Oops! Rick Perry Completely Implodes Republican Immigration Field Hearing
One of the big pieces of “news” to come out of Thursday’s Republican Anti-Immigrant Antiques Roadshow was the fact that Governor Rick Perry (R-Texas) wants the National Guard to “secure our border” from the 50,000 children who are streaming across it from Central America, but less reported is Perry’s complete faceplant when Democratic Congressman Filemon Vela (D-Texas) asked him the simplest of questions.
After an hour or so of testimony from Perry, Vela completely hobbled the Republicans’ main talking point on this immigration crisis by asking Perry “If we had a thousand National Guard at our borders, as you propose, how would that have prevented the influx of these unaccompanied children who, for all practical purposes, are surrendering themselves?”
Perry hesitated, then launched into a verbal dance-off with himself. “The power of boots on the ground cannot be overstated,” Perry began, then proceeded to demonstrate that it also can’t really be explained. Instead of describing how the National Guard could repel unaccompanied children from the border, Perry instead went off on several tangents about criminal activity, neighborhood watches, and concluded by saying there would be no influx of children because that’s what he thinks.
Watch:
Later in the hearing, Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.) helped Perry further destroy the Republican narrative on the current immigration crisis when…READ MORE
Click here for reuse options!Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
97 responses to Oops! Rick Perry Completely Implodes Republican Immigration Field Hearing
« Previous 1 2Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Tommy6860 July 5th, 2014 at 17:51
Isn’t it amazing how the wingers go into “Duh” speak, when asked the simplest of relevant questions. This is the brain of a politician, whose greatest strength is to appeal to the low effort thinkers and haters.
Suzanne McFly July 5th, 2014 at 18:10
Another point of view could be that these politicians aren’t to bright to start off with, they can be bought. Look at our last President, I really don’t think anyone could credibly debate the fact that he was below average when it comes to smarts, however many contracts were awarded and many egregious oversights were committed. Without financial backing, bush would not of been able to “win” the last two elections.
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 18:53
Bush really is an idiot. When he was gov. of Texas he would spent most of his time playing card games on a computer. Well, at least that is what his staff and interns would say when they were, off the record.
Suzanne McFly July 5th, 2014 at 18:58
Not surprised, when he was President, he spent a LOT of time clearing brush from his yard. It’s not like he had a job, dick was in charge day one.
Tommy6860 July 5th, 2014 at 17:51
Isn’t it amazing how the wingers go into “Duh” speak, when asked the simplest of relevant questions. This is the brain of a politician, whose greatest strength is to appeal to the low effort thinkers and haters.
Suzanne McFly July 5th, 2014 at 18:10
Another point of view could be that these politicians aren’t to bright to start off with, they can be bought. Look at our last President, I really don’t think anyone could credibly debate the fact that he was below average when it comes to smarts, however many contracts were awarded and many egregious oversights were committed. Without financial backing, bush would not of been able to “win” the last two elections.
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 18:53
Bush really is an idiot. When he was gov. of Texas he would spent most of his time playing card games on a computer. Well, at least that is what his staff and interns would say when they were, off the record.
Suzanne McFly July 5th, 2014 at 18:58
Not surprised, when he was President, he spent a LOT of time clearing brush from his yard. It’s not like he had a job, dick was in charge day one.
M D Reese July 5th, 2014 at 18:15
I would really love to see some articles explaining who these refugees are and why they are fleeing their countries. (Hint–our war on drugs and anti-commie activities in the region MIGHT have had something to do with it.) Imagine how desperate you would have to be as a parent to trust your children to strangers to take them 1,000 miles in hopes that they will just be able to survive to grow up.
arc99 July 5th, 2014 at 18:40
There are probably as many different reasons as there are children coming north. I do recall seeing a story several years ago, (perhaps 60 Minutes but I am not certain) about the devastating effect on Central and South America from aggressive mining operations leased to both foreign and domestic companies, accompanied by little or no environmental regulation. That could also well be part of the puzzle.
I admit I am as gadget-happy as any American. But I am coming to the conclusion that our lifestyle is not unlike of the Roman aristocrats at the height of the Roman empire. We are up on the top deck of the boat, enjoying the view and having a nice lunch. Meanwhile, below decks human beings providing the paddling power are being literally worked to death and thrown overboard when they are no longer useful.
The gadgets and material possessions we love so dearly and simply must upgrade every other Christmas, come with a cost in labor and in impact on the earth. As I said, I am as guilty as anyone and it is up to each of us how to do our small part to change the status quo.
