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Rick Perry, governor of Texas and straight shootin' son of an outlaw, gave up cowboy boots due to back pain. He adopted black orthopedic loafers. This is blasphemy in Texas, where cowboy boots are literally the official state footwear. Perry signed the resolution to make them so in 2007.
Texas Land Commissioner, Jerry Patterson, a Republican, has taken issue with this wardrobe edit. He's so miffed that he wrote into the American Austin-Statesman in response to an opinion piece about cowboy boots being like underwear for men (IDK about you, Texas. IDK.) He called the had-spinal-fusion-surgery-and-now-wearing-two-inch-heels-hurts-a-lot excuse "feeble." Patterson explains, "Tell Rick that boots can be purchased with normal heels. I lament the fact that our governor could now pass for a West Coast metrosexual and has embarrassed us all with his sartorial change of direction." Allow Colbert to break it down above.
· Herman: To boot or not to boot? The readers speak [American Austin-Statesman]
· Congressman's Golf Shirt, Bow-Tie Combo Inspires GQ Wrath [Racked]