Rick Perry 'Tonight Show' Appearance: GOP Presidential Candidate Uses Late-Night Show to Make Light of His Gaffes

Texas Governor Rick Perry offered excuses for his recent brain freezes, advice for Herman Cain and a screed against Social Security during an appearance Thursday on "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."

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Perry blamed plain old forgetfulness for his numerous gaffes in debates and on the campaign trail.

"It happens, man. Let me tell you. Listen, it just, it happens," Perry said. "Every now and then I call my dogs by the wrong name. I get that wrong too."

When the conversation turned to rival Herman Cain, whose campaign has been mired by allegations of infidelity and sexual misconduct, Perry offered the pizza magnate a bit of advice.

"If there's truth there then he's gotta have a long conversation with his family and with his supporters. And if there's nothing there, then he needs to stand up and clearly go on about his business," Perry said.

When Leno asked if the personal lives of candidates matter to voters, Perry said yes.

"People hate hypocrites. I think that's the big issue," Perry said. "You know I've been in public service for 20-plus years and my life has been an open book."

Perry also went on bit of a tear about how Society Security, reiterating his view that it's a big Ponzi scheme. If he was president, Perry said he would want to privatize the system and let people handle their own money. Leno pushed him on this point, saying most people won't save the money, but Perry brushed off the concern. He then repeated his view that that the entitlement program was a Ponzi scheme comparable to what Bernard Madoff did.

On the topic of Iraq, Perry blasted President Barack Obama for announcing the date he was going to withdraw troops from combat.

"That is absolutely irresponsible. And it puts our young men and women in danger. But it also tells the bad guys wait until December of this particular day then they're gone and you can go back in and take over," Perry said.

WATCH PART 2: Social Security

WATCH PART 3: The Situation In Iraq

Clips courtesy of Hulu and NBC.

Comments

[George Global]

01:36 PM on 12/02/2011

Even his explanations are ill thought out...

[benjaminblue]

09:11 AM on 12/02/2011

Great...we have a candidate who can't remember the names of his dogs, another who ties his mutt to the top of his car when taking vacation trips and a third who treats his wives like so many inconvenient curs to be kicked aside. And they then snort unapologetically, making light of their little mistakes, suggesting that these gaffes make them "human" and, thus, electable.

But it's nothing to laugh about. We've come to a sorry place when a major party's presidential candidates seemingly are not qualified, even, to be dog-catchers.

[George Global]

01:37 PM on 12/02/2011

Makes me wanna barf...fnf