Democrats: Texas gov should disavow secession talk

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090416/ap_on_re_us/perry_secession

Democrats: Texas gov should disavow secession talk

By KELLEY SHANNON, Associated Press Writer Kelley , Associated Press

Writer – 25 mins ago

AUSTIN, Texas – Republican Gov. Rick insisted Thursday that his remarks

about secession were not intended as an argument that Texas should leave the

union, but Democrats still called his comments reckless and anti-American.

's comments following an anti-tax " tea party " Wednesday never did advocate

Texas breaking away from the United States but did suggest Texans might at some

point get so fed up they would want to secede. And that was enough to feed

opinions for and against secession on Web sites, cable TV and talk radio across

the nation.

At the Texas Capitol on Thursday, Rep. Jim Dunnam of Waco, joined by several

fellow Texas House Democrats, said some people associate talk of secession with

racial division and the Civil War and that should disavow any notion of

seceding.

" Talk of secession is an attack on our country. It can be nothing else. It is

the ultimate anti-American statement, " Dunnam said at a news conference.

The Democrats are proposing a House resolution expressing " complete and total

disagreement with any fringe element advocating the 'secession' of Texas or any

other state from our one and indivisible Union. "

emphasized Thursday that he is not advocating secession but understands

why Americans may have those feelings because of frustration with Washington,

D.C. He said it's fine to express the thought. He offered no apology and did not

back away from his earlier comments.

In his remarks, which were in response to a question from The Associated Press,

said he didn't think Texas should secede despite some chatter about it on

the Internet and his name being associated with the idea. answered the

question as he walked away from the rally where some in the audience had shouted

" Secede! " during his speech.

" We've got a great union. There's absolutely no reason to dissolve it. But if

Washington continues to thumb their nose at the American people, you know, who

knows what might come out of that. But Texas is a very unique place, and we're a

pretty independent lot to boot, " said Wednesday.

A day later, said he found the fascination with the remark interesting.

" I refer people back to my statement and I got a charge out of it, " he said. " I

was kind of thinking that maybe the same people that hadn't been reading the

Constitution right were reading that article and they got the wrong impression

about what I said. Clearly I stated that we have a great union. Texas is part of

a great union. And I see no reason for that to change. "

has been speaking out against the federal government lately over federal

economic stimulus spending. He's also in a tough race for re-election against a

fellow Republican, U.S. Sen. Kay Hutchison, and is trying to portray

Hutchison as a Washington insider.

Last week, joined state lawmakers in showing support for a Texas

resolution championing states' rights provided for in the 10th Amendment of the

U.S. Constitution. He voiced support for states' rights again Thursday. He also

defended freedom of speech to a room full of journalists.

" This is America, baby. First Amendment. We like it too, as well as the Second

and the 10th (amendment), " he said.

Dunnam suggested is positioning himself for his political future.

" We all knew he wanted to be president. I just didn't know it was president of

the Republic of Texas, " he said to chuckles from onlookers.

spokeswoman Castle responded, " It's unfortunate that Rep. Dunnam

is trying to distract from the fact that yesterday thousands of Texans,

including many in his own district, expressed their extreme displeasure at

Washington's rampant taxation, big spending and bloated government. "

Other Democrats weighed in with criticism of 's remark.

" Talk of secession would be laughable if it weren't mentioned in a serious way, "

said former ambassador Tom Schieffer, considering running for governor in 2010.

State Sen. Rodney Ellis, a Houston Democrat, said some issues should not be made

legitimate in any way.

" By not rejecting out of hand the possibility of secession, Governor is

taking a step down a very dangerous and divisive path encouraged by the fringe

of Texas politics, " Ellis said.