Perry used the radio interview to distinguish himself and advance his image from another Texas politician who assumed the presidency – George W. Bush, who Perry said he respects and calls a friend. “I’m Rick Perry and I am who I am and I’ve got my own record. I’m not George Bush, I don’t try to be,” Perry said. 

 

During the broadcast Perry said, “I am not an establishment figure. I dislike Washington and I think it’s a seedy place.” 

 

The Texas governor defended his decision to cut $4 billion from the Texas education budget, arguing that Texas public schools have made improvements in accountability and college readiness since he became governor in 2000. 

 

Ingraham asked whether Perry could promise he would not vacation on Martha’s Vineyard, if elected President. Perry replied, “I’m not even sure I know where it is.” 

 

Ingraham seems to be at the center of the political news. Just last week Laura Ingraham guest hosted on Bill O’Reilly’s The Factor on Fox News where she spared with Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY). 

 

Rangel was invited on the program to discuss Black unemployment and Rep. Allen West's controversial comments about the Democratic Party, which the Republican likened to a "plantation" for the modern Black community. 

 

Ingraham started by replaying West's "plantation" comments. She asked Rangel what his problem was with the word choice. 

 

“I'm trying to figure out what words we can use and what words we can't use,” she said. “What do you mean can't?” Rangel shot back. “You're confused whether or not you can use 'plantation' as a Black Republican?” 

 

From there, Ingraham and Rangel kept talking past each other. She fired question after question at him – about the War on Poverty, about liberalism, about President Obama and the effect on the Black community – and he kept objecting to each question as it was asked. 

 

“This is something entirely different from what you just asked,” Rangel said at one point. 

He loudly sighed at another juncture in the conversation, seemingly frustrated by Ingraham, and told her that her questions, “sound like mini-speeches.” (“Maybe you don't get real questions from real people,” she replied.) 

 

The biggest flashpoint though occurred when Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) waded into much more personal territory with Ingraham. 

 

“Bill O'Reilly told me he had a secret weapon,” he said. “I didn't know it was just a pretty girl that he would bring here.” 

 

“That's very condescending, sir!” Ingraham fired back. “These are serious questions.” 

 

“You have asked me 50 questions,” Rangel said. “I'm begging you. I'm begging you...just ask me one question at a time.” 

 

Laura Ingraham, the leading lady of talk radio, continues to be the most listened-to woman in political talk radio in the United States. The Laura Ingraham Show is heard on hundreds of stations nationwide and has been addicting legions of listeners since its launch in 2001. 

Ingraham is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of five books--The Hillary Trap, Shut Up & Sing, Power to the People, The Obama Diaries, and the new smash hit, and her latest release, Of Thee I Zing. 

 

Always smart and entertaining, Ingraham is a regular Fox News contributor and the principal substitute host on The O'Reilly Factor, the #1 rated cable news show in America. Ingraham also has her own dedicated weekly segment, “The Ingraham Angle” on The O'Reilly Factor. Ingraham is a former Supreme Court law clerk and white collar criminal defense litigator, and also previously hosted her own show on MSNBC. 

 

The Laura Ingraham Show airs live from 9 a.m. – Noon EST (6 a.m. – 9 a.m. PST). For more information contact TRNE at 888-383-3733, or visit them online at http://www.talkradionetwork.com.