Perry on Obama: How “smart” do you have to be to let the economy get this bad?
posted at 6:12 pm on August 30, 2011 by Allahpundit
From this afternoon’s Hannity radio show, the inevitable comeback to the dumb “Is Perry dumb?” meme, echoing the same point made by the boss emeritus on Fox. What makes this reply so effective, of course, isn’t merely that it puts O on the defensive about his greatest vulnerability; it’s that it plays into a broader public contempt for all things D.C. Have a look at this Gallup survey published yesterday. When asked whether they viewed 25 different industries positively or negatively, respondents rated the federal government dead last at just 17 percent favorable. That’s lower than banking and — gasp — the legal field, and not just a tiny bit lower, either. The split on banking was 30/47 and on the legal field it was 29/45. For the federal government, it was … 17/63. Other polls make clear that it’s public disgust with Congress that’s driving that number much more so than disapproval of The One, but I don’t think anyone inside the Beltway is spared at this point from the populist perception that these people don’t know what they’re doing. Which, needless to say, is good news for a guy like Perry who’s framing himself as an anti-Washington southern populist. Whatever his eventual campaign slogan ends up being, the subtextual slogan for him and every other Republican will be, “Vote GOP. At this point, what do you have to lose?” So much for the “dumb” meme.
If you’re in a hurry and can’t listen to it all, skip to the very beginning of the second clip to hear him respond to the Daily Caller’s piece today about his letter to Hillary in 1993 commending her for her efforts on HillaryCare. His defense, basically, is that he sent that early in the process, before the law fully took shape and he realized how horrible it was. And in fairness, if you read it, it does sound more like he’s lobbying her on behalf of a core constituency (he was state agricultural commissioner at the time) rather than dashing off a fan letter about how super keen the new health-care plan would be. He’s going to get hit for it anyway at the debates, but it’ll have to come from Bachmann rather than Romney given Mitt’s much deeper exposure on health-care reform. And if Bachmann starts throwing punches on health care, it’ll be bizarre (policy-wise, not strategically) if she ends up focusing on Perry rather than the RomneyCare elephant in the room.
Blowback
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Red, red, red meat, Texas style!
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:14 PM
How come Rick Skerry never does interviews?
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:14 PM
Thanks for your fairness and honesty about this issue, AP. Hopefully that will put it to bed. I doubt it though.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:15 PM
Perry is demonstrating that he can at least handle the media attacks. That’s a plus in my book.
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:16 PM
Good point!..:)
Dire Straits on August 30, 2011 at 6:17 PM
Truisms ……….
Obama is not smart.
The MSM lies all the time.
Combined the two are quite menacing.
fogw on August 30, 2011 at 6:18 PM
OMG that was a horrible interview, therefore Perry should get out the race because this isn’t a real interview or something like that/
Knucklehead on August 30, 2011 at 6:18 PM
Or, as theologian R. C. Sproul has commented regarding folks like these, they are educated beyond their intelligence.
oldleprechaun on August 30, 2011 at 6:18 PM
How’s this for Lichtman’s #9?
When you look up “charisma” Perry’s picture pops up in the dictionary/thesaurus, and gives the left and the elitist right he hiebee/jeebies.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:18 PM
I heard this interview in the car today. I tuned in after it had started. Liked what the guy was saying, he had a southern accent, so I thought it was a southern Congressman until Hannity said “Gov. Perry.” That struck me because he DID NOT sound at all like GWB, though he has in the past to me. I thought that was interesting. I listened intently, as I’ll be watching the upcoming debate intently. Perry did a good job here, admittedly with a friendly interviewer. The part Allah points out here about the “smart” people versus those “with wisdom” was just outstanding. Perry was not being anti-intellectual, he poured on praise for their outstanding credentials and intelligence, but just said that Obama has no wise men around him, no one who has ever put ideas into action. I was really pleased with the tone and substance he delivered.
Rational Thought on August 30, 2011 at 6:18 PM
Palin is better at it IMO, but he’s not bad.
UltimateBob on August 30, 2011 at 6:18 PM
his response here was ok, it can pass in the debates as well
Zing!
more please
cmsinaz on August 30, 2011 at 6:19 PM
AP, your write-ups are classics. This phase, until election, is made for you. Don’t let the turkeys bring you down, not one mm.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:20 PM
How come Rick Skerry never does interviews?
