Perry (Gasp!) Plays Politics with Jobless

I've never had much regard for the governor of my state, Rick Perry, but his latest grandstanding is appalling — even for him.

For those who don't live in Texas, let me briefly familiarize you with Perry's political background. He was lieutenant governor when George W. Bush became president — and thus succeeded Bush as governor in December 2000, after Bush resigned. He ran for full terms on his own in 2002 and 2006, winning both times — although he received less than 40% of the vote when he ran against four other opponents in 2006.

He has now held the office longer than anyone in state history, and he has announced his intention to run for an unprecedented third full term in 2010. He is expected to be challenged in the Republican primary by Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Hutchison filed the necessary papers to establish an exploratory committee for the race in December. If she runs for governor, as anticipated, it seems likely to produce one of the most expensive campaigns in state history.

Hutchison will be a formidable foe for Perry, who has never been perceived as overly popular. He happened to be the next in line when Bush became president, and other Republicans have been hesitant to run against him since he took office.

But Hutchison is popular here. In 2000, she was the first Senate candidate in state history to receive 4 million votes. Even Bush didn't receive that many votes in Texas that year, in his first campaign for president. (Bush became the first presidential candidate to receive 4 million votes in Texas when he sought re-election in 2004.)

And no gubernatorial candidate has received 4 million votes — not even Bush, when he was re-elected governor in 1998 with more than two-thirds of the vote.

Last month, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that a poll of Texas Republicans indicates that Hutchison holds a commanding lead over Perry. And the Dallas Morning News reported a couple of weeks ago that Perry's campaign has been trying to dig up information on Hutchison and her husband, a prominent bond attorney.

Since he appears likely to face a popular opponent in his bid to be nominated for a third term, Perry is trying to strengthen his support with his conservative "base" — such as it is.

Perry has always been opportunistic. Back in 2007, when it appeared that Rudy Giuliani might be the Republican presidential nominee, Perry announced that he was endorsing Giuliani. Then, when Giuliani withdrew in early 2008, Perry endorsed the new apparent front-runner, John McCain.

Supporting McCain was safe in Republican Texas. While Barack Obama was winning most states, McCain was carrying Texas with more than 55% of the vote.

So, it seems, is the position Perry has taken against expanding gambling in Texas, which appears to have some appeal with the fundamentalist church groups that thrive in rural Texas, even though Perry at one time favored video slot machines at race tracks.

But, now, with unemployment rising in Texas, as it is everywhere, Perry may have picked on the wrong demographic group. He has announced that he will reject more than $500 million of the state's stimulus funds that are intended for unemployment insurance.

"Perry's rationale: He doesn't want to increase the burden on businesses to fill the hole once federal funds dry up," writes Christopher Beam in the Washington Post.

If you're inclined to dismiss the Post as being a liberal publication, read this from The Lariat, the student newspaper at the Southern Baptist-affiliated Baylor University.

"There is a difference between standing by one's principles and playing politics," writes Baylor journalism major Jade Ortego. "Perry is only hurting his state by rejecting any of the stimulus money."

Perry has no problem with accepting most of the $17 billion in stimulus funds that were set aside for Texas. "It has to be 100% political," remarked the Democratic leader in the state House of Representatives.

Other state legislators have urged Perry to accept all the funds, but he seems determined to take this stand — even though it undoubtedly will cause more pain for people who are already hurting.

It's possible that the legislature could override the decision to reject some of the stimulus funds. But, even though Democrats have made some spotty gains in the state recently, there are far too many Republicans in the legislature to make that a realistic possibility.

So I suppose the most that can be done — right now — is to say to Perry — shame on you for playing politics with the vulnerable.

And here's hoping the unemployed show up at the polls in record numbers next year to toss you out of office.