DALLAS, TX: Texas Governor Rick Perry’s indictment could help his presidential prospects if voters see his actions as an effort to stand up for principle and public accountability.
“It’s too soon to know if Perry will beat the charges; though the majority of speculation, even among many liberals, seems to be that he will do so easily because the case is so weak,” writes Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI) resident scholar Merrill Matthews, Ph.D. in Rare. “But instead of being a millstone, the indictment may turn out to be a badge of honor,” says Matthews.
Assuming Perry is criminally exonerated, voters may politically exonerate him for four key reasons, says Matthews:
- The public is ready for some political accountability: “Lehmberg flagrantly broke for the law, and Perry’s action, as the state’s chief executive, was both reasonable and even laudable and will likely be appreciated by the public.”
- Perry used the budget to make his point: “Republicans talk about it, but have had little success using the budget process to restrain the President Obama. Rick Perry used the budget and his constitutionally allowed line-item veto to restrain Lehmberg. Plus, just the thought of an executive vetoing some spending provision is liable to resonate with much of a public that is growing increasingly concerned about government spending.”
- Perry displayed some leadership: “Politicians too often play it safe; Perry didn’t. Had he dropped the matter when she refused to resign, no one would have said anything—and Perry wouldn’t have been facing an indictment. The country is hungry for principled leadership these days, and Perry’s willingness to take a stand against public malfeasance is refreshing—and unusual.”
- Perry isn’t backing down: “At a time when Obama can claim that a red line can’t be crossed, and then cower when it is crossed; at a time when Hillary Clinton can criticize Obama’s foreign policy, and then sheepishly walk back that criticism; it’s good to see a politician who takes a stand and won’t back down.”
Merrill Matthews, Ph.D. is resident scholar with the Institute for Policy Innovation (IPI), an independent, nonpartisan public policy organization based in Dallas, Texas. He is available for interview by contacting Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139, or erin@ipi.org.