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:14 PM
You ever read the homegrown editorials of newspapers in Houston, Dallas, Austin and San Antonio? Our journalists are as left as any in the business. The Houston Comical reminded us every day that he would not sit before their gilded editorial board prior to the last election and he cruised past their darling Bill White. It was hilarious.
DanMan on August 30, 2011 at 6:20 PM
I think Perry could really get under Obama’s skin in a debate. I, for one, would pay good money to see someone, anyone, get tough with Obama and take the gloves off. Obama would really not react well in that situation.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:21 PM
Palin has strengths – especially in a certain populist setting (think Iowa State Fair).
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Perry, in the debates, which he detests, w/b smart, if attacked by his side, to deflect and immediately attack Obama, no matter what. R. Reagan’s ghost will float over his head and will smile.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Smack.Down. Soetoro better start wearing his bike helmet full time.
BHO Jonestown on August 30, 2011 at 6:22 PM
Oh yes, I lived in Dallas for 11 years. I know too well how biased the Texas media is.
Pro tip: when I use “Rick Skerry” with a comment, I am being facetious. I am a supporter.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:23 PM
ditto….
he’ll call him Rick instead of governor, be as snide and arrogant as ever…
cmsinaz on August 30, 2011 at 6:23 PM
Not yet. His explanation of the 1993 letter sounded kind of spluttery. I was around in 1993, and I remember that most non-liberals were aware that whatever HRC’s “task force” came up with would be a load of crap.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:23 PM
I’m surprised at you, Allahpundit, for not using this post to mention several names, and an organization, so that by listing them together (as I often do,) you’ll imply that there is a direct linkage between Perry and these men and groups, without any proof.
/sheryl mode off
massrighty on August 30, 2011 at 6:23 PM
or he’ll call her Sarah instead of governor….
who knows….
cmsinaz on August 30, 2011 at 6:23 PM
Um, just how smart can One be with a Treasury Sec who didn’t file taxes and a Attorney General who kidnapped a kid?
Limerick on August 30, 2011 at 6:24 PM
Oh good lord!..Keep waiting for the Katie Couric moment..:)
Dire Straits on August 30, 2011 at 6:25 PM
I wasn’t impressed with his interview on Hannity.
However, he got some good soundbytes in. He sound calm and unthreatening. And that appeals to the squishy voters. He also said there is no feud between he and the Bushes.
He could beat O. I think Perry is a RINO-CON but hey he’s better than the DOTUS.
PappyD61 on August 30, 2011 at 6:25 PM
If intelligence is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to put it in a fruit salad….
TBinSTL on August 30, 2011 at 6:25 PM
The interview didn’t start very well. Perry has been on local radio many times and sounded much better. Though when he has been on the air before, there weren’t as many subjects and the tone was more informal than today.
cozmo on August 30, 2011 at 6:25 PM
BHO’s middle finger will be numb after stabbing it around in the air all night.
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:25 PM
Awesome.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:26 PM
That whole thing was funny.
cozmo on August 30, 2011 at 6:27 PM
What are you talking about?
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:27 PM
You keep thinking Perry will have a Katie Couric moment..Good luck in your quest!..:)
Dire Straits on August 30, 2011 at 6:28 PM
It was so-so. I caught it on the radio on the drive home.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:28 PM
Ouch! That must hurt…. :)
TheRightMan on August 30, 2011 at 6:28 PM
Too bad she has trouble putting a coherent sentence together on the fly.
rickyricardo on August 30, 2011 at 6:28 PM
No matter which Rep gets the nod, Barry and the crew will sign on to three debates and walk out after one. There are just too many zingers to thump his whittle-ego with.
Limerick on August 30, 2011 at 6:29 PM
He did fine.
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:29 PM
No, that won’t happen, because no mater what he says, you’ll think it’s teh awesome!!!!! :)
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:29 PM
No simply “spluttering” nonsense over a letter written in 1993, before anyone knew what the hell Hillary was up to in all those secret meetings she had.
Knucklehead on August 30, 2011 at 6:30 PM
At this rate, pretty soon we will be calling Perry – “Teflon Rick” – as all the attacks from the media/Dems/RINOs just roll off him :).
TheRightMan on August 30, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Give me a break. Everyone knew that the Clinton administration was trying to get single-payer through the back door.
Perry’s not that great in that department, either.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:31 PM
So far.
