Rick Perry Is Answering My Challenge!

Earlier this month I posed a question to all 2016 Republican Presidential Candidates:

Are you willing to go into the inner city?  I’m talking about you.  Not your representative or your “people,” but you.  Will you go into the inner city and let them know they matter.  The greatness of our nation depends on them.  Will you tell them you’re going to make sure they have the education they deserve so that they can take advantage the opportunities that America offers?

And it looks like Governor Rick Perry is going to answer my challenge!

Last week Governor Perry gave a speech on race and opportunity, saying:

When it comes to race, America is a better and more tolerant and more welcoming place than it has ever been. We are a country with Hispanic CEOs, and Asian billionaires, and a black President.

So why is it that even today, so many black families feel left behind? Why is it that a quarter of African-Americans live below the poverty line, even after the impact of federal programs like food stamps and housing subsidies?

The supplemental poverty rate for African-Americans is nearly double the rate for other Americans.

Democrats have long had the opportunity to govern in African-American communities.

It is time to help black families hold them accountable for the results.

I am here to tell you that it is Republicans, not Democrats, who are truly offering black Americans the hope of a better life for themselves and their children.

I am proud to live in a country with an African-American President. But President Obama cannot be proud of the fact that the prevalence of black poverty has actually increased under his leadership. […]

I am running for President because I want to make life better for all people, even those who don’t vote Republican.

I know Republicans have much to do to earn the trust of African-Americans.

For too long, we Republicans have been content to lose the black vote because we found that we could win elections without it. But when we gave up on trying to win the support of African-Americans, we lost our moral legitimacy as the party of Lincoln. As the party of equal opportunity for all.

It is time for us to once again reclaim our heritage as the only party in our country founded on the principle of freedom for African-Americans.

As I said before, I really like Rick Perry.  He is serious about solving America’s problems using conservative principles.  And his record in Texas proves that his approach works!

I hope that other Republican Candidates take a lesson from Governor Perry and take seriously my challenge to head to the inner city.  There are big problems to be addressed there, and we can’t help solve them if we aren’t willing to go there!

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