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Rick Perry Gets Voting Age Wrong In New Hampshire

STEVE PEOPLES   11/29/11 06:26 PM ET   AP

MANCHESTER, N.H. — You might say Rick Perry courted the youth, but not the whole youth, in a campaign appearance at a New Hampshire college.

Speaking at Saint Anselm on Tuesday, he appealed to students who will be at least 21 before Election Day to vote for him, saying: "Those of you that will be 21 by November the 12th, I ask for your support and your vote."

As for those younger than 21, he merely asked them to work hard on his behalf. Doesn't he want their votes too?

It turns out Perry didn't know or had forgotten that the voting age in America is 18.

Perry made another slip too, referring to "November the 12th" as Election Day. New Hampshire will become the first state in the nation to host a Republican presidential primary on Jan. 10; the general election is scheduled for Nov. 6, 2012.

The flubs caused some whispers in the crowd. He did not address them or take questions from reporters after the event, which was the third of four campaign stops in the state Tuesday.

Campaign spokesman Paul Young says Perry "clearly misspoke."

The Texas governor has become a favorite of late night comedians in recent weeks. During a presidential debate earlier in the month, he couldn't recall a key element of his plan to reform government.

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MANCHESTER, N.H. — You might say Rick Perry courted the youth, but not the whole youth, in a campaign appearance at a New Hampshire college. Speaking at Saint Anselm on Tuesday, he appealed to ...
MANCHESTER, N.H. — You might say Rick Perry courted the youth, but not the whole youth, in a campaign appearance at a New Hampshire college. Speaking at Saint Anselm on Tuesday, he appealed to ...
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COMMUNITY PUNDITS
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Sesame2009 04:30 PM on 11/29/2011
There is a HUGE difference between misspeaking because you truly misspoke and meant to say something else and misspeaking because you are truly misinformed.  The first is truly a gaffe.  The latter is simply ig.norance.  

Obama's 57 states comment was a misspeak.  He clearly meant to say 57 states and territories.  It's not like he qualified his comment by saying how Puerto  Read More...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Vic Damico
05:51 PM on 12/02/2011
I have to retract my statement about Rick Perry. He was on the Tonight show and was able to make fun of himself over the gafes he made in his speach. He seemes to be a real nice guy with good values. His state is tough on illegals and is solvent under his leadership. I did not think Bush was a great president but I liked him as a person. Rick comes from the same mold. He sounds like Bush and his mannerisms are very similar which isn't a bad thing. I like what he said about having a part time Congress and a 20% tax rate across the board. I am willing to hear more from him.
09:10 AM on 12/02/2011
This is why I infinitely prefer Newt or Rommney to this guy. Isn't 8 years of a semi-articulate, gun toting Texan enough? We need a president who represents the rest of the country which is urbane, sophisticated, city-dwelling, competent - not another guy with a flag in one hand and moose antlers in the other acting like the whole friggin' country is Texas! And flubbing every time he opens his mouth! No offense to the people of Texas, I'm sure they cringe at times too!
10:27 AM on 12/02/2011
I'm not replying as a Perry fan...but you've seen where "urbane" has gotten us. The suave, smooth, slick president we have is a total disaster. I'll take a down to earth, regular person ANY day. Not one that changes his dialect to serve the listening audience. And...just so ya know, there aren't any moose in Texas. Also - we have a president that doesn't represent the ideas of the majority of the country - he has a personal agenda that he has thrust on us.
We've done our share of cringing in Texas...just as badly as California did with Aah-nold...and NY did with Wiener, Charlie Rangel, et al...lets not forget Mass with good ol drunk Teddy and gay Barney Frank.
And the Number 1 gaffe...the sitting president who had been to ALL 57 states!
It's hell not being perfect isn't it?
04:53 PM on 12/02/2011
I do not mean to be insulting to Texas - I live in Cleveland and we get insulted all the time so I should be more sensitive!
09:56 PM on 12/01/2011
God, I hope he sticks around for awhile, he's hilarious!!
08:52 PM on 12/01/2011
W Jr.
HUFFPOST SUPER USER
MizzMaat
Turn off the TV and read a book
07:09 PM on 12/01/2011
On the off chance that he somehow gets on the presidential ticket, I suggest to all 18, 19, and 20 year olds that they better vote for the other party. This guy doesn't even recognize you can vote!
12:12 PM on 12/02/2011
If Obama gets the 18-20 year old votes, Perry would be doomed. Obama already has the votes for states 51-57 in his pocket.

Come on folks, we all get tongue tied and mess up minor facts sometimes. I'm not a Perry support, but give the guy a break.
06:16 PM on 12/01/2011
It figures he would confuse the drinking age with the voting age. Have another drink, it'll make ya feel better!
claraluz
Per aspera ad astra!
04:27 PM on 12/01/2011
Gotta feel sorry for the guy, showing such silliness over and over would be embarassing for most people; on the other hand, I get the feeling that his ego is encased in brass... I wish somebody would take pity on Perry and Michelle Bachmann, and do the old vaudeville trick hooking them with a cane and pulling them off stage..
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HowietheScreamer
Yes yes, I know my Micro bio is still empty
04:10 PM on 12/01/2011
This guy is an idiot. Voting age has been 18 for almost 40 years.
12:13 PM on 12/02/2011
By your same logic, Obama is an idiot too. There's be just 50 states (not 57) for over 50 years.
02:44 PM on 12/02/2011
No not really. Obama does not continuously make idiotic gaffes within a short period of time. One gaffe is not the end of the world. People take notice when ANY candidate or public figure continually misspeaks.
03:18 PM on 12/01/2011
Most folks in Dallas TX can remember when Rick Perry was caught in bed with one of his MALE aids. He is closeted therefore he hates gay and will do whatever he can to enable LGBT folks from moving forward towards equal rights. He really should come out of the closet, be who he was born to be and help the LGBT people of Texas. It's difficult to be in the closet, see a hunky man but unable to talk to him, ask him on a date and so much more. YOU WILL NEVER BE OUR NEXT PRESIDENT. We DO NOT NEAD A RACIST HOMOPHOBIC MAN TO LEAD OUR COUNTRY...OBAMA 2012
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Reiner-von-Sinn
Fol de rol de rolly O
03:17 PM on 12/01/2011
Hey Texas! Keep your messes.
claraluz
Per aspera ad astra!
04:32 PM on 12/01/2011
Yes, we have had enough trouble with Texans and need a looooong respite. Like 40 years.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Reiner-von-Sinn
Fol de rol de rolly O
03:16 PM on 12/01/2011
I like that you can hear people in the audience laughing at that pompous fool.
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Reiner-von-Sinn
Fol de rol de rolly O
03:16 PM on 12/01/2011
A gaffe a day keeps the nomination away.
claraluz
Per aspera ad astra!
04:33 PM on 12/01/2011
LOL!! F&F.
09:34 AM on 12/01/2011
Maybe Perry just wants people over 21 to vote on November the 12th. Let the man run his campaign.
12:14 PM on 12/02/2011
No Perry for you! Good day!
Mort Adela
Was a trapeze artist. Until I got dropped.
06:09 AM on 12/01/2011
One positive thing that I can say about Rick Perry: I don't miss GWB anymore.
claraluz
Per aspera ad astra!
04:34 PM on 12/01/2011
hee hee hee!! (snicker)
12:18 AM on 12/01/2011
he really is proving himself to be an IDIOT
I still close my eyes and can hear GWB