# What has Rick Perry done to alienate conservatives **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [September 21, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009 "2011-09-21T00:35:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/1 "2011-09-21T00:35:23Z")
He was built up as something big when he first came on the scene, but some of his background stuff seems to be working against him. He supported Al Gore for president in 1988, he wrote a letter to Hillary Clinton in 1993 supporting health reform and he gave in state tuition to immigrants in Texas. Aside from that and the HPV vaccine mandate has he done anything else that conservatives are strongly at odds with? Does any of this make him a potential shooting star who fades as fast as he comes onto the scene, or does he have more lasting power? Conservatives seemed desperate for someone who they could get behind and fully support who could win the general election, but has Perry done anything else that would alienate conservative voters to the point where he just becomes another Romney (someone with name recognition, but not the kind of ideological purity and legislative consistency they are looking for)? ---
**Author:** ![AbloyProtec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@AbloyProtec](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbloyProtec)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/2 "2011-09-21T00:45:01Z")
Nothing personally to me, but I do not speak for conservatives. If they only knew what I believed with regards to abortion, religion, etc. they’d probably send money to me instead. As far as I can gather from conservative friends, Michelle Bachmann is the only one making a fuss over the HPV issue and I for one cannot blame her. She had to put her name back in the spotlight and turning the vaccines into a moral cause did so, at least during the last debate. It didn’t hurt that she had a vagina either. Going by Gallup’s intensity (really just a favorable scale) polls, he’s routinely held a positive rating amongst conservative candidates (even after the HPV issue during last debate) so I’m not all that sure that any of this is really hurting him. Plus, he killed a coyote with a pistol. EDIT: It was a coyote, not a wolf. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/3 "2011-09-21T01:30:41Z")
Maybe Palin… if she gets in. ---
**Author:** ![PhillyGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ed655f/32.png) [@PhillyGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PhillyGuy)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/4 "2011-09-21T01:39:53Z")
Strong partisans will rarely be satisfied with a major party candidate. Perry is probably at the limit of how consistently conservative you can be and still get nominated. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/5 "2011-09-21T01:57:37Z")
He supported in-state tuition for children here illegally. That’s a hot button issue for many conservatives. I think if you add that with the issues the OP listed, it shouldn’t be too surprising that some conservatives are going :dubious:. I mean, Al Gore. Need I say anything more? ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/6 "2011-09-21T02:45:49Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I mean, Al Gore. Need I say anything more? One of the commentators on NPR was joking that in Rick Perry’s first foray into politics, he managed the difficult task of loosing an election to Michael Dukakis in Texas (Perry was Gore’s Texas campaign manager and lost the Texas primary to Dukakis that year). ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/7 "2011-09-21T05:27:33Z")
> [@AbloyProtec](#): > > As far as I can gather from conservative friends, Michelle Bachmann is the only one making a fuss over the HPV issue and I for one cannot blame her. She had to put her name back in the spotlight and turning the vaccines into a moral cause did so, at least during the last debate. It didn’t hurt that she had a vagina either. Of course, I mean, a \*mother \*told her the vaccine caused mental retardation, she had to act ! And make a complete ass of herself. What do pharmaceutical labs know that anonymous mothers don’t ? Nothing. Nothing whatsoever. :dubious: And you know, if she actually believed a word she’s spewing, it wouldn’t be so bad. I mean, she’d still be a corndog short of a carny stand - but not despicably so. One could still feel like patting her on the head and telling her “there, there, love. Bless your heart”. But she doesn’t. Like you say, it’s pure attention grabbing. And what’s worse, not only are you not fooled, you fucking \*admire \*her for it ? What the hell’s the matter with you ?! ---
**Author:** ![elucidator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8edcca/32.png) [@elucidator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elucidator)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/8 "2011-09-21T05:40:18Z")
I’d ask my conservative friends, but I don’t have any. I used to have conservative _enemie_s. But not any more. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/9 "2011-09-21T05:46:41Z")
Concerns about Perry that come up among some conservatives- his supposed support for a North American Union, evidenced by supporting the Trans-Texas Corridor (aka NAFTA Superhighway) his immigration stance his friendship with Aga Khan & support for a school curriculum that teaches a positive approach to Islam the mandatory HPV Vaccine his invitation to a recent Bildeberg Conference ---
