Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Much has been said about White House hopeful Mitt Romney’s lip-whipping of a rival, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, in the last Fox News/Google debate. By cleverly and repeatedly misunderstanding the slower, deliberate Mr. Perry, a perception has been created that Mr. Romney is up against a confused rival.

As a rabbi with a speech impediment, I caution those overly impressed by smooth words.

Our nation has critical needs. They are financial (removing regulation and growing domestic energy jobs), social (resurrecting responsibility as the basis of personal pride), and national security-related (rebuilding America as the counterforce to aggressive nations intoxicated with visions of world domination).

Conservative Americans need a conservative leader who will meet these needs. Values come from the spirit, not the mouth. We ought to look for a track record - the proven transition of value from word to deed - as the primary indicator of how a captain will steer the ship once the winds begin to blow.

Mr. Romney’s words may be smoother. But to me, Mr. Perry, through 12 years as the proven, passionate conservative executive of the most populace red state, speaks conservative values ever more fluently.

YAAKOV ROSENBLATT

Dallas

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