Changes

In 2009, Perry drew fire for numerous statements that suggested Texas' legal right to secede from the union if it wanted to.<ref>[http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/04/17/0417gop.html "Governor says Texas is one state that could leave union, though he's not pushing it"]</ref> While such statements were viewed with favor by the Texas Republican Party and helped him win the 2010 gubernatorial election, they were supposed to haunt his 2012 election prospects.

In 2009, Perry drew fire for numerous statements that suggested Texas' legal right to secede from the union if it wanted to.<ref>[http://www.statesman.com/news/content/region/legislature/stories/04/17/0417gop.html "Governor says Texas is one state that could leave union, though he's not pushing it"]</ref> While such statements were viewed with favor by the Texas Republican Party and helped him win the 2010 gubernatorial election, they were supposed to haunt his 2012 election prospects.

Perry's prayer rally scheduled for August 5, 2011 was strongly attacked by the left as a violation of the so-called "separation of church and state," which is actually a liberal misreading of the [[United States Constitution]].<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/opinion/how-to-respond-to-rick-perrys-response.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fopinion%2Findex.jsonp "How to respond to Rick Perry's 'Response'"]</ref> According to investigative reports by the ''Houston Chronicle'', Perry's tithing and charitable giving combined make up a paltry 0.5 percent, or $750 of annual gubernatorial compensation of $150,000 annually, excluding his generous housing allowance.<ref>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/new/7607414.html "Perry puts faith on display but offers little for collection plate"]</ref> His office's response to the report is that "he refuses to talk about his faith."

Perry's prayer rally scheduled for August 5, 2011 was strongly attacked by the left as a violation of the so-called "separation of church and state," which is actually a liberal misreading of the [[United States Constitution]].<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/06/opinion/how-to-respond-to-rick-perrys-response.html?src=un&feedurl=http%3A%2F%2Fjson8.nytimes.com%2Fpages%2Fopinion%2Findex.jsonp "How to respond to Rick Perry's 'Response'"]</ref> According to investigative reports by the ''Houston Chronicle'', Perry's tithing and charitable giving combined make up a paltry 0.5 percent, or $750 of annual gubernatorial compensation of $150,000 annually, excluding his generous housing allowance.<ref>[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/new/7607414.html "Perry puts faith on display but offers little for collection plate"]</ref> His office's response to the report is that "he refuses to talk about his faith."

== Political positions ==

== Political positions ==

His key positions include rejection of the theory of man-made [[global warming]], equal time for [[creationism]] and [[evolution]] in schools, pro-[[Second Amendment]], skepticism about the sustainability and constitutionality of [[Social Security]], and [[pro-life]] with exceptions, although he ended up opposing exceptions for rape and incest. Perry supports [[death penalty]] and the decriminalization of [[marijuana]].<ref>[http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/01/23/rick-perry-urges-move-toward-marijuana-decriminalization/?tid=pm_politics_pop]</ref> He supports educating the children of [[illegal aliens]].<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/rick-perry-those-against-state-tuition-illegal-aliens-dont-have-heart</ref> Perry made a pledge to oppose [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/perry-signs-pledge-opposing-gay-marriage</ref>

His key positions include rejection of the theory of man-made [[global warming]], equal time for [[creationism]] and [[evolution]] in schools, pro-[[Second Amendment]], skepticism about the sustainability and constitutionality of [[Social Security]], and [[pro-life]] with exceptions, although he ended up opposing exceptions for rape and incest. Perry supports [[death penalty]] and the decriminalization of [[marijuana]].<ref>[https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/01/23/rick-perry-urges-move-toward-marijuana-decriminalization/?tid=pm_politics_pop]</ref> He supports educating the children of [[illegal aliens]].<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/rick-perry-those-against-state-tuition-illegal-aliens-dont-have-heart</ref> Perry made a pledge to oppose [[same-sex marriage]].<ref>http://cnsnews.com/news/article/perry-signs-pledge-opposing-gay-marriage</ref>

=== Foreign Policy ===

=== Foreign Policy ===

===Illegal immigration===

===Illegal immigration===

Perry has had an inconsistent policy concerning illegal immigration, rather than one of strong opposition.<ref>Price, Bob (July 9, 2015). [http://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/07/09/hold-for-brandon-rick-perrys-record-on-the-border/ Rick Perry’s Record on the Border]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 9, 2017.</ref>

Perry has had an inconsistent policy concerning illegal immigration, rather than one of strong opposition.<ref>Price, Bob (July 9, 2015). [https://www.breitbart.com/texas/2015/07/09/hold-for-brandon-rick-perrys-record-on-the-border/ Rick Perry’s Record on the Border]. ''Breitbart News''. Retrieved April 9, 2017.</ref>

== References ==

== References ==