Ron Paul Defends Secession: "Very Much American" (VIDEO)

Texas Governor Rick Perry may be on the receiving end of some political mockery for his recent endorsement of his home state's right to secede from the country. But he has the backing of one decidedly anti-establishment Republican from the Lone Star State.

Rep. Ron Paul released a video on Sunday offering support for the principles of secession, calling them "very much American." And he described Perry's recent talk about pulling Texas out of the union a discussion worth having.

"We came together voluntarily," said Paul. "A free society means you can resolve it voluntarily."

The decidedly libertarian Texas Republican and former presidential candidate is one of the few elected national figures to offer support for the stance taken by his governor. And it's not unexpected. The tea parties that Paul's candidacy helped galvanize were the same forum where Perry expressed some of his sentiments.

In his video address, Paul framed talk of secession as a uniquely American right, pulled straight from the same thread as the American Revolution.

[Perry] really stirred some of the liberal media, where they started screaming about: 'what is going on here, this is un-American.' I heard one individual say 'this is treasonous to even talk about it.' Well, they don't know their history very well, because when you think about it... it is very American to talk about secession. That's how we came in being. Thirteen colonies seceded from the British and established a new country. So secession is a very much American principle. What about all the strong endorsements we have give the past decade or two to all the republics that seceded from the soviet system? We were delighted about it.

"I think it is worth a discussion," said Paul, later in his four-and-a-half minute long video. "I think people should discuss this. Because right now the American people are sick and tired of it all. And I think the time will come when people will consider it much more seriously, is when the federal government can no longer deliver. That will come when the dollar collapses."

The real obstacle to any such discussion, in the end, is legal as much as political. The Joint Resolution Annexing Texas to the United States of 1845 allows for Texas to be drawn into five separate states but not secede from the union.

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Comments

[Aaron Johnson]

As far a Texas is concerned, the US should take their nukes away and give that right wing shithole back to Mexico. We will see how long those fat arsed Texans would last as they beg to be readmitted into the US. Serious, these anti-intellectual rubes such as should pull a "Michael Hutchence" so they can meet their imaginary Jesus once and for all.

[factotem]

Speaking as someone who actually has experience with Texas...
YES, nearly everything from Texas that made it to the national stage in the last 20 years is abhorrent (except Anne Richards)

However...
Houston is closer to going blue than ever. Texas is nearly civilized.
And Texans are lovely people. 75 percent of Texans rejected Perry's stupid remark.
Wanna find the nation's ignorant good-ole-boys? Travel through 2nd or 3rd tier bible belt states (N.C., S.C. Tenn, Kentucky, etc.)

There are smart and dumb people eveywhere.
My friends in all major cities I've lived in (NYC, LA, Chicago) act like being open-minded is about being born in the right (northern) zip code. They are some of the most closed-minded snobs I know. And it all starts with uninformed hate-mongering like your post. You're not winning anyone over, or helping to reduce north/south tensions.

[patricksmom]

I guess it is Ron Paul that doesn't know history...­..ie the civil war.

[elimenez]

Yeah that's the first thing that came to mind, the Civil War settled issues of secession on the side of preserving the union. Additionally, in "Texas Vs. White" the Supreme Court held that the Constitution did not permit states to secede from the United States, and that the ordinances of secession, and all the acts of the legislatures within seceding states intended to give effect to such ordinances, were "absolutely null".

The only way a state can secede is through revolution or acceptance from the other states. The former being anti-american, and the latter being practically impossible. Ron Paul goes on and mentions our enthusiasm for post-Soviet states independence, well our support does not directly mean it is was not Anti-USSR. They are not mutually exclusive. Ron Paul is just struggling for relevancy.

[SOLERSO68]

and making himself more irrelevant

[bluehand]

Mr. Paul, who is admired for being 'smart' still seems to be just a clueless as most Americans as to where their daily life comforts come from. From his "built to code" home; on his surveyed lot; he got out of an insect free mattress; drank some clean water; took a shower with clean water; ate breakfast then (at his age) likely took some kind of medication­/vitamins, both courtesy of the FDA & his Medicare; put on his soft-sized correctly-poly blend clothes & insect free shoes (courtesty of gov-codes); got in his car (built to gov saftey standards); drove on gov built road & didn't get killed thanks to all the traffic laws; walked in his office (built to code); sat in his chair (built to code); & gave an interview in support of Texas ( a state with no 'state income tax') to secede. The loss of Medicare alone would bury Texas. Maybe we should let this one silly state go, with the stipulation that they could never ask us for aid, or return to the Union.

[plaidsportcoat]

Let Texans secede and become the gun store for Mexico, since they like that role already.

[plaidsportcoat]

PLEAZE get these loonies out of our country asap!!!

[pmarie55]

All I can say is go for it ... secede away & good riddance!!!

[ReealOne]

Isn't it 'strange' how all of these "good Republicans" sat idly by, and supported the destruction of this country, as it's reputation was being trashed around the world in the past 20 yrs. Folks internationally actually hated us, and would rather cut off their arms than support us... that is until now. NOW suddeny, they are so "vocal", and worst of all, they talk of secession which at the very least is UN-American and UN-patriotic, and at the very worst isTREASONOUS.

This ladies and gentlemen is what make every last one of the GO-NOPERs/­RNC/EXTREM­E Republican­s-Conserva­tives/ Rush Limbaugh Right-wing Nutjobs ALL hypocrites and liars. They DO NOT love America, or they would not have sat back and let her be brought to her knees. They WOULD NOT have sat back, and turn this country practically into a one party system thanks to all of their bigotry, fear and hate mongering, intolerance, and bold-faced lying.

