SEPTEMBER 14, 2015
AP Photo/Rainier Ehrhardt
It doesn’t happen very often.
The last time it occurred on this scale was probably in 1967, when Michigan Governor George Romney, Mitt’s father, was beginning his run for the Republican Presidential nomination. At the end of a long and tiring campaign day, Romney, once a hawk on Vietnam, gave an interview in which he said that when he returned from Vietnam in 1965, he had the greatest “brainwashing” that anybody could get. At that time, the term “brainwashing” was associated with America’s enemies who try to turn American POWs against their country, and Romney’s use of that word ignited a firestorm, first of denunciation, then of ridicule. In a moment, the use of one word effectively ended Romney’s political career.
Cut to 2011. Gov. Rick Perry of Texas was a late entry in the GOP field that year, but once he announced, with his cowboy boots and his Texas swagger, he immediately shot up to lead the GOP pack in the polls, with upwards of 20% support in a fairly large field. However, in a debate on November 9, Perry began his statement with a pledge to eliminate three government agencies — the Departments of Education and Commerce – but after a painfully long period, he could not remember the third. “I can’t. The third one, I can’t. Sorry.”
Then he paused. If he just left it at that, it would have been an embarrassing moment, but it would have been at most a two-day story. Then, in a weak attempt to lighten the mood, he spoke that fateful word.
“Oops.”
At that moment, it was over. Perry never faced the denunciation that George Romney endured, but the ridicule was far more intense. Perry became a national joke, and though his campaign limped on for two more months, money dried up, and he had to withdraw in January 2012.
When he announced his candidacy for 2016 on June 4, pundits didn’t focus on Perry the man but instead saw him as yet another candidate in the clown car. His campaign didn’t start badly at all. Perry had been polling in the Top 10 and appeared likely to make the cut for Fox News’ main-stage debate on August 6. But a late polling surge by Ohio Gov. John Kasich bumped Perry to 11th and thus he was banished to the afternoon “kids’ table” debate. Even though he was considered the big dog going into that debate, Perry was outshone on every issue by Carly Fiorina. His funds were quickly depleted, and he was unable to even pay his staffers, prompting Perry’s Iowa campaign chairman to resign.
On Friday, Rick Perry withdrew from the 2016 Presidential race, the first of 17 GOP candidates to do so. It was a sad, quiet end to his campaign. On reflection, though, I don’t really think that he was really seeking to become President.
I believe that what Rick Perry was really seeking was redemption.
I think he wanted one final stellar debate performance before millions that could erase the wood “oops” from the first paragraph of his obituary. With sinking fundraising and yet another relegation to the kids’ table this Wednesday for the CNN debate, he may have realized that this would never happen.
While many of his policies as Texas governor were abhorrent, I sincerely wish that Perry had had that chance to shine. He was never going to be the 2016 nominee, but I wouldn’t wish “oops” to be the main summary of anybody’s life.
So long, Rick Perry. Now it’s on to Simi Valley for the next debate this Wednesday!
