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Has Warner Todd Huston even read Perry's columns?

October 01, 2009 1:43 pm ET by Terry Krepel

In a Sept. 30 post at Publius' Forum (copied at TheRealityCheck.org), longtime NewsBusters misleader Warner Todd Huston concedes that John L. Perry's Newsmax column advocating a military coup against President Obama "really does not add to the national debate" (yet defends the guy by asserting that it was "all speculation and phrased as a question, not asserted as fact or presented as imminent"). But then he writes:

But there is one tiny, little, bitty fact about this story and its author that every single one of these lefty sites that are railing about this story have left out.

The fact of the matter is that John L. Perry is not a conservative. In fact his bio page says that he's worked for Jimmy Carter, a Democrat governor of Florida and other Democrat Party institutions.

[...]

With all that background as a liberal democrat, Perry does not fit the normal image of a "right wing conservative." Yet not on eof the lefty sites going nuts on this story have mentioned this.

Warner curiously fails to mention that all of these "liberal democrat" connections occurred well over 30 years ago.

Further, Warner's claim is evidence that he has never read anything written by Perry, who has written for the right-wing Newsmax since 1999. In addition to his orgy of hatred against Obama, Perry has repeatedly demonstrated his right-wing credentials, and is particularly enamored with Sarah Palin. Sept. 1, 2008:

When you buck the local political establishment and stand up for honesty in government, people know what you're doing. In Alaska, they remember and adore Wasilla Mayor Sarah Palin for that. They know her job was a lot harder than being mayor of a big city where you are a stranger to most constituents.

Those qualities do qualify this strong woman to be a heartbeat away from the presidency - a condescending Barack Obama to the contrary notwithstanding.

Sept. 11, 2008:

Voters need not be predictable, stereotyped herds as Barack Obama cynically sees them. They can become their own independent mavericks, standing apart from the herd. Sarah Palin gets this. So does John McCain, who chose her.

Oct. 6, 2008:

People can identify with parents like Sarah and Todd Palin, who are not, thank God, embarrassed to be seen loving God's children. That difference is what is driving political elites crazy with fear -- fear that she will win and they will lose.

Nov. 10, 2008:

The Republican road back to the White House in 2012 looks a whole heck of a lot clearer and brighter now that it leads right through downtown Wasilla, Alaska (known also as Hometown, USA).

Dec. 29, 2008:

Only the losing vice-presidential aspirant, Sarah Palin, and her accidental, de facto running mate, Joe the plumber, spoke the middle-class language with believability. It came too late in the game.

Unless Huston can prove there's a huge "liberal Democrat" base Palin has tapped into, we can safely say without fear of contradiction that Perry is, in fact, a conservative.

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    • Author by walstib (October 01, 2009 1:53 pm ET)
      5  
      Anyone that says or writes "Democrat Party" is immediately branded as an a$$ and not worthy of real consideration in my book.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by DellDolly (October 01, 2009 1:58 pm ET)
        4  
        That's exactly what I was going to post!

        No person who isn't a conservative jerk says "Democrat Party". That's all we need to see.

        Republicans don't get to decide what the name of another political party is. The political party does, and the name is the Democratic Party.
        Report Abuse
        • Author by NG_Officer (October 01, 2009 5:04 pm ET)
             
          Yep, I just heard Boener say "Democrat Party". I tuned out everything he said after that.
          Report Abuse
    • Author by magnolialover (October 01, 2009 2:00 pm ET)
      3  
      He worked for democrats, doens't make him one today. Not in the least. And from his writings, he's gone over to the republicans' side for certain.

      See, here is how it works. I work for the Army, for example, but I'm not IN the Army.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by shaggles (October 01, 2009 2:25 pm ET)
        4  
        Even if he is a Dem so what? Tammy Bruce calls herself a Democrat too.
        Report Abuse
      • Author by political_left-religious_right (October 01, 2009 2:48 pm ET)
        3  
        Exactly. Notice that MMFA doesn't qualify its criticisms of Pat Buchanan by pointing out that he was a Nixon speechwriter. They don't have to. They point out Buchanan's stance based on the things he currently speaks and writes.

        Perry may have been a Democrat once, but he doesn't espouse those views any longer, as is self-evident in his current writings. Warner Huston is a dunce of the first order.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by kfraz43 (October 01, 2009 2:23 pm ET)
      4  
      Two words: Dick Morris.
      Report Abuse
      • Author by mattcable250650 (October 01, 2009 3:19 pm ET)
        2  
        According to Newshounds, Kirsten Powers is another Fox News Democrat who also supported Sarah Palin, i.e., she long ago lost the privilege of calling herself (a plain, unmodified) Democrat.
        Report Abuse
    • Author by mk3872 (October 01, 2009 2:33 pm ET)
      3  
      What difference does it make who he USED to work for?

      The guy is a writer for Newsmax.

      Newsmax published it.

      Newsmax is hiding the fact that he is a longtime author for the site.

      Newsmax is responsible.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by The New Pilgrims (October 01, 2009 3:32 pm ET)
      1  
      I think all the esteemed Mr. Huston is trying to say is that John L. Perry is a Democrat who supports Republicans and does not support Democrats.

      This is just like the Cubs fan who cheers for the White Sox and cheers against the Cubs.

      It makes perfect sense when you don't think about it.
      Report Abuse
    • Author by ReasonAndResolve (October 01, 2009 5:55 pm ET)
         
      Isn't it ironic that the Democratic presidents reach across ideological divides to staff their administrations and then, years later, those appointments are used to bolster non-existent credentials.

      Can you say "Dick Morris"?
      Report Abuse
      • Author by dangergirl (October 02, 2009 8:32 pm ET)
           
        And I suppose you will all claim that Gore Vidal is also a Republican because ANYONE that critises, dislikes, rags on, talks badly about, or thinks this President is a sad, sick disgusting, lying loser, HAS to be a Republican.

        http://women.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/women/the_way_we_live/article6854221.ece

        ‘We’ll have a dictatorship soon in the US’
        The grand old man of letters Gore Vidal claims America is ‘rotting away’ — and don’t expect Barack Obama to save it.
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