E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSSBOSTON -- In what one of the event hosts jokingly called "campaigning in enemy territory," a jocular Rick Perry took the stage in Mitt Romney's home state of Massachusetts last night with plenty of quips and pushed his Social Security position. The Texas governor also sustained attacks on Romney and President Obama, specifically on his trip to Columbus, Ohio, yesterday. He even had a compliment for former Democratic governor of Texas, Ann Richards.
At an awards dinner sponsored by a think tank dedicated to rewarding government innovation, Perry offered an aggressive post-debate rebuttal to Romney on Social Security.
"When it comes to Social Security, every Republican candidate knows that the current system is unsustainable with an unfunded liability and trillions of dollars,” Perry said to a packed ballroom. “Other candidates in this race use words like fraud and compared it to a criminal enterprise. And under the media spotlight, they change their tune and they start sounding like liberals.”
This comes after Romney criticized Perry on his Social Security stance at Monday’s GOP debate. Perry has called the retirement scheme a "Ponzi scheme," but last night dialed back his earlier statements questioning it constitutionality.
Perry kept digging at Romney throughout his appearance here.
"Republican primary voters want candidates, who not only campaign like conservatives, but they also govern that way too," he said. "I know I can be hard on Massachusetts from time to time, especially Massachusetts politicians.
Perry also attacked Obama's jobs plan, calling it too expensive.
"There ought to be a 12-step program in Washington, D.C.,” he said. “First, admit you are powerless over your spending addiction and that your budget has become unmanageable.”
In typical fashion, the Texas governor called for less federal involvement in issues he believes should be handled by the states, or "50 laboratories of innovation."
"Not every good idea is implemented by Washington, D.C.," Perry said. "No political party has a monopoly on good ideas."
Leave a Comment:
And then Romney punches Perry...
They both poke Bachmann...
Newt kicks Santorum...
The wheels on the crazy bus go round and round... round & round...
What else is new?
Perry has called the retirement scheme a "Ponzi scheme," and the Jobs plan too expensive???
Well, well, Perry might want to explain how expensive the stimulus was which brought jobs to Texas.
Yea, I question that too.
For the most part, how is Obama's job plan, creating un-sustainable jobs that others in the future will have to pay for ..... not a Ponzi also?
I'm sure Perry will be able to explain how expensive, how many jobs Obama's moratorium has cost Texas.
He will be able to tell him how much further ahead Texas would be with out it.
Beverly in Chicago
Of all the States that took stimulus money, and most did, Perry took more than his share. He balanced the State budget with it, we had a $30 Billion deficit.
Perry in Action: When running for re-election for Governor he swore he would not touch the Obama Stimulus money. He did!
On 18 seperate occasions he was asked if he was going to run for POTUS, 18 seperate times he swore he was not. Even to declare why would he quit the best job in the world to be president, that would be a step down. He IS.
He was a democrat, then a republican, now a Tea Partier
I would not even buy a car from a guy that cannot keep from telling lies like this guy.
Perry is hardly the one to say an opponent sounds like a liberal. He's the one who was a Democrat until he needed to run for office in the Republican primary and he tried to elect Al Gore.
Perry vs Obama in 2012 = President Obama in 2013
Romney vs Obama in 2012 = President Romney in 2013
Riiight, because all those Southerners will rush out to vote for Romney.
If Perry gets the nom, Romney will pull a Crist and attempt an Independent bid. It's his TURN damnit, and he will not be denied.
Obama will handily beat Perry toe to toe. I'm not sure he could beat Romney, it'd be close. Mostly because the Repubs would hold their nose and vote for Romney. Anything to make Obama a one termer. But, the best part as a Dem,...there is NO WAY the Teanuts will give Romney the nomination. It simply isn't going to happen.
Clara,
Did you forget about the Super PAC that the DNC is
funding for a third Party candidate if Romney wins the nomination?
Totally forgot about that, Dennis. Sorry, my bad!
OBAMA can only hold 2 terms as president....REMEMBER ???
I just want to know what the compliment to Ann Richards was. She was the best Governor Texas has had in my lifetime. Nobody messed with Bouffant Betty, she would have kicked their ass!
