The Perry Fundraising Letter
[Dated June 22, 2009; italics, bold facing, and ellipses are original]
Dear —-
A few weeks ago, I found myself at the center of a national firestorm, and the subject of withering attacks from the left, because I had the nerve to defend the U.S. Constitution.
I don’t know when the Bill of Rights became like a cafeteria plan, where we can pick and choose the amendments we like, but clearly there are folks in Washington who do not appreciate my stand for the 10th Amendment, which says, “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.”
When I placed my hand on the Bible and swore a solemn oath to uphold and defend the Constitutions of the United States and the State of Texas, I swore to defend the entirety of those founding documents — not just those parts that are convenient. It is a duty that I take very seriously.
I am fighting for the very Constitution that our Founding Fathers crafted to limit the reach of the federal government in our lives. But I need your immediate help. Your gift of $50 or $25 to my campaign today will help me compete against my well-funded Washington-connected opposition that thinks power and freedom emanates from government.
The fact is, the Constitution was created to limit the powers of the federal government, not unleash them.
In the coming gubernatorial campaign, I will ask you to honor me with another term as Governor for Texas. But understand, this campaign is not about personalities but principles. It as about two models of governing: the Washington model that talks the talk about limited government while delivering record earmarks and increasing bureaucratic control, and the Texas model of balanced budgets and fiscal restraint that recognizes growth and prosperity are not granted by government but created in the private sector.
Washington has given us jaw-dropping bailouts, record debt and deficits, and a stimulus package that grows government. They have also tried to force states to raise taxes in order to receive unemploy,ment dollars, and have made reforming expensive programs like Medicaid dependent upon their willingness to grant waivers.
They over-tax us, over-regulate us, and make billions of dollars in federal funding dependent upon our acquiescence to the strings they attach. They have over-stepped their authority, and they are racing us toward fiscal ruin.
When the colonists rebelled against the British Crown, they fought a distant regime that sought to impose its will on the lives of citizens through onerous regulations and taxes. Sound familiar?
If there is any question whether limited government and fiscal conservatism works, look no further than Texas. A part-time Legislature … a Constitutionally mandated balanced budget … no income tax … a predictable regulatory climate and a fair legal system … and the most hardworking people in the world. It’s no wonder that Texas leads the nation in exports, job creation, and Fortune 500 companies.
Limited government works. We just wrapped up the legislative session, in which we responded to the economic crisis by reducing spending of general revenue dollars — the second time we have done that in six years — setting aside money for a rainy day, cutting taxes for small business, and strengthening protections for private property owners from the use of eminent domain.
While our families face lean times and are cutting corners to make ends meet, the Pelosi Congress increased the federal debt by one-third in just the first 100 days of the Obama Administration. Worse still, the Administration’s own numbers balloon this year’s deficit from $1.7 trillion, or $5,500 for every person in America, to almost $7 trillion ten years from now. That is almost $23,000 for every man, woman, and child in America today!
At a time when small businesses — our greatest engine of prosperity — are struggling to survive and provide jobs for hard working Texans, the federal government is handing out trillion-dollar checks to big corporations, even taking them over. Our system of capitalism is at risk!
And as the soft economy shrinks the tax coffers of the states, the Federal government has tried to bully governors and state legislatures into taking federal money by forcing them to increase taxes, expand bureaucracies, and change long-standing state laws. When it came to an expansion of unemployment benefits,. I told them that they can keep their money and we will keep our state sovereignty.
I will stand strong against anyone — Democrat or Republican, federal or state — who would lead us further down that misguided path. But to get my message out to the voters of Texas so they know exactly what is at stake, I need your immediate gift. Please join my team today. Together, we can win this most important battle for Texas and America.
Sincerely,
Rick Perry
PS — The eight months until the March 2 primary election (fittingly held on Texas Independence Day) will pass quickly. Today is the first day I can raise campaign funds under Texas law. But as a Federal official, unrestrained by Texas law, my Washington-connected opponent has a six-month head start. Please send your contribution today, and stand with me as we work to preserve our vision of limited government for Texas. Thank you.
