Texas Governor Rick Perry continues to channel the ghost of John C. Calhoun:
AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry, raising the specter of a showdown with the Obama administration, suggested Thursday that he would consider invoking states’ rights protections under the 10th Amendment to resist the president’s healthcare plan, which he said would be “disastrous” for Texas.
Interviewed by conservative talk show host Mark Davis of Dallas’ WBAP/820 AM, Perry said his first hope is that Congress will defeat the plan, which both Perry and Davis described as “Obama Care.” But should it pass, Perry predicted that Texas and a “number” of states might resist the federal health mandate.
“I think you’ll hear states and governors standing up and saying ‘no’ to this type of encroachment on the states with their healthcare,” Perry said. “So my hope is that we never have to have that stand-up. But I’m certainly willing and ready for the fight if this administration continues to try to force their very expansive government philosophy down our collective throats.”
(…)
“It really is a state issue, and if there was ever an argument for the 10th Amendment and for letting the states find a solution to their problems, this may be at the top of the class,” Perry said. “A government-run healthcare system is financially unstable. It’s not the solution.”
Of course, Perry is no stranger to 10th Amendment arguments in the Obama era. Back in April, he invoked the threat of secession and incorrectly asserted that Texas explicitly retained the right to secede when it entered the Union.
Leaving aside the merits of Perry’s argument, I’ve got to take the cynical approach here and assume that Perry is saying things like this with an eye toward the 2010 Republican Primary, where he apparently faces a tough challenge from Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson.
I don’t care what his reason is. We need more elected officials to take a stand for our constitution. Obamacare is deathcare for us and for our country.
Pam,
You do realize he’s just saying it, right ?
You don’t think he really means it, do you ?
Obamacare is deathcare for us and for our country.
Just another hysterical moron.
Rick Perry made a big show, then accepted the Fed’s stimulus money. Kay Bailey is going to wipe him out.
Two months ago, Perry made a big show of refusing stimulus money. A week ago, Texas had to go hat in hand back to the federal government to borrow money that the stimulus bill would have given him. You have correctly pointed out that Perry is merely putting on a show for his wing nut base in the upcoming Republican primaries for Texas governor.
Perhaps Texas should immediately stop accepting Medicare and Medicaid payments from the evil Federal government. I’m sure the rest of the country would be happy to let Texas keep their 1.2% of earned income tax for Medicare in return for unloading all Texas’ old an poor on Texas’ taxpayers.
Go for it, Perry. Of course, the fact is he’s just grandstanding for the crazies. Those crazies deserve to have their sick old mothers thrown off Medicare.
I agree with the 10th amendment advocacy. I believe Gov. Perry stood firmly behind the State of California’s medical marijuana,as voted in by the people of California, against Bush’s attacks. And Oregon’s assisted end of life laws also against the interferences of the social control freaks of the Bush administration. No wait, no he didn’t, those were cases of state’s rights that the Christian pretenders don’t mind violating.
Perry is only in favor of state’s rights when he believes in it or when the comes from the far right, misinformed pretend Christians. To be forced to listen to this traitor to the constitution is a violation of my rights.
I also think Perry should receive an award, say 20 to life, for Texas being number one in the raise for the state with the most people without medical insurance, or the being second only to Mississippi for illiterates produced by our education system.
Long live Governor for Life, Rick Perry.
Oh one more thing the folks in favor of rationing health care should be applauded. If you have the money you should have the health care. The rationing health care on the basis of wealth is the only right thing to do. Long Live the idiots on the right.
John,
Rick Perry is a phony.
Count on it
Rick Perry rocks. Kay Bailey is attacking from the leftward wing in a Republican contest. Bad idea on her part.