Perry sticks by alcoholism and homosexuality comparison
(CNN) - Texas Gov. Rick Perry stood by his recent comments comparing homosexuality to alcoholism.
Appearing on CNN's "Crossfire" on Wednesday, Perry was asked by co-host Stephanie Cutter whether he believes homosexuality is a disease.
"I think my position has been fairly clear on that for a substantial period of time," Perry said, pivoting quickly to the economy as a more pressing issue facing the United States.
Christie: Perry is 'wrong' on homosexuality-alcoholism comparison
The focus should be on American jobs, Perry said, "and that is not on these social issues.”
"I think the social issues should be decided state-by-state rather than being something in Washington, D.C. to try to make one-size-fits-all."
At a speech last week in San Francisco, the longtime Republican governor - who ran for the White House in 2012 and is considering another bid in 2016 - was asked whether he thought homosexuality was a disorder.
"I may have the genetic coding that I'm inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that - and I look at the homosexual issue the same way," Perry said during that event, immediately sparking backlash from Democrats and gay rights organizations.
Asked repeatedly Wednesday on CNN about the controversial comparison, Perry did not elaborate further on his views on homosexuality.
"I got asked a question and I responded the way that I have before,” he said.
More from Crossfire: Perry weighs in on U.S. options in Iraq
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and the Hillary campaign continues....
I am straight as an arrow but I work in an industry in NYC that has a high percentage of gay workers. More than half of my immediate co-workers are gay. Long story short, I have been around openly gay people for a long time. These people do NOT have a disease or a problem. For most, being gay was not a decision. They were born that way. They are being themselves. I feel lucky to be surrounded by gay people. I could not imagine being surrounded by politicians all day. Yikes. This type of comment from a "sane" politician is scary. Very scary. Conservatives are scary... as are liberals. Can't we just have common sense?
i think he's a nit wit, but i can respect him if he sticks by his word and not change it to get people to like him.
How and why did this guy ever get elected Governor!? wow. dude – go back to the 50's, they want their crazy ideas back. The only good that will come from him running for President, is the jokes on The Daily Show.
This man is an uneducated fool and is not worthy to hold any office in the country.
Then can we say people from Texas are dumb?
Look Patrick, I'm Texas! Duh, howdy, y'all! Howdy y'all!
The Commonwealth Fund ranks the Texas healthcare system the third worst in the nation. Only Arizona, Nevada and Mississippi are worse. The Fund’s new report, “Healthcare in Two Americas,” has an exhaustive collection of data that covers many measures of care. You can see how each state ranks in four areas: child health system, state health system, local area systems and low-income services. Texas is in the bottom quartile for all but one of those analyses. It is the third quartile for low-income population
Women now find it harder to get preventive healthcare after Texas successfully defunded Planned Parenthood.
And, of course, there will be no Medicaid expansion in Texas. In 2012, Gov. Rick Perry said he would not expand Medicaid and in May of this year, the state legislature agreed. Voting against a Medicaid expansion meant that Texas hospitals would lose about $7 billion, on top of the $700 million a year reduction in Medicaid payments from state budget shortfalls and sequestration cuts. And, 1.5 million poor people in Texas still won’t have healthcare.
This August Perry changed his mind about federal help with healthcare for his citizens. He now wants $100 million for the Community First Choice program that improves the quality of services available to the disabled and elderly in their homes or communities.”
its not like he was a serious contender for president anyway.
:L'il Ricky will likely be coming out after this latest abortive attempt at running for president and pretending to have a brain inevitably fails.
Texas law against gay marriage has been overturned.
Your opinion is no longer important.
Rick Perry "Do these glasses conceal the fact that I am NOT an intelligent individual but in reality am uneducated, ignorant, and bigoted?"
Everyone else "NO! Actually they do not. They just make it appear that you are also a complete "twit" that is desperately trying to conceal "the fact that I am NOT an intelligent individual but in reality am uneducated, ignorant, and bigoted?"!
Flush! The sound of Perry's political career going down the toilet!
Obviously, there must be a gene that results in the inability to process rational thoughts... and Perry's genetic code includes that particular gene. Next, he'll be blaming women for getting breast cancer. Luckily, if anyone he loves gets cancer, he's got the answer... "just have the desire not to!" Can someone remind me where Ricky got his doctorates in genetic science again? I'd be surprised if he has his grade 10 yet...
Unfit to hold office.
I gotta give it to the hate coalition. They're getting very creative in justifying their hostilities and fear of change.
Either he has a degree in psychology/medicine or he has tried both. Why doesn't he just turn off his "straight" gene and see how well that turning off of genes works. Can he turn off the gene that controls his heartbeat or even the one to use that pea sized brain of his!
Just think in a very short period of time we will never hear from this guy ever again!
I agree that many issues should be decided at the state level. Basic human rights is not one of those issues.
There is no cure for ignorance quite like education. It's clear Governor Perry has plenty of ignorance and little in the way of education.
Perry is gay, I hate to break it to him. Just come out of the closet already.
He is a joke here in Texas like everywhere else he opens his stink hole. The problem is so many here in this state are as filled with hate and want to keep people down that it near impossible to make any real change here. Its time for Texas to evolve and leave backwards talk to late night.
Raising his koo koo bucks for another clown car ticket, go Ricky!
Ricky, Ricky, Ricky. You are a very sad case. Logic like that is exactly what we need more of in Washington......... NOT!!!!
Being gay is a sin. So is eating pork, and shellfish. The earth is approximately 6000 years old and was made in 7 days. God sends huricanes to citys that host gay parades. Everyone should own a gun with 1000 round magizine. And I know more about what a woman should do with her body than she and her doctor do.
Rick Perry is Awesome!
Rumors about this guy (Rick Perry) have been going around for years. Those who say things like he is saying usually have something to hide. As they say, if it quakes like a duck, it is a duck.