* * * *
This is a very effective document. It reminds readers of his April remarks that hinted at secession without using the “s” word; it embraces the Tenth Amendment; it reinforces the message of the Tea Parties by referring to the American Revolution and puts himself in the tradition of the colonists. This is an Horatio-at-the-bridge message. It speaks to conservatives who believe that the country is in deep trouble. And it differentiates Texas (”limited government”) from Washington (”jaw-dropping bailouts,” “the Pelosi Congress). Perry has had almost three months, starting with the Tea Parties on April 15 to drill this message into the consciousness of Republican primary voters, much of it through free media. This letter can serve not only as the basis of a reelection campaign, but also of a national campaign. Meanwhile, Kay Bailey Hutchison has had nothing to say. Remember the Claytie Williams campaign of 1990. Primary races can be won in October. Or July.
Tagged: fundraising letter, governor’s race, kay bailey hutchison, rick perry.
Prince Royal says:
Isn’t there a third model of governing that involves local control including county, municipal, and school district independence without mandates from the state or federal level? My guess is that Perry has signed more mandates to local jurisdictions than any governor ever. Worse, he has signed bills mandating compliance, but providing no funds to do so.
If the state mandates something is important enough to mandate, they should send the money along with it. Methinks Governor Perry has wanted to have it both ways.
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eam says:
Reads like the true sentiment of a post-Reconstruction governor
… from 1885.
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Bud says:
What did you say Kay Bailey’s address was?
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Anonymous says:
You work with what you’ve got…even if it’s BS.
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Elsbeth says:
Shame on Perry. Claiming that “the left” launched a “withering attack” on him simply because he had the “nerve” to defend the Constitution.
If he really believes that, then he and Sarah Palin have much more in common ~ aka “kookiness.”
Saint Perry does have a lot of nerve.
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Kajun Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
What is really “Kooky” is Joe Biden as #2, Nancy Pelosi as #3….and you have the nerve to say Sarah is Kooky….and let us not forget what we have for a #1 leader of the free world…now thats Kooky
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Anonymous says:
what a dick. no wonder clueless texans love him
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Anonymous says:
Whether you like him or not……his letter is brilliant and effective. Credit where credit is due
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Anonymous says:
sounds like a true leader to me. I normally get every letter from every candidate, but I didn’t get this one. Thanks for printing it.
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anonymous says:
If Perry was a fresh candidate, it would indeed be a brilliant letter. But with his almost 10 year record of thuggery, the only person who might find it believable is the author.
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Nobody Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Nah, that’s a good letter, I don’t care who ya’ are. (apologies, cable guy). Still, this ltd government guru tried to get ALL our daughters vaccinated against a VD. Hmmm.
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Anonymous says:
No one currently in Washington can win a Texas GOP Primary right now. Just ain’t gonna happen.
But Perry has zero ground troops. He’s betrayed too many conservatives, too many times. He can’t just starting throwing out lollilop words just because it’s re-election time.
Where is the new candidate? Someone new and fresh needs to get into this race.
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Anonymous says:
Can we send him to Alaska?
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cynic on the floor says:
Mr. Burka – I shred mine, unread. I highly recommend the practice.
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Elsbeth says:
Personally, in this economy, I’m not sure that state sovereignty is that high on the list for most Texans.
[When it came to an expansion of unemployment benefits, I told them that they can keep their money and we will keep our state sovereignty.]
Republican governors seems to be a little flighty lately, too.
http://tinyurl.com/d75ug3
[Led by Republican Governors Association chairman Mark Sanford of South Carolina, a group of conservative GOP governors has rejected or considered rejecting the unemployment money or other funding from the $787 billion stimulus package. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, Haley Barbour of Mississippi, and Bob Riley of Alabama also have rejected the unemployment money.]
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EWKrause says:
You nailed this one — not much any of the rest of us can add. Though the shout out to Hutchison & others is especially timely. She’s all but handed this race to the Gov on a silver platter. It’s all about timing & positioning & where is she in all this?
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Harry Doghiney says:
I want the Kool-Aid the Perry Repubs have been quaffing.
