Ron Paul Camp Slams Rick Perry on Many Fronts

Following the debate among the Republican presidential candidates on Wednesday night, the team behind Congressman Ron Paul took aim at primary rival and fellow Texas Republican Gov. Rick Perry.

Jesse Benton, a spokesman for Paul and the chairman of his presidential campaign, sent a letter to Perry continuing the attacks on the Texas governor.

After our campaigns first ad highlighting your big-government record and support for liberal Al Gore, your campaign is attacking Dr. Paul missing the point of why your past is important, Benton wrote. We dont think the fact that you used to be a Democrat is the big problem here. The real problem is that, too often, you still act like one. Even you yourself, Governor Perry, said of your party switch, I will still vote the same principles, only with an R after my name.

Thats the kind of thinking that has our country teetering on the edge of bankruptcy. We cannot afford to nominate someone who thinks the letter next to their name is more important than what they believe," added Benton. Governor Perry, let me be clear: It is not that you supported Al Gore that worries us. It is that you supported Hillary Clintons health-care plan. You pushed for federal bailout and stimulus funds. You support welfare for illegal immigrants. You tried to forcibly vaccinate12-year-old girls against sexually transmitted diseases by executive order. You raised taxes twice. And, state debt has more than doubled in your tenure as governor, pushing Texas to the brink of our constitutional debt limit.

Its that you supported all of these bad ideas that are inconsistent with how most Republicans understand conservatism, yet you now try to swagger your way into the tea party," Benton wrote in conclusion. Governor Perry, with all due respect, you have used great rhetoric. But you will have to answer to the voters of Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina, and across the country as to why that rhetoric does not match your record.