Stumping for Phelan, Perry calls RINO ‘sexy’
BEAUMONT — Rick Perry kind of thinks the term “RINO” — Republican in name only, that is — is “sexy.”
The former Texas governor, stumping for House Speaker Dade Phelan in his Southeast Texas district last week, made light of recent accusations that he, Phelan and several other Republicans are actually RINOs.
“I think it’s kind of sexy, frankly,” Perry told a crowd of roughly 400 people, putting his hand on his head to mimic a rhino’s horn. “When you think about it … it’s one of the baddest boys on the block, right?”
Attendees laughed in response — but then the former governor, who also served as energy secretary under former President Donald Trump, turned serious. “Dade Phelan is no more a RINO than Rick Perry,” he said.
Most Republicans bristle at the smear that is increasingly being weaponized against elected members of the state’s deeply divided GOP.
Perry jokingly embraced it as he makes campaign stops across the state this election cycle to boost several House Republicans facing difficult reelection campaigns because of their votes to impeach Attorney General Ken Paxton last year. Phelan, the Beaumont Republican who has led the lower chamber through two sessions, is Paxton’s No. 1 target. Early voting started Tuesday for the March 5 primary.
Perry also has campaigned for state Rep. Jacey Jetton of Richmond, appeared in video ads supporting Rep. Stan Gerdes of Lockhart and endorsed Rep. Jeff Leach of Plano, among others. Perry has tried to present himself as a voice of reason during an especially tense primary season.
Separately, Gov. Greg Abbott also is targeting some Republicans because they oppose his priority private school voucher plan. Perry supports private school vouchers.
In Beaumont, Perry batted down some of the common criticisms of Phelan and his allies, including the assertion that the House speaker works too closely with Democrats and appoints some of them as committee chairs. Perry noted that Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, up until recently, had a Democrat chairing a committee, and Perry made the same appointments when he was lieutenant governor.
During his time in Texas politics — as a state lawmaker, agriculture commissioner, lieutenant governor and governor — Perry said he frequently worked with Democrats on issues that transcend party lines, such as human trafficking prevention.
He’s the only high-profile Republican actively campaigning for Phelan, whose leading opponent, businessman David Covey, won the endorsements of former President Donald Trump and Paxton.
“They’re issues that are affecting people every day,” Perry said. “And I’ll be real honest with you — I don’t care whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, if you will come and help me on that issue. … We just need to get things done together.”