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Kajun Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Look for it under the turbin that Obama wears at night….Cheap too….you need to drink more of it then you will become as smart as (Joe Biden)
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Tellnitlikeitis says:
If he wants to whine about federal spending, why not include the phony wars launched by GOPers (with no evidence of WMD save for the goofy tips from a source named “cuve ball” aka “knucklehead)?
About #1 trillion already down the drain – and we haven’t yet paid the bill, because it’s been financed largely by the Chinese.
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Nick Clegg says:
Mr. Prime Minister,
Call the election!
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Court Reporter says:
This is a great scoop: Rick Perry is announcing his candidacy for the U.S. Supreme Court.
But don’t you have to be a lawyer and have at least read the constitution?
Perry’s not a lawyer and I’m not sure he can read; and the constitution – last time I checked -doesn’t have Cliff Notes or Pictograms.
Gosh Governor, this is a problem…
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anonymouse2 says:
Court Reporter at 8:23 a.m. –
Although it is apparently not much of an achievement, he apparently can read the constitution better than you, on the requirements to be a U.S. senator.
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west-texan says:
And you think Democratic candidates never send letters asking for money?
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Anonymous says:
inspiring letter. masterful language. national earned media. where’s his opponent?
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Garvin says:
Palin down. Sanford down. Ensign down. Please, Texas, make the right move and get rid of themost embarassing politician in our country. Let him go ruin A&M, no one would give a damn about that.
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the truth hurts says:
Here is a letter from KBH I found in my mail box this morning: Why didn’t paul post this?
Dear friends,
Its time for me to return to my beloved Texas, I’ve earned it. I have spent almost twenty years in DC working for President Ford and as a three term US Senator. It’s a hard job we work three some time four days a week almost 30 weeks a year. We cast thousands of votes each year. It’s hard to spend a Nation as rich as ours into $11 trillion in debt without a lot of hard work.
I’ve had lots of good ideas like when Biden and I tried to split Iraq into three separate nations or when I declared to have no more auto bailouts only then turn around vote to allow even more the same week
Please help me return to Texas cause it’s my time. I’ve earned it.
If you know how hard I worked. In fact in 2008 I worked my tail off to get a massive education related reform package enacted in DC. It was my sole legislative success and I’m damn proud of it. I took a tough stand and marshaled a bi-partisan majority in both houses and got the US Department of Education main office building named for LBJ! Now that s heavy lifting!
But I’m tried of the travel and its time to raise my family in Texas.
Please send your largest gift you can.
I have ideas, man, I love ideas, and I’ll fill you in later.
I have stood with Hilary, Barbara and Olympia to make the sisterhood of the Senate stronger.
But I’m ready to come home. Won’t you stand with me as I pull a Palin and quit just as the Senate my party and Nation needs me most. I’m tried and it’s my turn to come home.
Won’t you help? My bags are pack
The Senior Senator from Texas,
KBH
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Fishn4Truth Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 1:26 pm
That’s odd, because I got this letter from Governor Perry on the same day…
“Dear fellow Texan,
Boy I sure do need your help. After ten years of my ineffective leadership in Austin, it appears I am on the verge of getting my posterior handed to me by a strong Republican lady who is answering the calls of millions of Texans to return to Austin and clean up the mess I’ve made. I don’t understand why so many Texans are upset with me. All I did was use the good ole boy system of pay-to-play to further agendas that I think are important for all Texans…like mandatory HPV shots and taking your property away so that a foreign company can make money off a toll road.
I need your help so I can continue to take cheap shots at my opponent, you know, the same person I have praised for years. Her record of accomplishments simply blows mine out of the water, so seriously, I need your help. All of these cans of Aquanet and my empty mantra of states rights can only go so far.
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Anonymous says:
Perry’s breathtaking ambition (wants 14 years as Governor after getting 39%) and Kay’s breathtaking ambition (want to challenge a sitting GOP Governor and touch off a GOP chain reaction for statewide seats) will suck all the money out of GOP donors in the 2010 cycle and threaten to return control of the Texas House to the Dems.
