Tea Party favorite Perry flubs date of U.S. revolution

Republican presidential candidates Texas Gov. Rick Perry gestures during a Republican presidential debate at Dartmouth College in Hanover, N.H., Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2011.

/ AP Photo/Jim Cole

Texas Gov. Rick Perry would like to avoid being compared to his gaffe-prone predecessor, former President George W. Bush, but he didn't help himself late Tuesday when he suggested that the American Revolution took place in the 16th century.

Following a Republican presidential candidate debate at Dartmouth College, Perry made a stop at the school's Beta Theta Pi fraternity house a few blocks away, where he spoke briefly with students and answered a few questions. One participant pressed the governor on the issue of states' rights.

Perry, a favorite of Tea Party Republicans, replied, "Our Founding Fathers never meant for Washington, D.C. to be the fount of all wisdom. As a matter of fact, they were very much afraid of that because they'd just had this experience with this far-away government that had centralized thought process and planning and what have you, and then it was actually the reason that we fought the revolution in the 16th century, was to get away from that kind of onerous crown if you will."

The American Revolution, of course, was fought during the 18th century. In describing his personal story on the campaign trail, Perry has often said he wasn't a very diligent student, and the Huffington Post has reported that he got poor grades in college, including a C in U.S. history.

[krisd999-2009]

Perry is not a TEA party favorite..are you kidding me? He was Al Gore's guy. He was busy handing out taxpayers money to select contributors-more likely to be tarred and feathered by the TEA party. Another supposed TEA party favorite..Cain is an ex Federal Reserve guy- no way in hell he is a TEA party favorite(tar and feather candidate). Bachmann-IRS attorney(tar and feather candidate), Romney- without his leadership example there would be no OBAMACARE. All frauds being falsely presented by the liberal media as TEA choices to confuse the electorate who trust the TEA party!

[miknfltoo]

I strongly resent the comparison to Goofy as a potential republican candidate. As a representative from the Union that actually represents Goofy At Walt Disney World , I can speak with expertise to the subject. None of the current candidates would have made it as probationary employee at Disney.

[miknfltoo]

It has been addressed and we need to move on. Palin has given him a marker and shown him the palm of his hand. This won't happen again

[Lindag10]

Yeah and there were HOW many British colonies in the US in the 16th century? Advice to Perry, don't go to an Ivy League school and try to play "smart".

[AttyFAM]

Perry, a favorite of Tea Party Republicans, replied, "Our Founding Fathers never meant for Washington, D.C. to be the fount of all wisdom. As a matter of fact, they were very much afraid of that because they'd just had this experience with this far-away government that had centralized thought process and planning and what have you, and then it was actually the reason that we fought the revolution in the 16th century, was to get away from that kind of onerous crown if you will."
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Take a good look at that nonsense. He is accusing England (of the 16th C) of central planning, of all things!!! England, in the 17th and 18th centuries, so far from engaging in central planning, was the bastion of unrestrained capitalism, the initiator of the modern corporation and stock markets (leading to the South Sea Bubble of 1719 and the subsequent stock market crash). In England of that time, big business heavily influenced the laws made by the government. Perry knows nothing of what he is talking about.

Getting back to the colonies, in 1775-1776, there was a Congress of all the colonies, uniting against England, and understanding that unless they were unified, they could never take on England. They formed a confederation and found after only a very few years that the weak central government left all of them weak. So they formed a strong central government and never looked back. Again, Perry knows nothing of our history.

[AttyFAM]

Perry, a favorite of Tea Party Republicans, replied, "Our Founding Fathers never meant for Washington, D.C. to be the fount of all wisdom. As a matter of fact, they were very much afraid of that because they'd just had this experience with this far-away government that had centralized thought process and planning and what have you, and then it was actually the reason that we fought the revolution in the 16th century, was to get away from that kind of onerous crown if you will."
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Take a good look at that nonsense. He is accusing England (of the 16th C) of central planning, of all things!!! England, in the 17th and 18th centuries, so far from engaging in central planning, was the bastion of unrestrained capitalism, the initiator of the modern corporation and stock markets (leading to the South Sea Bubble of 1719 and the subsequent stock market crash). In England of that time, big business heavily influenced the laws made by the government. Perry knows nothing of what he is talking about.

Getting back to the colonies, in 1775-1776, there was a Congress of all the colonies, uniting against England, and understanding that unless they were unified, they could never take on England. They formed a confederation and found after only a very few years that the weak central government left all of them weak. So they formed a strong central government and never looked back. Again, Perry knows nothing of our history.

[cameraphone]

Perry is a male Palin - pretty to look at but not much else there.

[Lindag10]

I don't think he's good looking, quite the reverse in fact. I really find his type repulsive. Alpha males are the pits.

[SierraPeaks]

Well...at least he knows there are 50 states in the US...and not "57...with 2 that I won't be going to"...as Oblamer the Bungler stated.

[JV1970]

skyk1 I remind you that your so-called "intelligent" president also put 2008 as the date when he signed the registry at Buckingham palace last spring and he once called the Marine Corps the Marine corpse!

[cdraper5]

He sounds like he's been hanging out with Sarah Palin.

[baileyccc]

This pretty boy ain't got it, the gop has nobody to challenge President Obama.