Facing Criticism, Perry Steps Back on Gay Marriage, States' Rights

by Jay Root
July 28, 2011
18 Comments

Gov. Rick Perry, taking flak from social conservatives and a potential rival in the GOP presidential contest, took a step back from his laissez-faire approach to New York’s gay marriage law on Thursday.

In now-famous remarks in Aspen last week, Perry said he had no problem with New York passing a law legalizing same sex marriages.

“Our friends in New York, six weeks ago, passed a statute that said marriage can be between two people of the same sex,” Perry said. “Well you know what, that’s New York and that’s their business, and that’s fine with ...

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Comments (18)

July 28, 2011 @ 4:34 p.m.

David Moore via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Watch the good haired puppet dance! Dance, Rick, dance!
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July 28, 2011 @ 4:36 p.m.

Tom Erickson via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Another flip flop. He was a Democrat, now he's a Republican. He was a Methodist, now he's an evangelical. He wanted to secede, now he wants to be president. He wanted states' rights, now he wants constitutional amendments.
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July 28, 2011 @ 4:39 p.m.

David Huang via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Huh? Am I the only one having trouble understanding that line? Or is he beginning to sound like Sarah Palin.
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July 28, 2011 @ 4:42 p.m.

Karen Cummings via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Perry is a politician.
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July 28, 2011 @ 4:56 p.m.

Jay Young via Texas Tribune on Facebook

What a bunch of crap.
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July 28, 2011 @ 5:02 p.m.

Callandra Tyrol via Texas Tribune on Facebook

You were right the 1st time Perry. Don't backtrack. Be a man, grow a testicle, and stand by your words.
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July 28, 2011 @ 5:10 p.m.

Luis Vela Guevara via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Perry probably doesn't want those pesky voters who might support gay marriage rights to have much of a say either based on the quote. Poor Rooster stepped into this one with both feet.
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July 28, 2011 @ 5:20 p.m.

Sharon Holmes Lea via Texas Tribune on Facebook

All ya'll do is bitch about him, why don't you go and run for Governor or better yet President and then maybe we will see you dancing, flip floping and if your lucky, MAYBE he'll go to church of YOUR choice!! SHUT UP OR DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THINGS DIFFERENT!!!!
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July 28, 2011 @ 5:24 p.m.

tthomas48

Perry, we all know that "states rights" has always been code for "Southern States telling the rest of the States what to do".
July 28, 2011 @ 5:38 p.m.

Paul Underbrink via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Simple explanation: he's for the 10th amendment, except when he isn't.
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July 28, 2011 @ 5:44 p.m.

Nicholas Taylor via Texas Tribune on Facebook

And Republicans called John Kerry a waffler!
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July 28, 2011 @ 5:48 p.m.

Brandelyn Wiser via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Referring to states right for Same-Sex Marriage is their way of saying we have a bigoted law on the books and only the feds can make us take it away and we don't want that even though it is costing us MILLIONS in court fees, loss of revenue, and pr to deal with the poor people who just want their equality that we don't think they deserve because it's against the bible, like shellfish, polyester, women's rights, marriage not equating to slavery for women, etc.
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July 28, 2011 @ 6:05 p.m.

Bambi Clark via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Can you say "snake oil salesman" in cowboy boots, fancy suit, with good hair, no heart and very little brain matter.
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July 28, 2011 @ 6:15 p.m.

Jose R Fernandez via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Flipfloper
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July 28, 2011 @ 6:56 p.m.

Lance Lowry via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Perry has more gay issues than just marriage. Politico was onto something with their recent article on Perry's gay issue. I'm going to enjoy the national media tearing him a new one. The real Rick Perry is now coming out of the closet.
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July 28, 2011 @ 7:01 p.m.

Suzanne Hardie Lander via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Um... you're not keeping someone else from forcing marriage on you (what, like there are going to be shotgun gay marriages for everyone?) You're stopping someone *else* from marrying someone they love... like you can do without even thinking about it.
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July 29, 2011 @ 8:08 a.m.

Chris Thornton via Texas Tribune on Facebook

Texas already has made homosexual marriage illegal per our State Constitution. Let the states decide if they want gay marriage or not.
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July 29, 2011 @ 11:42 a.m.

Garrick Stephens via Texas Tribune on Facebook

I will put on my surprised face... Perry cannot hide his bigotry behind a veil of States Rights or any other argument... He is openly selling his hate and spew for votes... Not very "Christian" in my opinion...
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