Rick Perry and Niggerhead

I've done a bit of reading on the controversy surrounding the hunting camp that Rick Perry's family leased in the 1980s. The camp was named Niggerhead after a geological formation of some sort, apparently a common practice in another time, and the large rock or boulder at the front of the camp still faintly bears the name, carved in the rock itself long ago.

There is a question as to how Perry's family could have afforded the land. Apparently renting a hunting lease in West Texas is so affordable that just about anyone with a job can do so. The land is undeveloped and sparse and is in the middle of nowhere, so it's cheap. There's no evidence of corruption there.

As to the name, it's important to remember that the Perrys did not own the land. They could have objected to the name, but it wasn't like they could rename it, and one has to remember when and where this was. If there were evidence that Rick Perry had enjoyed using the name, that would be damaging, but there is none.

With all that said, there is still some danger to Perry. Just the fact the name is associated with him is bad. Also, there is some dispute about the timelines of when and how the name of the camp was painted over, and just who painted over it. Rick Perry is not a detail guy. He blurs facts and shoots from the hip. His real danger is flubbing questions about this issue, something he's proven good at.

So, in summary, there is nothing really there unless Perry fumbles and makes it something there.