RUSH: Perry pulled out and did it in Charleston, South Carolina. Here are some sound bites of the blessed event.
PERRY: I’ve never believed that the cause of conservatism is embodied by one individual. Our party and the conservative philosophy transcends any one individual. It’s a movement of ideas that are greater than any one of us and will live long past any of us in our lives. As a former Air Force pilot, I don’t get confused. I know we can’t lose track of the ultimate objective in carrying out our mission, and that objective is not only to defeat President Obama, but to replace him with a conservative leader who will bring about real change.
RUSH: Here’s where he endorses the Newtster…
PERRY: Today, I am suspending my campaign and endorsing Newt Gingrich for president of the United States. I believe Newt is a conservative visionary who can transform our country. We’ve had our differences, which campaigns will inevitably have; and Newt is not perfect, but who among us is? The fact is, there is forgiveness for those who seek God; and I believe in the power of redemption, for it is a central tenet of my Christian faith. I have no question that Newt Gingrich has the heart of a conservative reformer, the ability to rally and captivate the conservative movement; the courage to tell those Washington interests to take a hike, if that’s what’s in the best interests of our country.
RUSH: Okay, so there you have it, it’s Rick Perry endorsing Newt. (interruption) What are you laughing at? What is so funny? (interruption) Forgiveness with for people with open marriages? Well, that’s a tenet. You know, you can sit in there and laugh but I’m gonna tell you what everybody talking about the value voters in South Carolina and Texas are gonna do. One of the big tenets of Christianity is forgiveness. Everybody needs it. Every… (interruption) Well, yeah, you have to stop doing it. I’m assuming that he has stopped doing it. I don’t know. I don’t know. I just know forgiveness a big deal. Rick Perry, a lot of people have piled on the guy. I think he’s a class act. I have always liked Rick Perry. I’ll tell you a story again.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this. Yeah, I think I’ve mentioned this on the air. I was asked to do a fundraiser for a congressional candidate in Texas, and I don’t do very many of those. It happened to be a special occasion, and it happened to be during the time that the Texas governor’s race was going on and Kay Bailey Hutchison was opposing Perry at this point in time — and when the word got out that I was gonna be doing this fundraiser, people called me and said, “Hey, be on the lookout! Rick Perry’s gonna show up; he gonna trying to get in a punch of pictures with you has a gonna trying to make it look like you are endorsing him for a governor run in Texas, and don’t… You can’t let it happen! You make sure! Don’t do it! He’s trying to come at you!”
I said, “Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! Who’s behind this? So what if Rick Perry shows up?”
“He’s gonna try to use you!”
Okay, so I showed up. I was committed to show up. I got there and, lo and behold, Governor Perry was there — and simply because I’ve been told that, I’m a little leery. I don’t know him; I’d never met him, and like all of us big-time stars, we are very much concerned about being used. So you’re always on guard for that, and he didn’t. But he did ask to introduce me. He was an invited guest of the candidate. Everything was classy. I mean, he didn’t crash the event