All for what? Reshuffled GOP names in the statewide seats? Is that worth having a Dem Texas House and Dem Texas Speaker at the controls of our Texas business community during a deep recession? Hopefull either Kay or Perry will get unselfish at some point and do the right thing for Texas before it’s too late.
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jebahoula says:
Contrary to Abraham Lincoln’s Tax War, The Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 stated in all capital letters, three times, that the 13 colonies by right ought to be “Free and Independent States”.
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/freedom/doi/doi.html
Each of the original 13 colonies (all slave-holding) received separate independence from Great Britain in the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783 as “free, sovereign and independent states” and Britain agreed to return any runaway slaves to U.S. owners. http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/milestones/paris/text.html
Great Britain created the 13 colonies and granted them independence. These 13 States created the United States; the United States did NOT create the 13 States.
Therefore, the Southern States had more right to withdraw from the United States in 1861 than the 13 colonies had to secede from England in 1776.
Unless one uses a double standard of judgment, anyone who claims the Southern States were wrong to withdraw from the United States must also conclude that the 13 colonies were even more wrong to withdraw from Great Britain in 1776 and that the United States should not even exist.
Like the Southern States, the United States today would have the right to secede from the United Nations, because the United Nations did not create the United States; the United States created the United Nations.
Abraham Lincoln declared in his First Inaugural Speech on March 4, 1861:
“I have no purpose, directly or indirectly, to interfere with the institution of slavery in the States where it exists. I believe I have no lawful right to do so, and I have no inclination to do so.”
“The power confided to me will be used to hold, occupy, and possess the property and places belonging to the government, and to collect the duties and imposts; but beyond what may be necessary for these objects, there will be no invasion, no using of force against or among the people anywhere.”
Abraham Lincoln said he started his War only to collect taxes and not to interfere with slavery, at all, one month before he invaded Charleston Harbor with 11 warships to occupy Fort Sumter, a tax collection fort.
Southerners paid 80% of the federal taxes, while Lincoln’s financial backers, the rich monopoly banks and industries in the North received 80% of the tax benefits.
A few days earlier, with Lincoln’s support, the U.S. Congress passed the Morrill Tariff Act, raising import taxes on Southerners from 20% to 40% and passed a Constitutional Amendment prohibiting the Federal government from ever interfering with slavery in any State. http://www.nationalcenter.org/LincolnFirstInaugural.html
Lincoln’s Tax War was the last time Americans would fight on the battlefield for low taxes and local self-government and Jefferson Davis was the last real American president, as envisioned by the Founding Fathers.
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Bodhisattva Reply:
July 6th, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I bet they just love you at the TEA parties.
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Sideline Conservative says:
Anonymouse2:
I suspect that you did not pick up on Court Reporter’s sarcasm regarding the stupidity of this letter and the sheer gall that Perry’s campaign appraently has about the intelliegence of the GOP electorate.
Or do you really believe that we elect U.S. Supreme Court Justices?
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Rog says:
What did John Cornyn do to make Perry hate Washington so much?
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GOP Realist says:
Oh yeah. The “South Was Right To Secede” Platform and “Jefferson Davis was AWESOME” plank will win a LOT of general elections. (note sarcasm)
I mean, do you have ANY idea how that sounds to a majority of the general electorate? HORRIBLE!
Please fellow conservatives, do better than THIS.
jebahoula, while your historical cites may have some merit, in current political and cultutral times, they have NO persuasive effectiveness.
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slick says:
It is a good letter, considering his target audience at the moment. He’s retained some very good wordsmiths and political consultants. The problem is that he has a record that is wanting (I can see KBH’s attack piece now, with scandals, failing agencies, insurance and utility rates, headlines floating by in ominous greys and smokey voice overs). And the more wacky stuff he embraces in the primary, the more he’s going to have to answer for in the general — suburban women are very unlikely to embrace the hard-right tea bagger rhetoric.
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Chris Burke says:
An Open Letter Introduction
Friends,
Accountability and innovation are crucial to business success. Small and large companies must be able to rely on their communications agencies to pinpoint methods and language to meet their needs. Inherent to its expertise as an Internet marketing resource, Burke Communications has created the BurkeBlog.
