Perry rallies at SunAir hangar

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Texas governor attacks president on U.S. jobs, economy In a brief rally Wednesday night at the Camarillo Airport, Texas Gov. Rick Perry blasted President Barack Obama's economic policies, saying they've not only failed to create jobs but also have driven the nation deeper into debt and despair.

"We're Americans. We can do better than this," Perry told a crowd of about 400 people who had gathered inside the SunAir hangar after Wednesday's debate among GOP presidential hopefuls at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. Perry stopped at the airport about 20 miles southwest of Simi Valley before boarding a private jet headed to San Diego. "I will not stand by and watch this country destroy itself," Perry said, paraphrasing what Ronald Reagan said during his presidential campaign against then-President Jimmy Carter. Perry went on to criticize "ivory tower academics," saying their policies have been disastrous for the nation and are out of tune with what most Americans want and value. And that is jobs and the right to support themselves and their families, Perry said. "Promises and platitudes are not going to cover up the fact that, Mr. President, you cannot spend your way to prosperity," Perry said. "It doesn't work. It's never worked. "Why don't we just eliminate the middle man?" The reference was to government. He said millions of Americans are unemployed and suffering, estimating the number to be around one in six workers without a job. "Mr. President, that is not an economic plan; it's a disaster," he said. "We're ready for change." Perry then praised his record of job creation in Texas since becoming governor, saying Texas has been responsible for four out of every 10 jobs created in the nation. Perry said the reason is simple: freedom. Freedom for businesses that are not burdened with overregulation and high taxes. Perry also praised the other GOP hopefuls who appeared with him at the Simi Valley debate. "There isn't anybody on that stage who wouldn't be better than what we have today," he said, adding that he was praising them, even if some of them treated him as "the new kid on the block." Perry said if there was one message he hoped the Republican debate would send Obama, it was: "Don't take California for granted." "We love coming out here; we love this state," he said as he stood on stage with his wife, Anita. He added that there was no better place to enter the fray of a presidential race than the Reagan Library, saying the former president exemplified what is best about this country. The debate was his first in the race for the GOP nomination for next year's presidential election. Perry was scheduled to spend the night in San Diego, where another rally was planned. He is expected to return to the Los Angeles area today.