Rick Perry Gets Fresh With Former Rivals At Gridiron Dinner

Rick Perry spoke at the annual Gridiron Dinner on Saturday evening, where he won over the exclusive crowd with a series of jokes on gay marriage and his former presidential primary opponents.

The dinner, an elite affair well-attended by politicians and Washington journalists alike, typically features several prominent speakers, skit performances and plenty of mockery. Perry's cracks landed well in the context of the dinner, where speakers are encouraged to playfully skewer themselves and their rivals. The dinner, along with the club that hosts it, was founded in the 1880s in an effort to repair relations between politicians and the press, which had become frayed by the many investigations into the corruption of the Gilded Age.

The Texas governor, who was tapped as this year's Republican comedian, reportedly made several off-color jokes involving former rivals Mitt Romney and Rick Santorum.

"I like Mitt Romney as much as one good looking man can like another good looking man under Texas law," Perry said.

Perry's sexuality has been the subject of much speculation. The first openly gay Texas state lawmaker, Glen Maxey, recently wrote a book about his investigation into Perry, during which he was regularly in touch with a HuffPost reporter.

A bizarrely homophobic ad Perry released during the campaign -- wondering why children can't pray in school, but gay men and women can serve in the military -- has become one of the most "disliked" in YouTube history.

Later during the dinner, Perry noted that he majored in "animal husbandry," which he said is "what Santorum thinks happens as a result of gay marriage."

Perry's crack about Santorum appeared to be in reference to the former Pennsylvania senator's infamous comments about "man on dog" sex.

However, Perry's own knowledge might not be quite up to snuff either. He received poor grades within his major, including a D in veterinary anatomy.

The Texas governor also poked fun at himself. "The weakest Republican field in history, and they kicked my butt," he said.

The event is off-the-record for reporters in attendance.

Comments

[Ron Penland]

09:49 AM on 03/26/2012

Perry, I wonder how many texas Aggies are embarassed that he graduated from Texas A&M. There have always been jokes about Aggies but they were always taken with a grain of salt and folks still thought the diploma meant something special. I guess it still means something special although not necessarily in the same way and the grain of salt taken with the jokes no longer exists!!

[Ron Penland]

09:57 AM on 03/26/2012

There is one other thing about Perry that really bugs me. He backed up to the pay window, retired as governor while still staying on as governor so he could draw a retirement check and a regular paycheck while cuttinfunds for education and causing teachers to be laid off. this is not exactly what I would expect from a good Texan and governor.......... But then he is obviously neither.

[gevan]

06:26 AM on 03/26/2012

These people should not eat so much gridiron.

[l78lancer]

04:38 AM on 03/26/2012

It's probabably the same routine he does at the bar on Friday nights. Wait until he really starts drinking.

[jhsinius]

02:24 AM on 03/26/2012

I NEVER VOTED THIS ASS INTO OFFICE, HIS BUDDIES DID. THIS MAN IS TOO STUPID TO BE GOVERNOR AND THESE TEXANS THINKS HE WALKS ON WATER. THAT GOES TO SHOW HOW STUPID THEY ARE ALSO. THEY WONDER WHY THESE IDIOTS TAKE FUNDING OUT OF THE SCHOOLS WHERE THEY NEED IT. AFTER ALL, YOU CAN'T EXPECT MUCH FROM A "D AVERAGE" GOVERNOR!

[Puller58]

02:08 AM on 03/26/2012

Real funny. How about taking up comedy and leave governing to grown ups?

[amavel]

01:31 AM on 03/26/2012

I am suprised he didn't have a Vaginal probe joke. Why is it that the male anti-gay advocates are also the anti-women advocates. Does Perry and Santorum raise anyone elses gaydar?

[lensamy]

01:13 AM on 03/26/2012

Oh people from texas what in the world were you thinking when you picked this guy? lol

[blueplano]

06:59 AM on 03/26/2012

They obviously weren't thinking..............

[Mr Self Thinker]

12:38 AM on 03/26/2012

Do you think Texas will vote him in again as Gov?

[Dan Alexander]

09:27 AM on 03/26/2012

I live in Houston Texas and would have and never voted for this corp. thug! He probably will be re-elected, because the rich corp. oil snobs will make sure he is re-elected. Too bad because I hate what people outside of my state say about Texans, but they get what they deserve.

[stlbrz]

11:57 PM on 03/25/2012

Perry is a joke.

[mail4warding]

01:01 AM on 03/26/2012

IMHO it seems anyone with first name Rick (or Ricki, Ricky) is a joke... Rick Santorum, Rick Scott, Ricki Lake, Ricky Bobby, Ricky Nelson, Rick Fox, Rick Springfield, et al. 8-(

[Drama Llama]

11:51 PM on 03/25/2012

Ahh Perry.. How fun to joke at the discrimination against Homosexuals in your state.

The true poster child of Republican igonrance.

[gelaswell]

11:46 PM on 03/25/2012

People ... let us all be serious and realistic. Rick Perry was never a renowned comedian, and now is a forgotten Governor (hopefully).

[OccasionalMirth]

11:45 PM on 03/25/2012

Oh GOD, Please send us a decent man that is qualified
to run America, Thank you, and Amen.

[Mick Muck]

11:57 PM on 03/25/2012

He already gave you one, perhaps it's not the color you ordered but it's a decent, qualified man nonetheless

[coco123]

09:39 AM on 03/26/2012

Well said! F&F

[cclawnj]

08:39 PM on 03/26/2012

Decent, maybe, but QUALIFIED?!??? Come on, now!!!

[stlbrz]

12:12 AM on 03/26/2012

He's not in that CON bunch that's for sure. Obama 2012.

[OccasionalMirth]

11:43 PM on 03/25/2012

All of them look stupid and act ridiculous.
There is nothing to choose from.

[lawa]

11:39 PM on 03/25/2012

remember the stimulous program? perry hollered and condemn the plan but, he took the money stuck in his budget. he didnt use it for jobs as intended. perry has shown his silly side for years.

[aspen colorado]

10:54 PM on 03/25/2012

So are the Voters. THis Clown show is to funny to be real