What Gov. Perry Meant to Say

You could see this one coming.
Last week, when asked about New York State's decision to legalize gay marriage, Texas Gov. Rick Perry said, "That's New York, and that's their business, and that's fine with me." Perry was giving voice to his states' rights' advocacy.
But, predictably, his comment did not sit well with social conservatives who value the fight against gay marriage more than they value any antiquated ideas about states' rights.
Yesterday, Perry backtracked after a meeting with Family Research Council head Tony Perkins. "I probably needed to add a few words after that ‘it’s fine with me,’ and that it’s fine with me that a state is using their sovereign rights to decide an issue. Obviously gay marriage is not fine with me. My stance hasn’t changed."
Score one for the social conservatives. They remain the bedrock of any GOP primary electorate and potential presidential candidates ignore them at their peril.