Des Moines, Iowa (CNN) - Texas governor Rick Perry blew a kiss to Mitt Romney on Monday, kissing off criticism from the former Massachusetts governor and saying, "Give him my love."
The newly-minted Republican presidential candidate was responding to criticism from Romney during a visit to the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines. In New Hampshire earlier Monday, Romney said he is the only contender in the GOP presidential race with extensive experience in both business and government.
CNN asked Perry about the criticism.
Pressing his hands to his lips - then blowing a kiss – Perry's message to Romney: "Give him my love."
CNN pressed Perry on the substance of Romney's dig.
"I think it's oranges and apples," Perry said. "Running a state is different from running a business. What I would say is go take a look at his [Romney's] record when he was governor and my record when I'm governor. Then you got some apples to apples."
Romney isn't the only GOP competitor Perry addressed from the booth of the Iowa Republican Party. CNN also asked the Texas governor about criticism from fellow GOP candidate Michele Bachmann's campaign, which has criticized Perry for not participating in last week's GOP presidential debate or the Ames straw poll on Saturday.
Perry's response to that was essentially a verbal kiss off.
"We're here," Perry said.
Perry visited the Iowa GOP booth after speaking at the "soapbox" at the state fair – a few bales of hay where presidential contenders have addressed supporters, the press and critics since last week. The governor laced his speech with a mix of policy prowess, job-creation bombast and southern folksiness.
"I know what this country needs. And we need to get Americans back working," Perry thundered. "We need to be able to create an environment in this country where anybody that wants to work can find that job. And I'm really proud of what we've done in the state of Texas in the last decade."
Perry continued: "40 percent of all the jobs created in America – from June of 2009 until the present – were created in Texas. I know how to create jobs. You let the private sector - free them up from over taxation, free them up from over regulation, free them up from over litigation. And government, get out of the way. Let the private sector do what the private sector do what it knows how to do."
The Texas governor also spoke about President Obama's Midwest bus tour.
"He's coming into Iowa here in a little bit. And I'm asking him to do something," Perry said. "He says he's on a listening tour. So I'm gonna talk to him. And here's what I wanna say to him. 'Mister President, you need to free up the employers of this country to create jobs.'"
While Perry is making job creation in Texas the centerpiece of his presidential campaign, there is more to the story.
CNN Money reports that "Texas leads the nation in minimum-wage jobs, and many positions don't offer health benefits. Also, steep budget cuts are expected to result in the loss of more than 100,000 jobs."
The site also reports that "Texas enjoys advantages that have nothing to do with having Perry at the helm."
Meanwhile, Perry showed off some of his southern charm that's attracted supporters and could woo others.
The governor talked about his love for the Second Amendment's right to bear arms.
"You know what. That's kind of one of my favorite amendments," Perry said.
"The Second Amendment allows me to go jogging with my daughter's dog over here. And if a coyote jumps out, I can take care of it."
Follow Shannon Travis on Twitter: @ShanTravisCNN
From CNN Politics
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Is it a surprise that Perry comes off as arrogant here? At least Romney knows he'll have to work to get the nomination. Perry seems to believe he has it sewn up already.
To those of you who are so up-tight about Obama's bus tour and the taxpayer paying for it I say to you, bs.
Texas taxpayers are paying Perry's salary while he is galavanting all over the place
Taxpayers are paying Bachmann for the same thing
Taxpayers paid for Bush to go to numerous fund raisers, campaign for himself and other Republicans
Your arguments just get sillier by the day, and lamer by the week.
Leaky buckets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
"40 percent of all the jobs created in America – from June of 2009 until the present – were created in Texas."
MInimum wage, benefitless jobs for people the GOP views as peons.
"I know how to create jobs."
Yeah, minimum wage jobs with no benefits.
"You let the private sector – free them up from over taxation, free them up from over regulation, free them up from over litigation. And government, get out of the way. Let the private sector do what the private..knows how to do."
Translation: LET THE TAIL WAG THE DOG! Let corporations dictate how the country is run under threat that they'll take the billions upon billions they've sucked out of the labor and consumer debt of the middle-class and working poor in the country and they'll just go elsewhere and refuse to do anything with it because who needs to work or run a company or employ people when you're so filthy rich it doesn't freekni matter and you can just play with it on Wall Street and buy the government? Let them behave in any manner they want, let them poison our rivers, contaiminate the land, strip our country of natural resources, pay you almost nothing, give you no health insurance or other benefits, pay you just enough so you can service your skyrocketing average household debts and pay rent to a bank while never owning a house, let them buy your elected officials and interfere with our governance even though they don't vote...and above all...let them leave you with nothing once you retire, because once your useful labor life is over, you need to die and get out of the way.
Parry sure did tell those conservatives precisely what they wanted to hear tohear in the first place. Whoopty-doo.
This secessionist really thinks highly of himself doesn't it? Unfortunately, it's all in the hair because anything under it is fake. He reminds me of the two "girls", the darlings (barf) of the teabaggers. It's all about how do I look instead of what have I done and he really has done nothing.
Even his new found "religion" is fake. It's all about bringing in the bible thumping crowd right now.
Just what we need, another Texas Numbnuts in the White House. If you want a job like the kind that Perry is taking credit for creating, start practicing:
"Do you want fries with that?".
