Liberal Repercussion

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2434593

March 5, 2004, 10:48AM
Perry denies reports about divorce, infidelity
Associated Press

AUSTIN -- Texas Gov. Rick Perry is denying widespread rumors that he and his wife plan to divorce over his alleged infidelity and that he will resign from office, according to a published report Friday.

Perry told the Austin American-Statesman in a copyright story that political enemies are responsible for the "smear campaign."

The first-term Republican, who was elected in 2002, said Thursday he was forced to respond publicly because the "obvious, orchestrated effort" had reached critical mass, with rumors spread by e-mail and on Web sites.

Perry said the rumors "are not correct in any shape, form or fashion. These are irresponsible. They're salacious. They're hurtful to my family."

The governor's press staff has said it has fielded calls about the rumors for about two months. At the Governor's Mansion on Thursday, Perry's 54th birthday, he said he had decided to speak out on what he sees as a dangerous new political trend.

"I don't think a rumor can just get to critical mass by itself," Perry said. "I think you have to have a well thought-out, organized effort to disseminate that kind of information and keep it going day after day after day after day."

The governor's wife, Anita Perry, declined to comment after her husband's interview with the American-Statesman.

Perry said the rumors were heard by his son Griffin at Vanderbilt University and by his daughter Sydney, a local high school student. Perry's staff, in trying to track down the source of the rumors and who is helping to spread them, has found references on multiple Web sites.

The governor's staff, after weeks of declining to have Perry personally address the rumors, approached the newspaper this week and said Perry wanted to respond. In mid-February, he had referred questions about an interview on the topic to press secretary Kathy Walt. She said then that the governor would not respond to unsubstantiated rumors.

Perry's staff, in trying to track down the source of the rumors, said it has found multiple references on the Internet.

The governor declined to blame a specific source for initiating the rumors,...


"What is truly indecent is the state of children's health care, public schools and insurance rates under Perry's regime," Soechting said in a statement issued by the Texas Democratic Party. Voting in the state's primary is Tuesday.

posted by Rei Toei @ 1:40 p.m.