Being aware of the issue is, I think, the first step in the process.
http://snobear.colorado.edu/Markw/Research/08_peru.pdf
In July 2008, Peru declared a state of emergency at a mine near Lima over fears that its tailings dam, weakened by seismic activity and subterranean water filtration, could release arsenic, lead, and cadmium into the main water supply for the capital.
Debby's July 5th, 2014 at 20:03
Well said arc! Well said!
Nicholas Russell Harris July 7th, 2014 at 05:52
We will fall like Rome did as well at this point.
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 18:56
I saw a report recently that a lot of it is because there are people charging money to get you to the border and they are hyping it as a great way to improve your life and are telling people how easy it is.
M D Reese July 5th, 2014 at 19:13
They are preying on people who are desperate to escape. This surge of unaccompanied children and women with children are not job seekers from Mexico. They are refugees. Many have relatives here and the hope is that they can be united with them. It reminds me of the children who were sent here and to Canada from the UK to live during the Blitz of London and WWII.
LightningJoe July 8th, 2014 at 12:25
“They are refugees.”
Exactly. Time to dust off the asylum laws…
M D Reese July 5th, 2014 at 18:15
I would really love to see some articles explaining who these refugees are and why they are fleeing their countries. (Hint–our war on drugs and anti-commie activities in the region MIGHT have had something to do with it.) Imagine how desperate you would have to be as a parent to trust your children to strangers to take them 1,000 miles in hopes that they will just be able to survive to grow up.
arc99 July 5th, 2014 at 18:40
There are probably as many different reasons as there are children coming north. I do recall seeing a story several years ago, (perhaps 60 Minutes but I am not certain) about the devastating effect on Central and South America from aggressive mining operations leased to both foreign and domestic companies, accompanied by little or no environmental regulation. That could also well be part of the puzzle.
I admit I am as gadget-happy as any American. But I am coming to the conclusion that our lifestyle is not unlike of the Roman aristocrats at the height of the Roman empire. We are up on the top deck of the boat, enjoying the view and having a nice lunch. Meanwhile, below decks human beings providing the paddling power are being literally worked to death and thrown overboard when they are no longer useful.
The gadgets and material possessions we love so dearly and simply must upgrade every other Christmas, come with a cost in labor and in impact on the earth. As I said, I am as guilty as anyone and it is up to each of us how to do our small part to change the status quo.
Being aware of the issue is, I think, the first step in the process.
http://snobear.colorado.edu/Markw/Research/08_peru.pdf
In July 2008, Peru declared a state of emergency at a mine near Lima over fears that its tailings dam, weakened by seismic activity and subterranean water filtration, could release arsenic, lead, and cadmium into the main water supply for the capital.
Debby's July 5th, 2014 at 20:03
Well said arc! Well said!
Nicholas Russell Harris July 7th, 2014 at 05:52
We will fall like Rome did as well at this point.
mea_mark July 5th, 2014 at 18:56
I saw a report recently that a lot of it is because there are people charging money to get you to the border and they are hyping it as a great way to improve your life and are telling people how easy it is.
M D Reese July 5th, 2014 at 19:13
They are preying on people who are desperate to escape. This surge of unaccompanied children and women with children are not job seekers from Mexico. They are refugees. Many have relatives here and the hope is that they can be united with them. It reminds me of the children who were sent here and to Canada from the UK to live during the Blitz of London and WWII.
LightningJoe July 8th, 2014 at 12:25
“They are refugees.”
Exactly. Time to dust off the asylum laws…
Roctuna July 5th, 2014 at 18:18
The hair used to be enough, now he needs the glasses but he’s still the same old Ricky-Bobby, cheerleader
Roctuna July 5th, 2014 at 18:18
The hair used to be enough, now he needs the glasses but he’s still the same old Ricky-Bobby, cheerleader
Shades July 5th, 2014 at 18:45
I highly recommend everyone click the link and read the entire article. At the end he appears to suggest that if those children are allowed in, “The American people” will take matters in to their own hands, “electorally and otherwise.”
Shades July 5th, 2014 at 18:45
I highly recommend everyone click the link and read the entire article. At the end he appears to suggest that if those children are allowed in, “The American people” will take matters in to their own hands, “electorally and otherwise.”
Dwendt44 July 5th, 2014 at 19:09
As far as I know, no Republican has yet introduced a bill that would allow the military to enforce our borders. There is a law against it currently.
Dwendt44 July 5th, 2014 at 19:09
As far as I know, no Republican has yet introduced a bill that would allow the military to enforce our borders. There is a law against it currently.
M D Reese July 6th, 2014 at 21:37
It’s all a matter of perspective.