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Rick Perry: ‘I May Get To Be A Good Debater Before It’s All Over’

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Following a CNN appearance in which his communications director suggested Rick Perry might skip some of the remaining Republican debates, the Texas Governor left that opssibility open, telling reporters in New Hampshire “I don’t know if we will forego the debates or not,” adding, “There will be a lot of debates. I may get to be a good debater before it’s all over.”

MSNBC’s Martin Bashir reported Perry’s comments, and sharp criticism by popular second-tier candidate Newt Gingrich, who asked, “Why would any Republican want to nominate someone who couldn’t stand on the same platform with us?”

Bashir also played a debate clip that shows why Perry might want to sit out a few of the gatherings, one in which he tells Michelle Bachmann that he’s offended that she’s “saying I can be bought for $5,000.”

Perry’s performance in the debates has been textbook awful, so the impulse to skip a few is understandable. As communications director Ray Sullivan points out, Perry can use the time doing things that play more to his strengths.

However, Gingrich is right that missing debates will almost certainly hurt Perry more than the extra time on the campaign trail will help. With Mitt Romney and Herman Cain in the lead, and the also-rans getting desperate, every Perry-less debate will likely feature soundbite-ready knife-twisting from every quarter. If Perry thinks he looks bad while wilting under attack, how does he think an empty foxhole is going to play?

Besides, Perry has already taken the “bad debater” rap, and the damage points. Even if he still performs badly, is it really going to hurt him that much more?

Skipping debates also deprives Perry of opportunities to slug his way back into the lead. He lost a battle of optics at the last debate when he allowed Mitt Romney to shush him with a Vulcan neck pinch. If Perry’s smart, he’ll go into Rocky-Movie-Training-Montage mode, and bulk up his debatin’ skills.

Here’s the clip, from MSNBC:


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  • Anonymous

    This black dude, Bashir…why does he talk so funny?

  • http://www.facebook.com/people/Dave-Be/1751243136 Dave Be

    I thought Perry might be having a stroke when he delivered the flip-flop gibberish attack.  It doesn’t matter how many points he’s already lost for being a “bad debater” (incoherent debater would be more accurate), looking like that again will cost him again.

    Also, Romney needs to keep his hands to himself at the debates haha.  Someone desperate for a bump to keep their campaign alive is going to punch him when he grabs them to get some anti-Romney support.

  • Anonymous

    typical (R)egressive.

  • Anonymous

    Rick Perry: ‘I May Get To Be A Good Debater Before It’s All Over’

    I am sure he will MASTER it before he is done.

  • Anonymous

    Tommy… do you consider Bashir a “reporter” a “journalist” or a “liberal commentator”.

  • TPRTR

    Leave it MSDNC to find the most unappealing angry people. They all sing the same tired old tune: Democrats=good, Evil Republican=Bad. Most thinking people see through this and tune it out hence the low ratings. So so predictable! So transparent and really boring. Look at the anger in the faces of all their hosts as they shill for Obama. Hey Phil Griffin, can’t you see,it ain’t working?

  • http://twitter.com/gadfly666 gadfly666

    Coconut Rick Patel calling Martin Bashir a black dude?

  • Anonymous

    Why does mediaite give this hater so much story time?

    He is a pig and should be shunned.  He can say what he wants and spew his hatred on a daily basis, but TC you should stop being his human mic.

  • pat stone

    Perry’s speech difficulties and behavior are similar to early symptoms of Alzheimer’s/dementia.

  • lazzzlo

    Perry can’t articulate his statements well.  It’s not like he hasn’t been given the opportunity.

  • Anonymous

    “I may get to be a good debater before it’s all over.”,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA.

  • Anonymous

    Perry can’t articulate.(period)

  • Anonymous

    Fact: Perry is just sandbagging the debate tour until later since front runners get hammered by MSM so just like NASCAR you want to make your move a the last couple of laps crossing the finish line in first!!

  • Anonymous

    Too bad this lib loser will never have a good show before it’s all over!

  • Ralph

    I don’t understand why the White House withheld the Hawaiian long form birth certificate until the media all called the Birthers racists.  The Hawaiian short form doesn’t look anything like my birth certificate from the same year.  Say the Hawaiian short form looks like your own birth certificate before concluding that the Birthers are racists. 

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_TWK2YYJTTIDLZIVV7NKZM23Z6Q Tyler

    Perry should just get out of the debates he’s just getting in the way of the real leaders Mitt and Cain.  

  • lazzzlo

    I wouldn’t laugh too hard.  The Prez will have to explain why his hope and change message isn’t working without blaming other people.

  • SayyyyyWhat

    Amnd Martin, you are still the most boring person on TV, cable or network. All shows, not just the bashing a REAL News Source like FOX News like you gals do on PMSnbc 24/7 5 days a week.

  • Jeffy Parry Teabagged

    Well said, Tina.

    Any credible media outlet should stop giving any time to what that birfher racist pig Parry has to spew.

    Parry always can go to Fux himself before KKKlownnity.

