Bill Clinton Praises Rick Perry on Immigration
Former president says GOP criticsim makes his "skin crawl."
| Posted Monday, Nov. 7, 2011, at 5:24 PM
Photo by Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images.
A former president had some kind words for Rick Perry on Monday – but the praise is unlikely to help the Texan in his quest to win over the conservative voters he needs to secure the GOP presidential nomination.
Bill Clinton defended Perry against conservatives who have blasted the governor for signing a 2001 law that grants in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants brought to Texas when they were children.
"It makes my skin crawl when they attack Rick Perry for one of the best things he did,” Clinton told USA Today. "What would they like? Would they like the kid to stand on a corner and sell dope or something?"
While Clinton and other liberals may be fans of the so-called DREAM Act, most of Perry's GOP rivals certainly are not. Mitt Romney has been among the most aggressive, using Perry’s support for the controversial plan to portray his immigration policies as being out of line with the conservative base.