At least this guy was a true fighter pilot, Romney qualified for the cheerleeding squad, absolutely no comparison, the morman will be eatin fo breakfest, lunch, dinner & desert!!!!!
Perry is acting just like BUSH people!!! If he gets the nomination, you can bet he will engineer another steal of the election just like Bush!!!
Blowing kisses and blowing away coyotes. A real Texas he-man who first wanted to secede from the US and now wants to be its President. Brought to you by the RNC: Rogue Nut Cases.
What is this guys economic plan since Texas has $21 Billion Budget Deficit and they have oil. I thought the extremist group and fiscal terrorist the Tea Party hated big spenders. What about his shady land deals that made him rich – another Nixon. "The Second Amendment allows me to go jogging with my daughter's dog over here. And if a coyote jumps out, I can take care of it." – That's the kind of mentality that does not give a damn about the lives of Americans that are in the service and would send them off to be killed for no good reason.
Not sure Perry will be able to steal the election if it favor's Obama in early returns. Perry's arm does not reach that long, and there are more dems, independents, and fed-up republicans who will cast their vote otherwise.
Now if this jackass hires Karl Rove, then Rove may try the same trick he did in the past–but with different results this time. The odds of Perry getting the presidency will be even smaller. That worked once or twice before, and trying the same trick again will be a gross miscalculation. Relax, Perry may be able to win the nomination, but he will lose the general election. The ghost of G.W. Bush has not yet disappeared–and Perry is Bush in more expensive boots and better hair.
At least I am not too proud or arrogant to realize a min-wage job is better than NO job. I may not have as much as many living off welfare and unemployment benifitts, but I am surviving...and proud of it. We are spoiled, and if we continue to demand and falsly believe we should have more...then our country will collapse from with-in...Suck it up, we need not left or right, but centered leaders, AND OBAMA IS NOT ONE OF THEM. Pray Hillary challenges him for 2012
Yes running a government is waaaaaay different from running a business.
Obama 2012.......The only adult in the room.
Gubment is bad, sept when we need some money to put out these here fires or when the wind blows really hard down thur in the gulf.
Secede already you C and D student. What did you do with that stimulus money Slick Rick? How's education in the lone star state?
Go Perry! What are you talking about u sound just like Perry and idiot, Obama is the most center prez ur gonna get he reach out and bent his back to compromise with the teabaggers
Can we just drop all the holy roller crap already? Does anybody remember that this nation was formed on the basis of separation of church and state?
Wow, the maturity factor has simply skyrocketed. Where are the adults on the right?
"The daily Gallup poll that tracks presidential approval ratings showed Monday that President Obama's fell under the 40 percent mark for the first time in his presidency, landing at 39 percent."
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lolol......how low can you go, Barry?
Perry is responsible for the 27 BILLION dollar Texas deficit.....laid off teachers to make up for it.....used that money saved to have the Texas Tax Payers pay his bill for campaigning for the Presidency!! I think that speaks to his abilities to run a government....just imagine what can happen if he had control over the whole nation!!! He is not the answer!
Those jobs created in Texas are minimum wage jobs with no benefits. Someone should also check the reporting on people that find a job, people that worked one day count as finding a job and then they lose it and find another one and they can count again. I hope people investigate his great job creation in Texas...especially when so many teachers and other middle class people are not losing their jobs. Let's see the unemployment rate on Oct. 1st when the new funding year starts. God Bless America, this is one Texan not supporting Perry.
Those jobs created in Texas are minimum wage jobs with no benefits. Someone should also check the reporting on people that find a job, people that worked one day count as finding a job and then they lose it and find another one and they can count again. I hope people investigate his great job creation in Texas...especially when so many teachers and other middle class people are now losing their jobs. Let's see the unemployment rate on Oct. 1st when the new funding year starts. God Bless America, this is one Texan not supporting Perry.
Rick Perry recently vetoed passed legislation prohibiting driving and texting. Did he veto seat belt or child seat laws before? If driving and texting is a privilege/right – tell them to pull over and text away. He does admit that it is reckless – ok, help me here????
Among those was House Bill 242, which would have enacted a statewide ban on texting while driving. At least three cities, including Austin, have already banned such texting, and the state already bans texting in school zones. Perry said that texting while driving "is reckless and irresponsible" but that he saw the bill as "a government effort to micromanage the behavior of adults." Current law already prohibits drivers under age 18 from texting behind the wheel. State Rep. Tom Craddick, R-Midland, and state Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, the sponsors of the bill, could not immediately be reached for comment.
Am I suppose to be impressed? Not even close. Perry and Romney, and the rest of the GOP/Teabag canidates are so lacking in anything meaningful...like coming up with solutions instead of bring our current President down (which is their goal, obviously). How can any American take these people seriously? Although, must admit is is kind of funny to see them spew their anger/hate at each other for a change.
Perry is as the old folks say "an empty wagon makes a lot of noise."
Oh Oh my comment is awaiting moderation...hmmm...wonder why...no swearing/name calling, etc. Just totally against the republicans/teabags...could that be the reason? Also, was not impressed with Perry, and am not impressed with Romney, or any of the baggers/republicans. Hope no Americans take these people at their word...they are not for the people...yep you got it...not for the middle class/poor. Hope President Obama's bus tour ends up throwing these liars under the bus.