And This Helps The Situation HOW?
Look, I realize that the Republican party is a bit of a mess right now (the understatement of the year, perhaps), and that a number of conservative office holders are jockeying to get into the national spotlight – similar to what Pres. Obama managed to pull off with his DNC speech from years ago – but are how is this helping anything?
Gov. Rick Perry: Texas might have to secede.
Gov. Rick Perry (R-TX) was one of the dozens of Republican lawmakers who are addressing the anti-Obama tea parties today. He told the crowd he didn’t believe they were all “right-wing extremists,” as others had sought to portray them. “But if you are, I’m with you!” he shouted. After, he told reporters that Texas might have to secede from the union:
Perry told reporters following his speech that Texans might get so frustrated with the government they would want to secede from the 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.”
Earlier this week, Perry signed onto a nonbinding resolution claiming the federal government had overstepped its Constitutional authority. “I believe the federal government has become oppressive. I believe it’s become oppressive in its size, its intrusion into the lives of its citizens, and its interference with the affairs of our state,” Perry declared.
First off all, the obvious: don’t they teach US history in Texas? Isn’t he aware how that whole seceding thing turned out the first time around?
Secondly, I really don’t understand what he’s hoping to accomplish with this stunt.
It’s no secret that the Republican party is trying desperately to find a foothold somewhere between “radical Christian social conservatives” and “moderate small-government Republicans.” And while the social conservative crowd has run the show for pretty much the past decade (SPECTACULAR results, by the way), it’s also no secret that the demographic for that particular group is incredibly narrow:
White, male and (this one’s the key) over 50.* In other words, the Republican party is just now realizing that it’s let its agenda be run by people who are honestly not going to be around for much longer. So why is Gov. Perry pandering to a crowd that has pretty much been forsaken by its party (for pushing what is universally seen as a failed agenda under Pres. GW Bush), rather than the moderate Republicans who actually have a credible voice at this point in time – and, most likely, in the future?
Oh, wait, I know. Good old fashioned work, and working together with others, don’t provide the opportunity to grandstand and get your name out there.
Congrats, Gov. Perry. I took the bait and wrote about it.
* Please note that the demographics for radical right conservatives are typically seen as being in line with Rush Limbaugh’s show demographics:
- 81% male
- 52% are 50+ (a huge margin, considering there are four other age groups counted)
- 97% white
