Rick Perry: The Democrat Years
Gov. Rick Perry, a no-apologies conservative known for slashing government spending and opposing all tax increases, is about as Republican as you can get.
But that wasn’t always the case.
Perry spent his first six years in politics as a Democrat, in a somewhat forgotten history that is sure to be revived and scrutinized by Republican opponents if he decides to run for president.
A raging liberal he was not. Elected to represent a slice of rural West Texas in the state House of Representatives in 1984, Perry, a young rancher and cotton farmer, gained an early reputation as ...
Comments (15)
Luisa Newton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It was so much easier for Perry to dumb down than actually learn s/thing. Gore will be perceived as a wise man in years to come, Perry will be seen as a weak-minded cheerleader for a dead way of life
Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook
No, he pretty much kept Gore's policy while saying something else to the citizens of Texas. Gore is a hypocrite but he is smart by selling "carbon credits" that his company sells. Meanwhile 450,000 buck worth of electricity usage is not being enviromentally friendly.
Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Al Gore is an idiot. That will never change.
Karen Walker Grummer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
That's ok...we ALL have our DUMB years to get over! Perry did a great job moving past his... Gore, yah... not so good!
Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook
As much as I love to call him an idiot you must admit there is something very smart about the way he makes so much money off people willing to buy his crap.
Jack Suggs via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Karen, you're wrong.
Matthew Whitt via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yea I have to agree with Jack. Perry never got over being a Democrat.
Scott Walker via Texas Tribune on Facebook
A record of fiscal responsibility? Tearing a $9bn dollar hole in the budget doesn't seem like fiscal responsibility to me.
Teddy Wilson via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Rick Perry is nothing more than a political opportunists.
Mark Figart
"A raging liberal he was not." Elegantly understated.
J. E. Hollan
Actually, if you look at his history, Rick Perry has no particular scruples. He can become whatever he needs to become to win an election or get what he wants. You can look at a lot of areas, but let's just take abortion for an example. Do you suppose that Rick Perry favored abortion when he served as Texas statewide co-chairman of Al Gore's presidential campaign? Lots of us real social conservatives do. How about when he traveled about when he traveled about Texas campaigning for Walter Mondale and against Ronald Reagan? O.K. let us try to make the argument that he had a complete change of heart and became pro-life and switched to the Republican party. Oops, two and half years ago, believing it would help him get a vice-presidential nod, Rick Perry campaigned vigorously for the only pro-abortion Republican presidential candidate, Rudolph Guiliani. Is Rick pro-life or pro-choice? Appears he can be either depending on the circumstances. Pick any other subject and you will find the same with Rick Perry. He is like a chameleon, the lizard that can change its colors at will. You trust him if it suits you, but I believe I will pass.
Dale H Curry via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Thank God we got rid of that Crook from our ranks!
Panz critter
I am still a Democrat. Reading my postings you would be hard pressed to know that. I voted for Bill Clinton twice, Hillary Clinton-primary and Senate, Al Gore, Kerry, Jimmy Carter and the list goes on. I voted GOP against Obama. I will vote GOP against Obama at any given chance.
The day may come when I switch parties as I have been able to see the DNC for what it really is. I don't know if I was blinded by ideology or if they have changed so much and for the worse but I have certainly seen a side that embarrasses me that I ever supported such tripe.
I guess it's true we all need to grow up and Perry changing parties just goes to show he did grow up and faced reality about the Democrats as I have had to do over the past couple of years. Congrats to Perry and I hope you run for president. This country needs a larger than life person after this shrimp wimp of a man we've had.
Mary G
Reagan was a democrat first too.
J. E. Hollan
True that Reagan was a democrat once. If you will check his record, you will find that he signed six tax increases and that the federal debt tripled during the eight years of his administration. Sounds a lot like Rick Perry's record here in Texas. Hey, I am a real conservative and do not like phoney Republicans and refuse to make excuses for them.