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:31 PM
yup
:)
cmsinaz on August 30, 2011 at 6:32 PM
If he gets the nom, he will have to sit for interviews with the networks. No doubt about it. I just hope, I mean I really, really hope, that when he gets a snotty gotcha question from a Katie Couric that he smiles charmingly and says something like, “Katie, I know you’re working for President Obama and the democrats. You always have been. So there isn’t much point in me playing your gotcha games. You want Obama to win this election. Fine. We’ve established that. Now do you have any questions for me related to how I’ll be leading the country after January 2013?”
For the life of me, I just will never understand why Republicans don’t challenge the media, again, in a charming way, and just kind of chuckle and say, “Well that question is right out of the democrat playbook. You’re not really interviewing me so much as you’re campaigning for Obama. That’s fine, but let’s just be up front about it.”
They could even add: “And I’d like a little credit for being here with you, while President Obama would never sit down with your counterpart on the right…Rush Limbaugh, for example, or Laura Ingraham. That’s because I am confident that I have the better ideas, so I’m willing to sit for an interview with an Obama partisan masquerading as a journalist. The people will hear my ideas and they’ll like them.”
Oh, and for extra fun, when someone tells him that he shouldn’t pick fights with people who buy ink by the barrel, he can say that these days they’re buying it by the quart, and they’re buying it from Mexico!
Man, media heads would explode. But it would be effective.
Rational Thought on August 30, 2011 at 6:32 PM
There is some truth in that. Perry has weathered the liberal media for a few decades now. He knows they do not have his best interests at heart and he knows they are unfair. This is why he refuses to do carpet-bombing of interviews and it is a smart tactic.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:32 PM
I agree. Go after them, but be charming about it and do it with a smile. Their heads would implode.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:33 PM
Which would go straight to the cutting-room floor.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:34 PM
So the AG Commissioner in a huge ag state was wrong to lobby on behalf of agricultural interests?
Stayright on August 30, 2011 at 6:35 PM
No Perry is just a candidate..:)
Dire Straits on August 30, 2011 at 6:35 PM
Wait a sec. Palin has practiced that same tactic but yet we’re told it’s because she’s afraid of the media.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:35 PM
What’s with Republicans? Can’t they find a candidate who can is not for nationalized healthcare? Romney is the blueprint for Obamacare and Perry was for Hillarycare. What’s wrong with these people?
promachus on August 30, 2011 at 6:35 PM
well said RT…it would be lovely to see just that…
cmsinaz on August 30, 2011 at 6:35 PM
Kleenex for the whiners…I bought stock, for the entire phase of now to Nov. 6, 2012. It’s fun to observe, from the left to the right.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:35 PM
Rational Thought on August 30, 2011 at 6:32 PM
All it would take is for one Republican to do it first. The rest would then follow. But it never happens, and I am getting older and older while I wait. What girly men and girly girls our Republican office holders are. Damn!
Really Right on August 30, 2011 at 6:36 PM
It’s all about first impressions. He’s operating from a position of strength based on his first few weeks out of the gate. Now it will be fun to watch the media play with him and he’ll come out on top.
sherry on August 30, 2011 at 6:37 PM
Like I said early..Don’t forget the tin foil stock!..:)
Dire Straits on August 30, 2011 at 6:37 PM
Oh, and for extra fun, when someone tells him that he shouldn’t pick fights with people who buy ink by the barrel, he can say that these days they’re buying it by the quart, and they’re buying it from Mexico!
Man, media heads would explode. But it would be effective.
Rational Thought on August 30, 2011 at 6:32 PM
That is awesome Rational. End it with the classic scratch the temple with a middle finger that Obama likes to do and it would be even better.
DanMan on August 30, 2011 at 6:37 PM
“…it’s hot in Texas…and we’re creatin’ jobs”
Get used to it, Obama.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:37 PM
Thanks for looking out for my portfolio :)
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:38 PM
He had no idea what Clinton might have had in mind? Heck, I was a college student and knew.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:38 PM
Jack Cashill had a very good column on AmericanThinker.com yesterday that provides some insight whether or not President Obama is really the genius that liberals see.
wren on August 30, 2011 at 6:39 PM
I have never said that. Remember, I am a Palin fan. You forget that.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:39 PM
Palin not doing interviews, Bad
Perry not doing interviews, Brilliant.
idesign on August 30, 2011 at 6:40 PM
He has fleas. This one is so tiny that you’re reaching. Keep on going. It’s pathetic to watch the right be so dumb, out of ‘love’. We’re supposed to be the rational ones.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:40 PM
The good in all this, love is still blind.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:41 PM
False logic, and not factual.
