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RICHMOND
Speaking to a crowd of cheering Virginia Republicans Wednesday, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said signing an executive order to "wipe out" as much as he can of President Barack Obama's federal health care law would be his first priority in the Oval Office.
The Republican presidential front-runner made an early Virginia visit, speaking at a state GOP fundraiser in the capital.
Perry blamed Obama's governing style for creating uncertainty that has paralyzed businesses that otherwise would invest, hampering job growth and economic recovery.
"We live in the greatest nation that's ever been created, but our country's in trouble, Perry said. "I think even those on the left understand that."
Perry also spoke at Liberty University in Lynchburg earlier in the day.
Absent from his brief Richmond speech were the kinds of controversial comments that have opened him to attacks from presidential contenders in his own party and political foes outside it.
Perry has called Social Security a "Ponzi scheme," but has since worked to downplay those remarks, saying current beneficiaries and those soon to be eligible should receive benefits.
Virginia Democrats weren't as silent on that subject.
State party Executive Director Dave Mills issued a statement hours before Perry's speech attempting to link Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and U.S. Senate candidate George Allen to those views.
"What they haven't considered is the damage their policies could do," he said, describing Social Security as a program "that millions of middle-class families rely on for stability and opportunity."
Perry said the country is ready for a leadership change, pointing to Democratic losses in two U.S. House special elections Tuesday as evidence of voters' dissatisfaction with the stubbornly high unemployment rate and swelling debt.
"Last night's election results in New York and Nevada sent signals that President Obama will be a one-term president," he said, drawing whoops from the estimated crowd of 1,100 at the Richmond event.
McDonnell introduced his colleague from Texas before the speech, but Perry demurred afterward when asked if he would consider McDonnell as a potential running mate.
"That is thinking too far ahead," he told reporters.
Others already had that pairing in mind.
Several people were spotted leaving the event wearing buttons with the slogan "Perry-McDonnell 2012."
Julian Walker, (804) 697-1564, julian.walker@pilotonline.com
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It was Fox News
That dug up ACORN, Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright,and all of those other things. ABC,NBC,CBS and the rest were silent on the issue. I personally want to know if the guy running for president is having dinner with a guy that bombed the pentagon, killed police officers and called for the vlolent overthrow of government.
Those are just more lies
Did Fox New give Obama a "free pass" or are they not part of "the media?"
ABC,NBC,CBS and the rest were not silent on any of those issues. All them were thoroughly discussed everywhere. I even read about them in the Virginian-Pilot.
It was a tenuous guilt by association. Ayers was a radical (but never convicted of any crime) in the 70's when Obama was a teenager. By the time Obama met him almost 30 years later, he was a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago. They served together on the Woods Fund Board along with bankers and other Chicago businessmen who could hardly be accused of being dangerous radicals.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fact-checker/2008/02/obamas_weatherman_connection.html
OF COURSE
the attacks will begin now because Perry is a serious contender against the President
Image if the media & the public gave Perry a "free pass" like they did Obama 3 years ago?
What a terrible thought; SURE.
At this point in time ANYTHING is better than what we have.
"Free pass?"
That's not how I remeber the 2008 presidential campaign.
I seem to recall
ACORN, Bill Ayers, Rev. Wright, Muslim, birtherism, and all kinds of nonsense about Obama all over the media during the presidential campaign. Ring any bells?
Did Fox News give Obama a "free pass" too, or are they not part of "the media?"
By the way, Fox News seems to be favoring Romney over Perry in the Republican primary.
Free Pass! Still going strong...
Guess what, the Mainstream media (meaning everybody except Fox News) gives the President a "free pass". They ignore his mistakes and exaggerate even his most trivial successes. They help him by routinely attacking his political enemies. They do it now; they did it during the 2008 campaign. To pretend this bias doesn't exist is to lie to yourself.
To be fair, the Fox guys are in the tank for the right but last I counted that was one against many.
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Comment removed for rules violation. Reason: Personal attack, name calling
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Time to re-think things
While I would agree on most of his comments, getting rid of Obamacare will be harder than he thinks, I think a better choice would be to go through the whole plan and keep those things that make sense, like letting parents keep kids on their healthcare plan until age 26, that allows any child in college to have healthcare. I just want the mandate remove saying I must purchase a plan, or be fined, I have never agreed with that stipulation. But then again how will this plan, medicare and medicaid ever be funded, you cannot have 3 healthcare plans funded by the American people, becuause it is us that fund these plans.
Better than
A lot better than what we have! I prefer Freedom, small government,free enterprise, closed boarders, no govt. mandates on health care, democracy vs. socialism, common sense, balanced budget,less govt. regs,open the energy valves here and true sincere leadership!