UNDER THE DOME

Who's Gov. Perry's 'idol'? Hint: he's an Aggie

Who's Gov. Perry's 'idol'? Hint: he's an Aggie

When Gov. Rick Perry said this week, "Don't ask me who I voted for 'cause that's none of your business," he wasn't talking politics, exactly.

Perry's comments on the KVET-FM radio morning show "The Talk of Austin" with Bucky Godbolt and Bob Cole, were referring to "American Idol."

Yes, the governor is a fan.

He strongly hinted that his favorite contestant is Jason Castro, a student at the governor's alma mater, Texas A&M University.

"I don't watch an inordinate amount of TV," Perry explained, "but this is one that my wife actually said, 'Come here, you've got to watch this. They've got an Aggie on here that's singing and he's got dreads.' "

The governor tried to get across that it's not just Castro's school that's important but the fact that he's from Texas.

"Hey, if there was a Longhorn on there — the only one from Texas — I'd be rooting for them," he said.

But when the radio hosts suggested an "Idol"-watching party at the Governor's Mansion, Perry balked. The house is under construction, and Perry is living in suburban digs.

"It's going to be kind of lonely there," he said of the mansion.

— Corrie MacLaggan and W. Gardner Selby

Welcome to the political 'hood

Fred Rogers died in 2003, but someone nearly matching the voice of TV's neighborly Mister Rogers is heard in an online video spoofing state Rep. Hubert Vo, a Democrat from Houston seeking re-election.

Empower Texans, which celebrates candidates favoring fiscal restraint, casts Vo as an unscrupulous slum lord, referencing news reports on Vo. The video, titled "Mister Vo's Neighborhood," includes shots of broken-down apartments and what the singer calls Vo's mansion.

"Would you be my voter? Could you be my tenant?" the "Mister Vo" sings. " ... I've always wanted to be filthy rich at the poor's expense. I've always wanted to be a slum lord for you ... Won't you be my voter? Won't you please? Won't you please, please won't you be a Vo voter?"

In question: Does the video, especially its ever-so-familiar tune, amount to a donation to Vo's campaign?

And should Michael Sullivan, Empower Texans' honcho, qualify for an online award for his impersonation?

Judge for yourself — heck, bring the family — starting at this Web link: http://www.empowertexans.com/node/533.

— W. Gardner Selby

Campus gun debate in Texas?

Texas lawmakers should ready themselves for a debate about whether it should be legal to carry firearms on college campuses.

A year after the Virginia Tech shootings, in which a gunman killed 32 people before killing himself, 15 states have considered laws allowing students with gun permits to carry firearms on campus, according to Stateline.org.

So far the legislation hasn't become law in the 15 states (only Utah currently allows permit holders to carry concealed firearms on campus).

No doubt, however, the debate is coming to Texas.

The movement, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, started in Texas on a Facebook page the day after the Virginia Tech shootings.

Next week, the group, which claims more than 25,000 members in 44 states, is planning a "Empty Holster" demonstration on college campuses.

— Laylan Copelin