Politics

Gov. Perry tries to regain footing by attacking political correctness

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Continuing his theme that he is a Washington outsider frustrated by how the system works, GOP presidential candidate Rick Perry released a new ad that blames political correctness for some of the federal government’s dysfunction.

“Washington is the capital of political correctness, where double-speak reigns and the truth is frowned upon,” Perry says in the ad. “You can’t say that congressmen becoming lobbyists is a form of legal corruption. Or that we give aid money to countries who oppose America. Or that Washington insiders are bankrupting social security. You and I know it’s true, but not politically correct.”

The ad, currently visible on YouTube, will air on national cable and Iowa broadcasts. It comes one day before Perry heads out on a 40-stop bus tour across Iowa in a last ditch effort to up his chances in the Jan. 3rd caucuses.

Perry’s staff has disabled YouTube’s “like/dislike” feature on the ad, a likely consequence of gay activists’ angry reactions to his last ad. That YouTube video, which condemned gay marriage, quickly attracted more than 660,000 thumbs-down ratings — largely from well-organized gay activists. The Daily Caller reported on Dec. 9 that the Perry video had already attracted more disdain than teeny-bopper Rebecca Black’s infamous “Friday” music video.

Watch the new Rick Perry ad:

The Wall Street Journal notes that the ad is likely a veiled attack on front-runner Newt Gingrich, who received $1.6 million in “consulting fees” from the Freddie Mac following his tenure in Congress.

The Texas governor has been struggling in the polls after a series of poor debate performances and memorable flubs. According to the Real Clear Politics average, Perry is currently trailing Gingrich, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul in Iowa.

The Perry campaign responds that he is the one true outsider.

“As the only non-Washington, non-establishment candidate left in the race for the Republican nomination, Gov. Perry is committed to seriously overhauling Washington and telling the American people the truth,” said Perry campaign communications director Ray Sullivan in a statement. “As president, he will work to break the direct links between Washington, D.C., and Wall Street, start foreign aid decisions for every country at zero, and fix social security.”

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