Blogs are interactive online journals. Their networks function as an open-source model for information commerce. When well-crafted, blogs are illuminating, entertaining and cross-pollinating. A blogger addresses a certain topic, and readers are invited to participate: agreement, disagreement, constructive tangents. When communicated effectively, ideas from one industry can be translated to other industries. A blog is an evolving tool that can enable entrepreneurs and corporations alike to take advantage of the marketing impact of the Internet.
We want the BurkeBlog to be a part of a local and regional communications network, and we invite you to participate.
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José says:
Now fellers, I understand the idea that by enumerating certain specific responsibilities to the government, the US Constitution limits the power of that government. On the other hand, I also recall something about the Constitutional Convention being very intentional about creating a government that was stronger than the ineffective one under the Articles of Confederation. It would be truthful to say that the US Constitution was drafted to empower the federal government and thereby unleash the power of this great nation and secure our freedom.
But then again I ain’t no Aggie amateur historian.
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Meh says:
Anything is better than Lainey Melnick’s constant emails though her constant apologies almost make up for them. http://www.laineymelnick.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=5&Itemid=64
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rhino76 says:
He is damn good! His focus remains getting thru a very tough primary and this is “red-meat” for typical republican primary voters.
I am supporting KBH but this plays to his base.
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Lance says:
I hope Perry secedes from the Governor’s Office come election time. Thats the only secession that needs to take place in Texas.
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Jim says:
How Perry was elected the last time is a mystery to me. He is a joke. KBH acts like she doesn’t want the job or she would have come out from under her rock by now and started campaigning. Is there not a Democrat in the State that can beat these two? Come on, are Texans that backwards that they will vote Repub no matter who is running? This is embarrassing…
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Patricia Sacco says:
Dear Senator Perry,
In Regards to the people of Twxas thinking it’s ok for the Texas Parole Board to set off inmates for more time than is allowed by law, and just keep them in Prison because they deserve it, because they broke the law. My Brother, got drunk and broke into a motel room that was a kitchette(and the courts said it was a habitation) and my brother tried to steal five dollars and some postage stamps. He was convicted of this in 1993, and yes,he did his time as he deserved for breaking the law.
On Jan 1,2004, the law changed and said that Parole can only give non-violent offenders a ! year set off, and violent offenders can get between 1 year and 5 years.
My Brother was convicted of a non-violent offense, and in 2003 my brother got a 2 yearset off, but Parole did not see him as per the new law in 2004, nor in 2005, and they Blantanly violated my brothers’ Civil Rights, then when Parole seen my Brother in 2008 Parole set my brother off again for 2 more years, then they said they made a mistake, and gave him a 1 year set off.
My brother made a mistake in 1993, and has been in prison for over 16 years for breaking the law, but, when Parole breaks the law & violates my brothers’ (and others’) Civil Rights law, then it”s okay? And parole is part of the Criminal Justice System, and the Citizens of Texas are saying it”s okay for the Criminal Justice System(Cops,Judges,State Attorneys’ & Prison Systems) to violate the laws of Texas Citizens. I’m ashamed to claim Texas as a State when the people of the State allow the State to violate it”s Citizens Civil Rights in Violation of The Constitution of the USA. And when systems like parole experiment with violating it’s Prisoners’ Civil Rights then the Cops, Judges, and State Attorneys see it, and they violate the publics Civil Rights to get them in prison,and the Courts lie and violate it’s Citizen’s Civil Rights, and the proof of this is for the Citizens of Texas to look at all Cases in Texas that are over-turned due to DNA evidence.
My Brother is an Outside Trustee working at the dog kennels, at the Hughes Unit, he is taken in the woods for hours at a time, and left alone for the dogs to track him, and he has never done wrong doing this showing he can be trusted in public and Parole continues to set him off he is James E.Brown# 669220, RT 2-Box 4400, Gatesville,Tx 76597, and he has proof of how Texas Parole violated his Civil Rights.
Thank You, & God Bless,
Patricia Sacco
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