna Vest

And a warning to myself... that previous warning would actually be the purview of the diction police rather than the grammar police.
June 28, 2011 @ 9:18 a.m.

meanrachel

The notion that Rick Perry wasn't running for President on Election Day 2010 is a joke. How were you able to write that sentence with straight face, Jay?

An election night party held at an exotic game ranch during which he announced in his victory speech "Texas [has] kinda' got a leg up on the rest of the country, gentlemen" doesn't exactly scream "keeping it local."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rachel-farris/ready-or-not-here-comes-r_b_778062.html
June 28, 2011 @ 10:06 a.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Social Security is not a ponzi scheme.
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June 28, 2011 @ 10:07 a.m.

Joe Rodgers via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Perry is such a d*ckhead
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June 28, 2011 @ 10:08 a.m.

David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook

he's just worried that the fed gov't will say banning gay marriage is a violation of the us const. And he'll be screwed.
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June 28, 2011 @ 10:14 a.m.

Bob Brown via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Turn around is fair play he's been giving me heartburn for years now.
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June 28, 2011 @ 10:54 a.m.

Jose B. Gonzalez via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Hmmmm - maybe Perry and I do see eye to eye on one thing... If you don't like citizens packing guns - DON'T MOVE TO TEXAS...
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June 28, 2011 @ 11:12 a.m.

Michael Cosper via Texas Tribune on Facebook

It is the same policy regarding gay marriage that Obama advocates.
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June 28, 2011 @ 11:28 a.m.

Steven P. Anderson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

What if I already live here (for 56 years)?
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June 28, 2011 @ 11:34 a.m.

Mickey Meader via Texas Tribune on Facebook

@ Karen -- Round about it is. 20ish year olds will never draw SS.
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June 28, 2011 @ 11:34 a.m.

Aldo Merino via Texas Tribune on Facebook

That comparison is fairly telling:

The two strongest states rights he can conjure up are ones with strong connotations of death and violence for Texas, and ones of medicine/healing and love for California.

Sounds about about right and largely in line with the respective legislature's non-economic priorities.
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June 28, 2011 @ 12:53 p.m.

Kyle Woods via Texas Tribune on Facebook

heading west...
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