>>> it's been three days since the " washington post" revealed a hunting camp rick perry leased in texas had the "n" word in its title and still we haven't heard from the governor, but the new reports show a disturbing pattern of behavior on race issues. the associated press reports perry was a prominent opponent of the naacp's efforts to have confederate flags removed from statehouses and government buildings across the south in 2000. in a letter to sons of confederate veterans perry wrote, quote, i oppose efforts to remove confederate monuments, plaques and memorials from public property. i also believe that communities should have the right to decide whether statues or other memorials are appropriate for their communities. and "the huffington post" reports, the governor has largely ignored allegations of racism on the part of at least one subordinate and on one occasion was accused of racial insensitivity himself. in 1991, as texas agricultural commissioner, perry supported his assistant commissioner after he was accused of saying this in a meeting, quote, we already have one "n" word. we don't need another. perry called the accusation vial and offensive in spite of sworn statements from the accusers and another witness. the aide was eventually forced to resign over the scandal. so questions are mounting. where are you, mr. perry? i'm waiting. joining me now to help answer that question who did show up is matt glaser, executive director of progress texas, a group that has followed perry's past and jonathan capehart, editorial writer for the " washington post" and msnbc contributor. gentlemen, thank you for your time tonight.
>> hi, rev. great being here.
>> let me start with you, jonathan. three days, no perry. we hear some spinning, if you want to call it that from some of his campaign aides. he didn't come forth. he didn't explain anything. he hasn't really said anything about this. does that speak volumes?
>> well, it speaks a little bit, but to be fair to the governor, he did send a statement to the " washington post" saying that the word was -- i believe he said either offensive or insensitive. i think it was offensive. he talked about how, you know, efforts were made to, you know, paint over the word which was painted over a rock. i think the bigger issue though is it's one thing to talk about this through a statement and the day the story comes out and then have your spokesperson push back against the criticism of the governor through other statements. i think this issue, race issue with the governor being a governor of a southern state and a white southern governor. he is going to have to come out and talk definitively and forthrightly about race, in the same way that this was an imperative for haley barbour, governor of mississippi. remember, he was the big republican hope way back when when he was trying to decide whether to run for the presidency, and he decided not, to an one of the reasons, it's rumored to be why he did not run, decided not to run, w he did not -- he didn't think he could do a credible job of talking about race that would allow him to go forward to not only win the nomination but to also win the general election.
>> well, let me pick up on that with you, matt. the fact of the matter is that this governor had written a letter in 2000 defending local communities that wanted to keep the confederate symbol on public buildings. how do you run for president of the united states for all people defending that position?
>> i don't think it's possible, and if you look at what we've been doing, over 30,000 people from across the state of texas don't support that and being put on state license plates, something being considered by the texas department of motor vehicles.
>> wait a minute. say that again, slow, because somebody may not have heard that. the texas-- say that again? texas motor vehicle are considering what?
>> they are considering putting the confederate flag on state license plates.
>> this is now.
>> right now. up for consideration. it was tied 4-4. rick perry just appointed the ninth member to the board. that member has been called by our members, by other organizations, by press, and it continues to be silent on the issue. jerry patterson, general land commissioner here in texas who is looking at being lieutenant governor here in texas, has sold the san antonio news board, editorial board, that he doesn't know if the texas dmv is being able to get this controversial image on state license plates and has advocated and actually suggested that it should go to the courts for judges to go ahead and legislate from the bench. that is where we are in texas right now.
>> mr. capehart, let me say this to you. mr. perry, the present governor of texas, right now running for governor, in his own state, debating whether to put this license plate that has the sons of confederate veterans with the confederate flag on the license plates of people in texas while he offers himself to this country as the president of the united states. now, we can argue back and forth about did they paint over a rock that should never have painted in the first place?
>> right.
>> but what do we talk about? the governor has laryngitis now when they are talking about putting the confederate flag on license plates in the state he's already governor?
>> right. he has a problem here, a serious problem. now, it might not be a problem for him in texas, and if he had decided not to run for president, we wouldn't even be talking about this on a national level, but he has put himself forth -- forward to be considered to be the republican presidential nominee-- republican nominee for president, and if you're going to run for president, you have to convince 50.1% of the american people that they should entrust you with the presidency. you're not going to win the election with only white voters and particularly only white voters who think it's perfectly fine to have a license plate with the stars and bars on it. he hasn't -- governor perry has a problem. he's going to have to address it. as you call, it laryngitis, he better hope that it clears up, and he clears it up before the next republican debate because guaranteed this issue is going to come up.
>> well, matt and jonathan, thank both of you for your time tonig tonight.
>> thanks, rev.
>> let me say this. this is not, as some say, a regional thing because we did have a president that came from texas. his name was lyndon johnson. he signed the voting rights act. he signed the civil rights act. he stood before congress and said we shall overcome. he was from texas, too, but it looked like he brought a little more courage and moral backbone from texas to the nation. read about lyndon johnson, governor perry, on your way to showing up because
