Wow, I didn't really think that this talk of Rick Perry's being a secessionist had any legs. Or that Rick Perry was the least bit concerned if people thought that he was a secessionist or not. He just seems like that kind of guy.
"I don't give two shits what you think about anything," I can imagine Rick Perry saying.
But apparently, he does give two shits because a close friend, Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX), says naw, he's not a secessionist. Gohmert has known Rick Perry since his college days and vehemently defends his friend.
Perry was just kidding.
CARROLL — U.S. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-East Texas) says he’s known Rick Perry since college days and dismisses much-publicized comments from the GOP presidential candidate about Texas leaving the union.
“I think those comments were made tongue in cheek,” Gohmert said. “I’ve talked to Rick. I’ve known him since Texas A&M. And I know he has no intention of ever seeing Texas secede. That may play well in some sectors. I think the Civil War pretty well decided whether a state can secede or not. Of course, we’re stronger as a country united and I know he knows that, so we’ll see what he says from here.”
Seriously, all kidding aside, this issue will not go away for Perry and if he becomes the Republican nominee, he will have a lot of explaining to do. It might even turn off some southern state voters.
I am afraid that Perry will address the secession issue again. That seems to be his personality. He prides himself on the fact that he is a straight-talking, tell you what's on my mind Texan.
According to Politico, in a March 2009 interview with bloggers, Perry said Texans have a “different feeling about independence.”
“When we came into the nation in 1845, we were a republic, we were a stand-alone nation,” the governor can be heard saying, according to Politico. “And one of the deals was, we can leave anytime we want. So we’re kind of thinking about that again.”
It is not the only time Perry has referenced secession.
You can't go around kidding about things like that. Or making cracks, even in jest, that somebody is "almost treacherous or treasonous." Perry should take President Obama's advise and keep it zipped up.
Come to think, let him go on Mr. President, and let America see the real Rick Perry.
John is the author of an award-winning book, the 2010 Winner of the USA National Best Book award for African-American studies, published by The Elevator Group Mr. and Mrs. Grassroots: How Barack Obama, Two Bookstore Owners, and 300 Volunteers did it. Also available an eBook on Amazon. John is also a member of the Society of Midland Authors and is a book reviewer of political books for the New York Journal of Books