Back in May and before Rick Perry was considering a presidential run, a group of social conservative leaders approached the Lone Star governor. “One of our people wanted to take a look at him,” says Rapid City, S.D., furniture-store owner and conservative organizer Bob Fischer. “Perry became anxious to meet with us, the conservatives …
Rick Perry
‘Best Governor We’ve Ever Had’: Evangelical Leader Rick Scarborough Backs Perry
Last weekend, Rick Perry privately met some 300 conservative evangelical leaders at long-time supporter Jim Leininger’s home near Fredricksburg, Texas. And on Monday afternoon, reported-attendee and evangelical leader Rick …
Perry Compared Homosexuality to Alcoholism in 2008 Book
The origin of homosexuality has become something of a political litmus test for presidential candidates, almost akin to their stance on abortion. Candidates are now expected to explain whether or not they believe homosexuality is a hard-wired predisposition. It’s an important distinction, and how candidates broach the issue can really …
Rick Perry’s Complicated Relationship with Latinos
In San Antonio on June 23, Rick Perry addressed the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials’ annual meeting. He was optimistic, focused on Texas’ booming economy, and reminded the crowd – Republicans …
Rick Perry Was Against Social Security Before He Was For It
As widely discussed, Rick Perry wrote a book, published last November, in which he argued that the program is unconstitutional, a Ponzi scheme, and “a crumbling monument to the failure of the New Deal.” Now that the national eye has turned to the matter in light of his presidential run, well, this is happening:
[Perry’s] communications
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The Deep Aggie Roots Of Would-Be President Rick Perry
From his first “Howdy!” to the frequent thumbs-up gestures that punctuate his speeches, Rick Perry may seem over-the-top folksy to many who are watching him for the first time. But for those who share his cultural past, if not …
How Rick Perry Aggressively Pursued Federal Aid He Now Decries
In his presidential-campaign kickoff on Aug. 13, Texas Governor Rick Perry burnished his conservative credentials by attacking the idea of deficit stimulus spending. “Washington’s insatiable desire to spend our children’s …
Rick Perry’s Social Security Conversation
Rick Perry wants to have a conversation about federal entitlement programs. That conversation is, in effect, about how to end them. “I would suggest a legitimate conversation about [letting] the states keep their money and implement the programs,” he said of Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to Newsweek’s Andrew Romano last …
Rick Perry vs. Ben Bernanke
The first question posed by Rick Perry’s much-ballyhooed entry into the GOP presidential race was whether he would run to the center, targeting Mitt Romney and positioning himself for the general election, or whether he would stay in his Tea Party comfort-zone on the right wing. It’s an indicator of the success of Michele Bachmann’s …
Texan to the Core: Rick Perry’s Life and Career in Politics
Rick Perry announced his presidential bid on Saturday, TIME looks at the Lone Star Governor’s lively exploits on and off the campaign trail.
Four Things to Watch at Rick Perry’s Prayer Rally
We know that “The Response,” the all-day prayer gathering that Rick Perry is hosting with the American Family Association, is scheduled to take place on Saturday in Houston. But at this point, that’s about the only certainty …