Rick Perry Gay Rumors: Governor's Aides Prepared To Tackle Allegations Should They Resurface: Report

[RandySF]

Texas Governor Rick Perry's camp is prepared to tackle unfounded rumors dating back to as early as 2004 about the Lone Star State Republican's personal life should he run for president and the allegations resurface, according to Politico.

Roughly seven years ago, Perry himself addressed the unsubstantiated buzz that he and his wife planned to divorce and that he was gay. He denied the rumors and told the Austin American-Statesman at the time that he was the victim of a "smear campaign" being conducted by his political enemies. The AP reported in March of 2004:

Perry said the rumors "are not correct in any shape, form or fashion. These are irresponsible. They're salacious. They're hurtful to my family."
...
"I don't think a rumor can just get to critical mass by itself," Perry said. "I think you have to have a well thought-out, organized effort to disseminate that kind of information and keep it going day after day after day after day."


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/20/rick-perry-gay-rumors-_n_880969.html

[gauguin57]

1. But can he refute the rumors ... oh, wait ... the FACT that he was a Democrat & campaigned for Gore?

Perry was elected to the Texas State House as a Democrat.

He was chairman of the Al Gore for President campaign in Texas in 1988.

Ponder that, all you conservatives who scream for Perry like he's some right-wing rock star!

[Shagbark Hickory]

11. Wow. Really? I had no idea. nt/ +!

[Javaman]

14. from his wiki page...

Texas LegislatureIn 1984, Perry was elected to the Texas House of Representatives as a Democrat from a district (64) that included his home county of Haskell. He served on the House Appropriations and Calendars committees during his three two-year terms in office. He befriended fellow freshman state representative Lena Guerrero of Austin, a staunch liberal Democrat who endorsed Perry's reelection bid in 2006 on personal, rather than philosophical, grounds. Perry was part of the "Pit Bulls", a group of Appropriations members who sat on the lower dais in the committee room (or "pit") who pushed for austere state budgets during the 1980s.

Perry supported Al Gore in the 1988 Democratic presidential primaries and was chairman of the Gore campaign in Texas.

In 1989, The Dallas Morning News named him one of the most effective legislators in the 71st Legislature. That same year, Perry announced that he was joining the Republican Party.<14>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Perry

[LiberalAndProud]

2. Politico via Huffington.

fascinating. I can only say that this is truly shabby reporting. What does "in the ether" mean exactly? The article is tripe, regardless of motive (although I have my suspicions).

The crusted-over rumors were in the ether among some attendees at a dinner hosted last week by the Manhattan County GOP, where Perry gave the keynote speech

Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0611/57381.html
#ixzz1PsvfamaT

[gauguin57]

3. "Crusted-over rumors"? Ewww!

Just ewww!

[Tunkamerica]

4. in this context: in the air (overheard)

i would've spelled it æther

[LiberalAndProud]

6. Overheard could be one interpretation.

Rona Barrett was a better columnist. For all I know, "in the ether" means that Maggie initiated a conversation with her tablemates.

[6000eliot]

5. Somebody on THEIR side is bringing this up.

[CarmanK]

7. Being GAY, not a problem! Being a TRAITOR is!

Perry may be worried about defending his position that he is not GAY because for the GOP such sexuality is unforgiveable. DEMS they don't really care and the independents are split but mostly oblivious to the bigoted arguments. On the other hand, Perry problem is that he is a TRAITOR. He as an elected official, stood before a crowd of people advocating secession of TX from the UNION. That people is advocating treason in any voter group. And it is unforgiveable. Perry cannot be trusted to preserve, protect and defend a constitution of a union which he does not believe in. He cannot be preseident of the US because he is unfit to serve.

[ehrnst]

8. To that crowd, Gay=Traitor = Muslim. (nt)

[sarcasmo]

9. +1

[w8liftinglady]

10. EXCELLENT point

Perry has done more to divide and destroy Texas than ANY previous governor- Republican or Democrat.
Hell- we had some great Democratic governors-and Texas rated highly on test scores, standards of living, etc. Perry has royally screwed us...and blames US!

[hamsterjill]

12. He can refute all he wants.

I believe the rumors are true. No, it doesn't take a "well thought-out, organized effort to dissiminate that kind of information".

It only takes his gay partner telling the press, or someone walking in on Rick and a male partner in the act.

[susanr516]

13. I had been wondering if that rumor was going to resurface nt