**Author:** ![magellan01](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@magellan01](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/magellan01)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 6:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/10 "2011-09-21T06:30:33Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Concerns about Perry that come up among some conservatives- > > his immigration stance That did it for me. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 7:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/11 "2011-09-21T07:15:40Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > his supposed support for a North American Union, evidenced by supporting the Trans-Texas Corridor (aka NAFTA Superhighway) Hee. I really hope Bachman picks this one up. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Second\_Stone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/bbe5ce/32.png) [@The\_Second\_Stone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Second_Stone)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/12 "2011-09-21T07:31:23Z")
His suggestion that Texas secede from the Union from a few years back? I understand that Texans think that yanking the other 49 States’ collective chain with this is their idea of humor, but I would imagine that a Republican might be for keeping the Union together at all costs. But what do I know, I’m not a Republican and not a conservative. I’m pretty offended at the idea of breaking up the Union. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 10:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/13 "2011-09-21T10:36:28Z")
He isn’t sufficiently “pure”. No one is. :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![AbloyProtec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9f8e36/32.png) [@AbloyProtec](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AbloyProtec)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/14 "2011-09-21T10:42:48Z")
> [@Kobal2](#): > > And what’s worse, not only are you not fooled, you fucking \*admire \*her for it ? What the hell’s the matter with you ?! Where did I say I admired her? I said I couldn’t blame her decision to make an issue of it. She got press and her name re-emerged. Mission accomplished. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/15 "2011-09-21T13:50:06Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > Conservatives seemed desperate for someone who they could get behind and fully support who could win the general election . . . I very much doubt that conjunction is possible, any longer. The next Pub in the WH will be what they would call a RINO. ---
**Author:** ![New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9d8465/32.png) [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/New_Deal_Democrat)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 1:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/16 "2011-09-21T13:51:44Z")
Rick Perry is in favor of no restrictions on Hispanic immigration. This pleases the business wing of the Repubican Party, which wants cheap labor, but it angers the populists. ---
**Author:** ![joebuck20](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/74df32/32.png) [@joebuck20](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/joebuck20)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/17 "2011-09-21T14:01:12Z")
As far as his stance on immigration, if you’re running for statewide office in Texas you can only be so xenophobic, mainly because of the large number of Hispanic voters in the state (many of whom are pretty conservative and have been surprisingly open to voting for Republicans in the past), but also because of the businesses that utilize cheap immigrant labor. So, yeah, he’ll spout the standard talking points about the need to secure the border and stop the flow of illegal immigrants, but when push comes to shove, he’ll be perfectly content with maintaining the status quo. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/18 "2011-09-21T14:04:30Z")
> [@New\_Deal\_Democrat](#): > > Rick Perry is in favor of no restrictions on Hispanic immigration. This pleases the business wing of the Repubican Party, which wants cheap labor, but it angers the populists. I’m having a hard time imagining how a **real** border-hawk could get either party’s nomination for POTUS. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/19 "2011-09-21T14:57:31Z")
> [@The\_Second\_Stone](#): > > His suggestion that Texas secede from the Union from a few years back? I think it’s time we killed that meme. [From FactCheck.org:](http://www.factcheck.org/2011/08/what-perry-really-said-about-secession/) > [@](#): > > The Obama team falsely suggests Texas Gov. Rick Perry advocated secession. Perry’s actual remarks have been mischaracterized. Perry entertained a reporter’s question about secession after a tea party rally in 2009, and warned that “if Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who knows what may come out of that?” But he’s made clear all along that “we’ve got a great union” and there is “no reason to dissolve it.” ---
**Author:** ![gonzomax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e8c25b/32.png) [@gonzomax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gonzomax)\ **Post date:** [September 21, 2011, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009/20 "2011-09-21T16:24:51Z")
> [@FriarTed](#): > > Concerns about Perry that come up among some conservatives- > > his immigration stance I heard he takes a wide stance. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-has-rick-perry-done-to-alienate-conservatives/597009.md?page=2)