Let's get real here. This IS NOT about the Republican's love for America, because their very actions have shown different. This is about an intelligent black man being overwhelmingly chosen to represent and lead this country, and living in the White House. For the intolerant Republicans of ANYONE who is not like them, this is too much to bear. Plain and simple. So stop with the "cover-up" already. We're not as stupid as you hope that we are.

[factotem]

I think he meant "recession­." Recessions are very American this year.

[spartacusfalcon]

why are people obsessed with percentages when it comes to voting. look at raw numbers. he won by 10 million votes. democrats have won, democratically, 4 out of the last five elections. i don't see Obama loosing ten million votes in 4 years, so i think he's gonna have a good 8 year run. by then the country will hopefully be firmly entrenched to the left, and then we can start a new left party to start going even more to the left to get some real change. Nader for President!

[DJ23]

AndyWright68:
"Remember only 30% of the voters support Obama. 70% don't believe in him enough to vote for him."

Posted 02:21 PM on 04/20/2009

"The fact remains that 70% of registered voters DID NOT vote for Obama. I can prove that!"

Posted 03:03 PM on 04/20/2009

"Listen. Only 30% of the registered voters voted for Obama."

Posted 03:12 PM on 04/20/2009

"I agree the facts are there. Only 30%. It's sad."

Posted 05:31 PM on 04/20/2009

"30% of the registered voters voted for Obama. Look it up. Too lazy?"

05:35 PM on 04/20/2009

I just did some checking of my own and learned that there were 169,000.00­0 registered voters in 2008

69,456,897 plus voted for Obama.

That is 41% of registered voters that voted for Obama.

225,000,000 people in this country or over 18(legal voting age), but obviously all 255 million of those citizens are not registered to vote. Only 168 million as I just stated.

If you used THAT number(225 million) it would come out to be 30% but that would make you statement:

"Remember only 30% of the voters support Obama" completely FALSE.

Because one has to be registered to be a voter, correct?

By the way of the people who ACVTUALLY voted in the 2008 election Obama won 52.9% of their votes.

Either way your claim is not accurate.

Will you now admit that you were mistaken?

[AndyWright68]

How can I be mistaken when the facts are that only 30% of Americans agree with your leader.

[iblog]

What the percentage of people that agree with your leader, oops, you don't have one.

[SOLERSO68]

your numbers are fvcked. all of the public opinion polls taken since the election show his support among "REGISTERED VOTERS" at 60-70% ( BTW hes your leader too. get used to it). the querys have been asked in a dozen different ways, to reflect personlal likeability to sepcific policy, to overall handling, AND ARE TAKEN ALMOST DAILY. using your criteria reagan averaged 23% approval. ron paul i dont think, even registers at all.

[RealityBaseCamp]

That's what they said about Clinton in 92, but the fact is that he won the election. If we actually had more viable choices, the plurality would be even smaller, but there would still be a winner.

As I recall, by the way, Republicans (not saying it about Libertarians) try to discourage people from voting. When they lose, they fall back on this "an uncast vote is a NO vote" fallacy.

And don't forget, every single one of us could have written in "Ron Paul." Most of us chose not to. What percent is that?

[ReealOne]

If Texas wants to secede, let 'em 'git'. But hear this. We want ALL of our "stuff" back..... including the land, all of the military sites, and ALL the funds we've ever funneled their way, including all the "disaster relief" assistance­.... and we want it now. We will not allow any 'payment' plans. And, we hope that you will be able to provide for your "nation" social security, retirement, medicare/medicad, Welfare, you know, all the "stuff" with help from the FEDERAL govt. of the USA.

Perhaps Gov. Perry, Tom Delay, Ron Paul, and the other "foolish zealots" should take a moment to "think" before declaring such and UN-American act as secession, or at the very least, don't drink or take drugs and get on a microphone in front of a crowd with this nonsense.

Let's see how "independent" Texas REALLY are..... come on now, show us. Now 'GIT'.

[DJ23]

AndyWright68:

"30% of the registered voters voted for Obama. Look it up. Too lazy?"

05:35 PM on 04/20/2009

Where are you getting this info.? Could you provide links?

I just did some checking of my own and learned that there were 169,000.00­0 registered voters in 2008

69,456,897 plus voted for Obama.

That is 41% of registered voters that voted for Obama.

225,000,000 people in this country or over 18(legal voting age), but obviously all 255 million of those citizens are not registered to vote. Only 168 million as I just stated.

If you used THAT number(225 million) it would come out to be 30% but that would make you statement:

"Remember only 30% of the voters support Obama" completely FALSE.

Because one has to be registered to be a voter, correct?

By the way of the people who ACVTUALLY voted in the 2008 election Obama won 52.9% of their votes.

Either way your claim in not accurate.

Will you now admit that you were mistaken?

[AndyWright68]

look. I'm sorry your leader is not as popular as you thought. The fact remains that true Americans are going to take back this country and you are on the wrong side. Careful what you fight for. http://restoreourrights.blogspot.com/

[iblog]

How come you answer all comments after the person leaves?

[sticksnstones]

And, genius, who is your viable candidate ?? This should be good, folks, if Andy cares to respond.

[VPN]

Keep telling yourself that all the way to 2016.

[Sloan48]

"True Americans". Hmmm... it sounds like you're questioning my patriotism. Since we're going down this road, maybe we should question yours.

[milo9]

The left is making a big mistake by not pushing back on this issue. A lot of blood has been spilled to keep the Union together. Anyone or any group who advocates secession should be disqualified for leadership of this country.

[joelaf]

Everytime I see the name "Ron Paul", I hear Bob Dole referring to himself in 3rd person, ex; "Bob Dole gets hard using V i a g ra" Ron Paul supporters get the same response from repeating his name in response to any comment.

[mad1nola]

So said the MAD doctor.