Changes

In 2009, Perry drew fire for numerous statements that suggested Texas' legal right to secede from the union if it wanted to, a long-discredited legal interpretation which was the main argument of the terrorist [[Republic of Texas]] movement.<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, it is unclear whether they will come back 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, a long-discredited legal interpretation which was the main argument of the terrorist [[Republic of Texas]] movement.<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, it is unclear whether they will come back to haunt his 2012 election prospects.

His prayer rally scheduled for August 5, 2011 has been strongly attacked by the left as a violation of the separation of church and state.<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> True, however, is that Perry's tithing and charitable giving combined make up a paltry 0.5% of his salary, as investigative reporting by the Houston Chronicle has shown.<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 this story was "he refuses to talk about his faith."

His prayer rally scheduled for August 5, 2011 has been 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 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> True, however, is that Perry's tithing and charitable giving combined make up a paltry 0.5% of his salary, as investigative reporting by the Houston Chronicle has shown.<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 this story was "he refuses to talk about his faith."

== References ==

== References ==