Rick Perry: ‘I stepped right in it’ by comparing homosexuality to alcoholism

It has been a rough week for Rick Perry, and he knows it.

Perry has been catching flak from across the political spectrum since he compared homosexuality to alcoholism during an appearance in San Francisco last week.

Everyone from Republican star New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie to “The Daily Show’s” Jon Stewart has roasted Perry in the last week for saying: “I may have the genetic coding that I’m inclined to be an alcoholic, but I have the desire not to do that, and I look at the homosexual issue the same way.”

It took a week but Perry, who may be eyeing a 2016 presidential run, tried to quiet the controversy Thursday during a breakfast with Washington reporters sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor. He did not apologize for the remark, but said he “stepped right in it.”

“I got asked about an issue, and instead of saying, ‘You know what, we need to be a really respectful and tolerant country, to everybody, and get back to talking about -- whether you’re gay or straight -- you need to be having a job and those are the focuses I want to be involved with,’ instead ... I readily admit, I stepped right in it,” Perry said.

It is a phrase Perry has grown used to using. During his famous “oops” moment in 2012, Perry lost his train of thought when asked which federal government departments he would cut as president.

“I’m glad I had my boots on tonight. I stepped in it out there,” Perry told reporters afterward.

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