Backstabbing Republican
Rick Perry is a Lying Scheming Rat
By Daniel Muniz

At first, Governor Rick Perry of Texas faced a serious challenge by the popular Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson. It has been known for years that the Senator was becoming increasingly uncomfortable in siding with certain conservative positions on Capitol Hill. Hutchinson is actually a social liberal but she maintains such a low profile of her personal beliefs that many Texas Republicans either don’t make a big deal about it or they actually think that she is a solid conservative.

To ward off a primary challenge, Rick Perry secured the support of key religious conservatives as well as other solidly aligned conservative organizations. Although it would have been a bloody primary fight, Perry’s credentials were enough to ward off Hutchinson from entering the race.

The same tactic worked on state comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

However, Strayhorn opted to run as an independent instead of facing Perry in a primary. She amassed a massive war chest and managed to accumulate a long list of endorsements from both parties. Strayhorn, like Perry, were once Democrats. The Democrats fielded Chris Bell, a lackluster former Congressman who could have actually come in last if it were not for wealthy donors who propped up his campaign at the last minute which made him a serious candidate.

But what added a wrinkle to this race, humorist and folk singer Kinky Friedman gathered enough signatures to qualify as an independent. And Kinky managed to raise a lot of money mostly because the national media fawned all over him which provided plenty of free positive publicity.

Although Rick Perry dodged the primary battle with Kay Bailey Hutchinson, the onslaught of two independents presented serious trouble. As a result, Perry’s campaign poured millions of dollars into television and radio ads depicting our border as a haven for drug smugglers and an entry point for terrorists. He also promised to install web cams and to request the Texas legislature to provide a hundred million dollars in additional funds for border security.

Overall, the Governor was tough on illegal immigration and he was even willing to criticize George W. Bush.

Although discontent with the Republican Party was rampant, Rick Perry said everything that conservatives wanted to hear in regards to immigration reform. Perry had already botched a number of fiscal issues during his time in office but his focus on cracking down on illegal aliens and improving border security was a winner and it resonated well enough to persuade dissatisfied Republicans to vote for him. In other words, Perry listened to his base.

So while a multitude of GOP office holders and candidates went down in flames across the country because of lack of support from frustrated Republicans, Rick Perry squeaked by with a victory. The win wasn’t a majority but it didn’t have to be. Over a century ago, politicians rigged the Texas constitution so than any win, regardless if it was below 50 percent, would send the victor into the governor’s mansion.

However, almost immediately after the winning his re-election, Governor Rick Perry changed his tune. Below are some of his newfound opinions on immigration:

Denying Automatic Citizenship
"Any of those types of legislation that create divisions are bad. We need to look at ways to be bringing people together rather than driving wedges between them."

Border Fence
"Now, strategic fencing in certain urban areas to direct the flow of traffic does make sense, but building a wall on the entire border is a preposterous idea," Perry said. "The only thing a wall would possibly accomplish is to help the ladder business."

Guest Worker Program
"There are a lot of people here who aren't interested in citizenship. They're interested in working."

Source: The San Antonio Express News

In essence, Governor Rick Perry lied and stabbed conservatives in the back.

He was in a tough election so he said everything that disenfranchised Republicans wanted to hear and he did it with plenty of bravado in his campaign rhetoric.

I vividly remember trying to persuade a few dissatisfied Republicans into rethinking their negative opinion of Perry. Even though the Governor did botch a few things during his term, the alternative of Chris Bell would be worse for Texas. In fact, I was a bit upset that so many Republicans had such a disapproving viewpoint of him that I really thought that it was the result of the media.

In retrospect, I now regret voting for him.

If I would have known what was really in the Governor’s heart, I would have voted for Kinky Friedman. Chris Bell was out of the question but Kinky’s Libertarian viewpoint was at least honest and straightforward. Yeah, Kinky is eccentric but I can respect someone who sticks to his beliefs and is honest about it.

All I can say about my voter’s remorse is that Rick Perry is a liar who will say anything to get elected. Too bad he wasn’t one of the numerous Republicans who lost.

Any opinions or views expressed herein belong solely to the author and does not represent any employer, organization, political party, governmental agency, or any other entity and do not necessarily reflect the views of the site owner or its participants.