Hoekstra cheers Perry after secessionist remarks

Gov. Rick Perry of Texas caused enormous controversy this week when he appeared at one of the “tea parties” in Austin and spoke openly of the possibility of secession from the United States. Rep. Pete Hoekstra, who is running for governor of Michigan, praised him for it, saying, “I applaud Governor Perry for his effort to affirm states’ rights granted under the Constitution.”

Early last week, Perry signed a non-binding resolution arguing that the federal government had overstepped its constitutional boundaries and declared, “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.”

Speaking to a group of about 1,000 protesters at Austin City Hall on Wednesday, Perry said, “We will not stand our pockets being picked, our children’s future being mortgaged, our rights being taken away,” while people in the crowed shouted “secede!” After the rally he told reporters, “When we came into the Union in 1845, one of the issues was that we would be able to leave if we decided to do that…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 may come out of that?”