(CNN) – Texas Gov. Rick Perry on Sunday labeled President Barack Obama's claim of executive privilege over Operation Fast and Furious as "Nixonian," suggesting the scandal is worse than Watergate.
"You have a president who is using his executive privilege to keep that information from Congress. If that's not Nixonian, then I don't know what is," Perry said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
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The Republican governor and former presidential candidate portrayed the botched gun-running operation as more serious than the 1970s Watergate scandal that led to the resignation of former President Richard Nixon.
"We've had over 300 Mexican nationals killed directly attributable to this Fast and Furious operation, where they brought those guns into Mexico. A former Marine and a Border Patrol agent by the name of Brian Terry lost his life," Perry said. "With Watergate you had a second-rate burglary."
Obama asserted executive privilege last week over Justice Department documents surrounding the Fast and Furious probe by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The House is expected to vote next week to cite Attorney General Eric Holder for contempt of Congress.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives launched the operation out of Arizona to track weapon purchases by Mexican drug cartels. However, it lost track of more than 1,000 firearms that the agency had allowed straw buyers to carry across the border, and two of the lost weapons turned up at the scene of the 2010 killing of U.S. Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry.
– CNN's Tom Cohen contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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GW Bush used executive previledge to withold informaton on the DEATH OF PAT TILMAN, a professional football hero who joined the Army to fight in the supposedly WAR of TERROr after 9/11 orchestrated by the call to ACTION by GW BUSH!!!
PAT TILLMAN's parents wanted and deserved answers....GW BUSH says NO!!!!
Nixonian, Rick? Really? How about your refusal to release documents regarding the cost of your security detail to the taxpayers of your state? Maybe you should shut up.
Look who is talking the Governor that get lost with words.
The Lynch Mob is out again in full force here. Facts make no difference to them. They're here to hang Obama for the Bush catastrophe.
Rick Perry needs to go away-and stay there. The GOP had no use for him, why should anyone else?
The NRA was getting nervous as to their defense and support of lax gun laws and of the loose wheeling and dealing by manufacterers and sellers, you know, the ones at gun shows and gun shops that are SUPPOSED to check to see if a gun is being bought by a felon or foreign national?? It is about money, money and more money to them and they will gladly grease the hands of any politican or, give them a free NRA tee-shirt such as Sarah Palin's (she was cheap, I guess, compared to some).
This has nothing to do with the Second Amendment but, they get the booble-heads, boobling frantically whenever they want by saying that it does. Weapons manufacterers are in it for the bucks and they don't care about the Border Patrol, our soldiers or, our police officers. They aren't patriotic because they will sell to ANYBODY. Including America's most wanted, most dangerous and MOST DEADLY. Period. Nobody is saying you can't go out and shoot at Bambi if you have a license and Bambi is in season. Donald Duck? Nope, same rules. Get some facts and stop being tools of the big guns who are some of the biggest goons this country has ever seen. If you want to get someone on acccessory to murder-start with them.
1) In 2009, an Obama appointed deputy to Attorney General Eric Holder gave a press conference to brag about creating and expanding gun walking programs across the border into Mexico. He admitted Obama approved $10 million for this program.
2) Fast and Furious sent thousands of grenades into Mexico – killing hundreds. CBS did the reporting on the grenade smuggling. CSPAN and youtube have the 2009 fast and furious press conference.
3) One grenade attack killed dozens of grandmothers who were just having a fun afternoon out at the casino. Many of our retired also enjoy an afternoon at the casino. Mexican grandmothers were slaughtered with grenades Obama approved to go to Mexico – without the consent or knowledge of the Mexican government.
How long did it take to teach Perry the word "Nixonian"? If Rick Perry could give me a basic rundown on the pertinent facts of the Watergate hearings, I'll vote for Romney. Right now, I'm still looking forward to President Obama's second term.
sorry, but the elevator in this man's brain doesn't quite go to the top floor.
Using your words here Rick, "I don't know what is"! ....yep
Rick Perry couldn't remember what govt depts he planned to abolish if he was elected President, so his confusion over history is understandable. But, he was elected in Texas and that explains a lot. It must be the heat, boils the brain, and the brains of the voters. Hard to explain otherwise. Alas!
