Perry gets asked to stop 'liberal, socialist, Marxist' education system

Texas governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry was asked how to stop leftist universities from corrupting students at the Republican Jewish Coalition Forum on Wednesday.

"I invite you to talk about our universities," a woman said. "It seems like we're paying for our own defamation, though student loans paid for by the government. We send our open-minded, good-hearted 18-year-olds who generally love our country to school and four-years later, they pop out, they despise America, they hate capitalism, they think Israel is the devil. And we're helping to fund this."

"Do you have any ideas on how you can stop a system that is 95 percent liberal, socialist, Marxist?" she concluded.

After the question, Perry unexpectedly squinted and gave a thumbs up to someone in the audience. He then responded to the woman by stating he had set out seven reforms in Texas aimed at evaluating the cost-benefit ratio of state funds for universities.

"We have some fabulous universities in the state of Texas, but they are all costing to much money, and we are not getting a good return on our investment," Perry said.

Addressing the woman's question more directly, he added "hopefully there is not too much of that being taught in Texas universities."

"I'm sure there is a bit of it," Perry said. "But the free thought of what goes on and what have you, I respect that greatly. My daughter came out of Texas A&M, and she is still a card carrying Republican conservative."

Watch this video from CNN, broadcast Dec. 7, 2011.