Critics largely gave Gov. Rick Perry a pass for hunting on a deer lease that once carried an ugly racist name. But one of his attack ads from 1990 is still making racially tinged waves.
Jay Root
Jay Root is an award-winning journalist who reported for the Tribune from 2011 to 2020. He covered the dramatic collapse of Gov. Rick Perry’s 2012 presidential campaign and went on to write an ebook about it called “Oops! A Diary from the 2012 Campaign Trail.” Root also broke the story that put the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton, on the path toward criminal indictment, co-wrote an exposé that brought an end to privately funded prosecutions in Travis County, and authored a series of watchdog articles that prompted a wave of firings and resignations at two major state agencies.
In 2017, Root co-directed “Beyond The Wall,” a film exploring border politics in the age of Trump, which won a national Edward R. Murrow award for best news documentary. Root’s latest film, “Border Hustle,” was released in early 2019 and reveals how desperate migrants have become cash cows on both sides of the border.
Previously, for a dozen years, Root was Austin bureau chief of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, where he chronicled the rise of then-Gov. George W. Bush, wrote about cartel violence in Mexico and covered Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. During a three-year stint at the Associated Press, Root was twice named AP Staff Reporter of the Year for his watchdog reporting, including a story that sparked felony charges against a sitting state representative.
Posted in
Health care
In Perry’s Texas, the Man Behind the Curtain
Behind every politician there are men and women working in the wings, who can make calls, fix problems, raise money, punish enemies. In Rick Perry’s world, one man stands above them all: Mike Toomey.
Posted inState Government
Front-runner No More, Perry Struggles for Spotlight in Latest Debate
Rick Perry didn’t blow it or commit any serious gaffes, but in his latest debate the Texas governor found himself in a position that seemed unimaginable even a few weeks ago: largely out of the spotlight and struggling for airtime.
Posted inState Government
Liveblog: The Dartmouth Debate
Everyone agrees: there’s a lot at stake tonight for Gov. Rick Perry. The Bloomberg/Washington Post debate may be his last chance to reverse his dragging momentum after past performances left the impression he lacked the policy chops to take on President Barack Obama. We’re liveblogging the action here.
Posted inDemographics
Multimedia: Parsing Perry’s Past on Race
Following allegations about a racial slur on land his family leased for hunting, Gov. Rick Perry’s critics are dissecting his history with race — from his early campaign ads to his defense of Confederate symbols.
Posted in
Demographics
Video: Perry Fields Questions at N.H. Town Hall
A little more than a week after his embarrassing debate performance, Rick Perry this weekend got back to doing what he does best — pressing the flesh with voters.
Posted inState Government
Perry, Bedeviled by Critics on Immigration, Tries a New Tack
Gov. Rick Perry generally has great political radar, but he walked straight into enemy fire on the issue of illegal immigration. He’s trying to walk out of it now, unveiling a more detailed, nuanced position to voters — and his critics.
Posted inState Government
Confident Perry Fires Up New Hampshire Crowd
Gov. Rick Perry displayed his trademark swagger on Friday despite sagging poll numbers, whipping up supporters at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire with promises to shake up Washington.
Posted inState Government
After Setbacks, Perry Finds Himself in a Tougher Race
Gov. Rick Perry’s meteoric rise to the top of the Republican field last month led many analysts to conclude that the Texas governor would waltz to his party’s presidential nomination. It’s looking more like a grind dance now.
Posted inState Government
Updated: Perry Loses Florida Straw Poll to Cain
Gov. Rick Perry suffered a big blow Saturday when Herman Cain came out on top in the Florida Straw Poll, a contest Perry had made a big priority.