They've been trying to get back for Watergate for 40 years. First it was the nonsense with Clinton and now Obama. Sad, Petty. Pitiful.
Let's give Perry a break, people. It's hard enough for him to pronounce "Nixonian". To expect him to understand the meaning of the term, and then apply the concept in a meaningful way is like asking a root vegetable to play chess.
It was my impression that Rick Perry's opinion was ruled insignificant. He ran a lousy campaign during the primaries. He stumbled on issues that concerned the American people. He's a space cadet who was sent back to Texas and we are not interested in any post primary commentary from him! I would rather hear a mosquito fly around my ear before listening to Perry or Romney!
Politics is so annoying and never changes. It's finger pointing and blaming just to score votes. Notice how the President was blamed for rising gas prices but now that they're falling he does not get credit. Romney told FL Gov Rick Scott to nix-nay on their economy which is doing well but doesn't fit the GOPer message of gloom and doom. This program started under Bush but no one from that error is being questioned because it is political, partisan b.s. Amercans see through it and will heftily vote this President a 2nd term rather than see more of out government ceded to the private sector which has no accountability from voters. The Dream Act passed both houses but Republicans filibustered it in the Senate despite the majority, so Obama did what he good in immigration in this environment. Good for him. Obama/Biden 2012 and replace congress and the senate who seem to have done nothing but obstruct progress on everything.
"You have a president who is using his executive privilege to keep that information from Congress."
And of course Perry was equally concerned the six times George W. Bush invoked Executive Privilege? Hmm...
Why has the House refused to question the head of the ATF? A man who has said he was unaware of the program.
Even more interesting, is the House has revealed the program began in 2006, before the President even announced he was running for the White House. In 2006, why did a Republican President, Republican controlled Congress allow the program to start?
Some republicans posters say if the shoe were on the other foot,that's original.How bout Bushs AG Gonzales and those 9 attorneys they fired,the committee subpoenaed two WH aids and Bush threw in his Ace card not letting them be questioned,by the way the republicans balked at this so called witchhunt also leaving congress and senate bare.But Gonzales resigned before anything happened and to this day these two aids have not been questioned..If you want something good subpoena Bush,Cheney,Gonzales,the whole Gunrunner,Linebacker crew including the original ATF agents,then after some republicans are indicted maybe Issa will call off his dogs on Holder and Pres Obama.Republicans know they're more guilty than Democrates on this issue because only 12% of Bushs tracible guns were ever recovered and its being coincidence that this political witchhunt is almost 2 years after officer Terrys death,just around election time,how original.Officer Terry,I'm sorry for his death but he knew when he signed on what this job was like.Republicans making him the poster boy against Pres.Obama will most certainly backfire as your republican fascist president Bush has the blood of thousands of young military men,women and innocent Iraqi civilians on his hands from a war that was created with lies.So if you republicans believe that Bushs operations were cancelled ,dream on, he has lied about everything else,why not this and you ignorent jerks believe him too,that's hilarious,that's assenine but that's republicans, can't expect anything else can ya!!!
Our governor has lost all sense of reality. This man needs help desparetly!
Typical election year garbage.
It's the Texas Gov. on the loose again. The man who put thousands of teachers out of work so that he could spend their money on himself to run for his party's nomination. Ha, ha! Typical Repuglican! He is drawing his retirement while taking his pay check for being Gov.! Lots of waste, just like the Republicans!
Gov. Perry nailed it. President Obama is the spittin' image of former President Nixon in temperament, demeanor, and in his disdain for the constitution.
Yet again I ask why do we buy our textbooks form Texas??
Nixonian, Rick? Really? Why have you refused to release documents about the cost of your security details to the taxpayers of your state? Curious how many of those documents have been "erased" and are no longer available. What are YOU hiding? Nixonian? Really, Rickie. You need to shut up. You've embarassed us Texans enough.
If that's not Nixonian, then I don't know what is," Perry said on CBS' "Face the Nation."
You are right, Governor. It's NOT Nixonian, and you DON'T know what it is...