Rick Perry in The Iowa Freedom Summit & Ag Summit (preparation for Iowa Caucus)

On Environment: Ethanol waiver in Texas but not in Iowa: let states decide

On Foreign Policy: Easing restrictions on Cuba hurts the Cuban people

Perry's remarks took aim at President Obama's decision in January to normalize relations with Havana. The US eased travel and trade restrictions on Cuba as part of the landmark deal.

Perry took issue with Obama's diplomatic priorities. He said the president's decision to deal with Raul Castro, Cuba's dictator, hurts everyday Cubans. "This president missed the point on Cuba's relationship with its people," Perry said. "Cuba has been incredibly onerous to its people" Perry said trading with Castro's Cuba was unlikely to change the communist nation's ways. "I'm not sure you can change the culture of Cuba until Castro is dead and gone," he said.

On Free Trade: China practices communism at night & capitalism in daytime

"China's different," Perry said of both countries. "China basically practices communism at night and capitalism in the daytime. There's a chance for our trade to engage with them and possibly change the culture."

On Jobs: The official unemployment rate is massaged and doctored

Back in 2012, such conspiracy theories became known as unemployment or "BLS trutherism," in reference to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the division of the Labor Department that's responsible for producing the unemployment rate. After some surprisingly upbeat jobs reports that bolstered the campaign of President Barack Obama, skeptical conservatives either implied or said outright that the numbers couldn't be trusted.

As explained at the time, the BLS is devised in such a way that the White House cannot meddle in its math, be it a Democratic or Republican administration. [But BLS truthers compare the official jobless rate of] 5.6% to alternate BLS measures that include discouraged and involuntary part-time workers.

On Immigration: If Washington refuses to enforce the border, Texas will

Perry ignored the protesters, who were escorted out of the building by police. "Here is what I say: If Washington refuses to enforce the border, Texas will. This problem has dragged on long enough," Perry said.

Perry got enthusiastic applause and cheers for his criticism of President Barack Obama's administration and his calls for lower taxes, less government regulation and tougher border security.

On Tax Reform: Lower taxes & less regulation made Texas a job leader

He boasted that he signed seven balanced state budgets in Texas and created the best economic climate in the country. He said Texas has adopted "smart regulations," improved its educational system and "stopped frivolous lawsuits at the courthouse."

But Republicans can't simply criticize Democrats. They need to offer a positive agenda and a vision, he said.

"The time has come to usher in a new era of reform and American revival," Perry said. He got enthusiastic applause and cheers for his criticism of President Barack Obama's administration and his calls for lower taxes, less government regulation and tougher border security.