  • wawoo

    Perry has a better chance at being the first mate on a fishing boat, the master baiter. The real important Perry story is told by Matt Taibbi in Rolling Stone. Government for sale or rent  with Perry spreading whatever costing far more than 50 cents. Pay to play, the Republican governors, House members, and Senators mantra. Jeb Bush and Mac Stipanovich made it so in Florida, Rick Lord Voldermort Scott has doubled down . Republicans make sure government does not have a chance of working for the people.

  • Bob

     Perry seemed bewildered when folks started laughing at his vow to become a “Master Debater.”

  • wawoo

    Some Democrats are good, virtually no Republicans are and the present Republican Party does not reward good, it doubles down on destroying civil society.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    It would be appropriate for Tollbooth to be known as a “masterdebater”.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    If Romeny or anyone else did that to me, I would clock him.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    He’s not that bright, although his wife and de facto campaign manager is that devious.

  • The Real Royal Emperor

    Virtually identiical to the one issued in Texas.

  • MsElectric

    Look everyone…Tommy has nothing better to do + Mediaite needs to push a narrative = let’s let Tommy bash in all our collective articles!  That’s the thing with Tommy – one doesn’t even have to have the half assed urge to read the article because we all know how it’s going to end…starting from the beginning.  He’s like that piss poor rom/com movie from Hollywood that we’ve all aged through but Hollywood/Liberal Media just keeps hoping our disgust isn’t for real.

  • Anonymous

    What a shrew.

  • Anonymous

    For once I agree with Gingrich. Perry is finished if he hides from the debates. It means that he can’t take on tough challenges, but instead runs away, like Palin. How do you sell yourself as a tough-minded, credible candidate if you’re too much of a wimp to go toe-to-toe with someone as transparently awful as Mitt Romney?

  • News Of The World

    It’s fun watching a hillbilly run for President again!

  • Rper

    I guess Perry is there to provide the laughs Palin would have had she ran.

  • S R Karenova

    George Bush was the poorest English student at Andover. I hope that Perry was the poorest English student from Paint Creek Texas.

  • Bob

    Right – because O’Reilly, Bolling and Hannity are just regular Mary Sunshines.
    “F— it! We’ll do it live!”

  • shonangreg

    We’re not interested in Martin Bashir here. We are talking about the ideas regarding Perry that were aired on Bashir’s show. Would you get with the program and stop deflecting, please?

  • shonangreg

    Wow! You’re still ranting about rumors about where President Obama was born — in a discussion that has nothing to do with Obama. Ralph, get out! I mean get away from your PC and go meet people. Try to have a conversation and not bring your ideas on the President’s birthplace into the conversation. Otherwise you’re never going to make any friends — and you’re never going to get well.

  • shonangreg

    Yeah, it’s a bit like a job interviewee saying, “I may get my shirt buttoned up, my pants on frontward, my hair combed, and my teeth brushed before this interview is over.”

  • http://twitter.com/maynardbrainard Jeremy Brainard

    Punctuation.  It’s not very difficult.

  • SayyyyyWhat

    SayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyWhat, gal? This is America where the Constitution Garrrronteees us Americans the Right to have our say concerning the one who is making the charge. Maybe you should go back to Mexico or learn English so you can read such things as our Constitution and The Bill of Rights. You know, things like that. Get back to me in a few years when you’ve learn’t yourself a few things, ok!

    BTW, Martin Bashir, really is boring as hell.

  • shonangreg

    I did not dispute your right to miss the point. You are free to do all kinds of stupid things. It is your expectation that we shouldn’t challenge you on such stupidity that is your problem.

    Or you can continue picking your ass in public.

  • Yukon Jack

    He is like skunk: not quite white not quite black and stinks.

  • Jayamerican1

    One could ask the same question of Tommy and while it may not be clear which best describes his “writing”, it is abundantly clear that he is unsuccessful in all three catagories.

  • Anonymous

    I know the sitcom that you got that joke from ;). Short lived and stared the guy who played Max Headroom. How’s THAT for Trivial Pursuit!!!

  • caconservative

    I’d be surprised if he can even spell it!

  • caconservative

    Get online, take a good look at that bogus birth-certificate and then tell us what’s wrong with it. If you can’t find the problem get back to us and we’ll point them out to you.

  • caconservative

    Yea, your right, Obimbo is a laugh riot.

  • http://www.davidjkramer.co.cc// DavidKramer

    Hey MEDIAITE, why not write an article on Bashir having a guest on calling Cain a good little negro?

    Too much reality for your site?

  • LarryLinn

    Perry doesn’t realize that it is already over!

  • http://societyfordaintydamsels.wordpress.com Fennel

    I just wish Perry and Cain and if there are other Republican presidential nominee candidates would stop talking about a flat tax.  I doubt they will since this kind of tax favors the rich and Republicans cater to the rich.
    This is the main reason why a flat tax is so terribly unfair to middle class and those who earn less.
    A flat tax would be a certain percentage.  The problem is this would be on top of a sales tax and other taxes. For a person making lets say $50,000 per year or less.  This would mean 1/3 of their earnings would go  to taxes. And this is a conservative estimate.  I don’t mean conservative in sense of politics.
    Here’s how I figure this.  The flat tax is on top of taxes one already pays. The only people who make out are the rich.  The less money one earns the higher in percentage of earnings go for  taxes.

  • Nancyalis1

    Mass-debater !!!

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