Audio: Rick Perry's New Orleans Speech

On his way to New Orleans, ostensibly to test the presidential stump, Texas Governor Rick Perry to bring an endless supply of red meat. If the goal was to send the crowd away with their euphoric fill, Perry seemed to deliver but how substantial is the substance of that speech? Like he did at a press conference on the eve of Tea Party mania in 2009, Perry set his sights firmly on the Federal government's overreach and disregard for the Constitution.

Texas Tribune has the AUDIO of the speech. Here's the video via Breitbart:



MSNBC has also reported on Perry's speech:

NEW ORLEANS -- Rick Perry delivered an unapologetically socially conservative speech before a friendly crowd here.

“We need to stop apologizing for celebrating life,” the Republican Texas governor bellowed at the Republican Leadership Conference in a finger-pointing, finger-wagging and, at times, bombastic, speech.

“Stop apologizing” for wanting to stem the tide of the “entitlement mindset,” he boasted.

“Our opponents on the left are never going to like us, so let’s stop trying to curry favor with them,” he said, before imploring the crowd to “stand up. Let’s speak with pride about our values. Let’s stop this American downward spiral.”

Perry can certainly talk the talk when he needs to but right now, the TSA anti-groping bill is in his hands during Texas' current special legislative session. The bill failed in the regular session when the State Senate backed down after the Feds threatened to make Texas a no-fly zone. In the special session, Perry will determine the bill's fate. If he puts the bill on the agenda, it will almost assuredly pass. If he doesn't he won't.

Words are nice but Perry's actions relative to this legislation will necessarily show us if he's willing to boldly hoist the Texas flag or wave the White flag in the face of federal oppression.

National Journal has more.