He doesn’t fear the media, he despises them, which you should see as good. They hate you, and yours, with great passion, and want to destroy you, with Obama in charge.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:42 PM
And I’ve said in the past that Palin needed to get more into hostile media territory, and I say the same thing about Perry. I’m not all the impressed by Palin going on Hannity, and I’m not all that impressed by Perry doing the same thing. Heck, Bachmann used to LIVE on there. He’s going to have to take the media on, just as Palin would if she were a candidate. Avoiding them is just going to give rise to “he’s afraid of messing up” stuff.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:42 PM
I for one am looking forward to hearing more about Perry’s philosophy on a whole slew of issues…and I think he’ll do fine in a debate. I think he’s common sense smart.
scalleywag on August 30, 2011 at 6:42 PM
How do you tell the difference?
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:43 PM
Yep, and it is as frustrating as hell.
Palin and Perry are allies. It’s not like they are polar opposites.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:44 PM
Done. You’re not rational and I can’t stand pretenders.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:45 PM
Carbon, I believe you cleared this up, but have you ever said this about Palin?
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:45 PM
No, it’s called being objective and subjecting all candidates to the same standards.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:45 PM
Good point!..:)
Dire Straits on August 30, 2011 at 6:46 PM
The two of them will rock the world, together. They both love their country more than themselves.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:46 PM
^How many of you would be giving Romney a pass for a similar letter?
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:46 PM
I didn’t say he said it. I said “we’re told”, and you know damn well we are.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:47 PM
It will serve the GOP right if this guy wins and manages amnesty to all illegal aliens. Republica detroyed, but we got our man is the WH. Ta da.
promachus on August 30, 2011 at 6:47 PM
Michele Bachmann? Ron Paul?
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:47 PM
You know Meat, chance are that I have.
If you go back and look at my posts from late ’08 to sometime in ’10, I was always defending her. There was several times that I called AP out on the way he was posting negatives about Palin and ignoring the positives. I became sick of it and it took the fun out of Hot Air. I have to leave for months at a time because of the frustration. I guess we all are very passionate about what we believe, and that’s a good thing.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:48 PM
“I became a Republican sooner than your dad did”, speaking to Michael Reagan, the sane Reagan kid.
Ronald Reagan smiles from his grave.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:48 PM
What do you mean? You said he doesn’t fear the media, he despises them. Can’t you do both at the same time? You’re not being rational. You’re sugar-coating. That isn’t going to help Perry or anyone else in the long run.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:48 PM
Yeah, and I know the types of people that said it and I suspect you know damn well, too.
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:48 PM
I agree. And if she does not run, I hope she endorses Perry. It would put him over the top.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:49 PM
What “types”? Care to name names?
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:50 PM
Yeah, that is why when she announces, Perry will drop his quixotic quest and endorse her.
promachus on August 30, 2011 at 6:50 PM
Petunia, MJBrutus, Meridith, csdeven, …
See the pattern?
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:52 PM
We will see soon.
carbon_footprint on August 30, 2011 at 6:53 PM
Right now, that doesn’t seem to be in the cards.
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:53 PM
I have too, so there’s a disruption to the pattern.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:53 PM
Put the crack pipe down.
Knucklehead on August 30, 2011 at 6:54 PM
By the same token, how many of us have laughed at Obama for always camping out at MSNBC and never going on Fox?
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:55 PM
You forgot one…
idesign on August 30, 2011 at 6:57 PM
I’ve always found it very un-presidential to go out of your way to snub a significant subset of the American populace.
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:57 PM
Good one.
Truism
Schadenfreude and sugarcoating are not synonymous.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 6:58 PM
Perhaps you’re just seeing the wrong pattern.
Knucklehead, have you ever suggested that Palin was scared of the media?
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 6:58 PM
No, this was when he was a candidate.
ddrintn on August 30, 2011 at 6:59 PM
Palin is not scared of the media. She hates their guts, as she should.
Schadenfreude on August 30, 2011 at 7:00 PM
I guess Obama isn’t completely stupid, then. He realizes he only appeals to ignorant wanna-be elites and welfare queens.
MeatHeadinCA on August 30, 2011 at 7:00 PM
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