Otherwise after you hear my illustrious Governor spew his lies you better take a shower otherwise like Bachmann declares you could become mentally retarded.
Ann Richards????? I am glad I was in the military during that time and didn't have to deal with those ramifications of her Governorship. My mother is a Democrat and she said Richards was one of the worst in her lifetime. I think she has been around quite a bit longer than you.
I'll leave that alone because the woman is dead.
Latest Polling - CALIFORNIA . Perry 45%, Paul 18%, Romney 16%, Bachmann 14%, Gingrich7% MARYLAND. Romney 40%, Perry 27%, Paul 15%, Gingrich 6%, Bachmann 5%, Johnson 3%, Huntsmann 2%, Cain 1%, Santorum 1%. GEORGIA. Perry 31%, Cain 22%, Gingrich 18%, Paul 14%, Romney9%, Bachmann6%. IOWA Bachmann23%, Paul 18%, Romney 16%, Perry 14%, Santorum 12%, Mccotter 4%, Gingrich 3%, Huntsmann 1%. SOUTH CAROLINA Perry 64%, Romney 15%, Gingrich 11%, Bachmann 10% NEW HAMPSHIRE Romney 43%, Perry 24%, Bachmann 12%, Paul 11%, Cain 4%, Gingrich 3%, Santorum 3% PENNSYLVANIA Perry 40%, Cain 17%, Bachmann 16%, Romney 15%, Paul 6%, Santorum 6% ARIZONA Perry 24%, Romney 23%, Cain 22%, Bachmann 16%, Paul 15%.
Why are we bothering to read about Perry again?
Oh, I know , I know! Because every word that slides out of Elmer Gantry's mouth is just so, so..uplifting and enquiring minds want to know! ;-)
Let's take a look at that Texas "laboratory of innovation". That lab is about money, money, money. How do we make money?
Well, we can kill those nasty regulations that reduce pollution. Well, we can cut back on education. Well, we can complain about federal involvement in our lab, but balance our budget with federal money.
Does this BS never stop?
This is what we are up against...at one time Perry was in total denial he ever did such a thing now they refer to it as a positive.
I fear greatly for the future of this country and its people. Bad economic times can yield some very strange decisions - such as the possibility of putting another poorly educated, special interest luvin' Governor of Texas in the White House.
We currently have a president who is hated and ridiculed by almost half the country. They no longer listen to anything he says. Yet it is seldom mentioned his predecessor left with far, far worse ratings. If i was Obama I would have told the whole lot of you to scr*w yourselves long ago. He has played far too nice IMO.
And we have a population that is actually dumb enough to solely blame government for our miseries. They seem to be under the impression the federal budget represents the economy. Ignoring that American big business has truly prospered in these most difficult times for the average worker. Such thinking is completely ridiculous when you consider the federal government hires nothing but public workers. Nor does it move jobs overseas. If you cannot spread the blame around I won't listen to a word you say because it is your myopia that is truly killing this country.
So what do you liberals suggest we do? Maybe elect barney Frank president? That way we can get the first unqualified gay president thingy out of the way!
Perry needs to back home and take care of his own state. Last thing this country needs is another Tx bull-horn.
"Scary Perry" will hit "Romulian Romney" with his bible, and spew out more Radical Religious Right views brewed by the "Tea Beggers." These two "Clowns Of The Carnival" are manipulative, corrupt, weak minded, economically evil, poltically puking, and socially sadistic to those who cannot defend themselves in their rich only economy. These two GOP/RNC Clowns come riding in on their Elephants that are as incompetent as they are. That is fact!
MORE name calling , The same old fault finding ,
Zero solutions , ZERO facts , ZERO
WHY don't all you brilliant people put your hat in the ring , and lets see where you stand in this line of candidates ,
AT least Alvin Green had the guts to put his hat in the ring ,
COME ON get in there
Perry is very lost spiritally. When all the GOP does is lie, hate and spout drivel that is unbelievable it is obviously that none of them ask what would Jesus do. They have republican religion where the phony pastors lie about liberals, lie about Oprah Winfrey, lie about President Obama and do nothing but spread hate. How can these phony preachers consider themselves doing God's work. They are doing the job of the Devil and it is ugly and wicked.