Off-Color Quip Leaves Perry With Red Face

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http://www.kvue.com/cgi-bin/bi/gold_print.cgi

Off-color quip leaves Perry with red face
Governor apologizes after TV camera catches 'inappropriate' banter


11:35 PM CDT on Tuesday, June 21, 2005

By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News


AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry apologized Tuesday for using a vulgar expression that was captured on camera after a Houston TV interview.

Gov. Rick Perry chatted with lawmakers Tuesday on the floor of the House on the first day of a special session he called to address school finance. Trying to build publicity for the rollout of his education plan, Mr. Perry did a series of TV interviews Monday in a studio in Austin. In one, he repeatedly declined to give KTRK-TV reporter Ted Oberg details of his proposal, which the governor didn't intend to divulge until a news conference Tuesday.

After the interview was over and Mr. Perry had said you're welcome and so long, Mr. Oberg acknowledged that Mr. Perry had successfully maintained the secrecy of his plan for another day: "Try as I may, Governor, I guess I can't win this one."

Mr. Perry looked off camera and appeared to mock Mr. Oberg, saying: "Try as I may, governor, I'm just not going to wait that long. ... "

Then the governor added as a sign-off: "Adios, mo-fo."

On Tuesday morning, the station aired the end of the interview. Mr. Oberg said during his report that the governor had called him back and apologized, saying that he had spoken without malice...

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