Wamp walks back secession talk
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2010/images/07/23/art.wamp.file.gi.jpg caption ="Gubernatorial candidate Zach Wamp says he is not interested in secession."](CNN) – Republican Rep. Zach Wamp of Tennessee wants to make one thing clear: If elected governor, the Volunteer State will remain part of the United States.
"Of course we will not secede from the union," Wamp told reporters at a campaign stop in Franklin, Tennessee over the weekend, according to the Associated Press. "But we will also not have a governor who will cave in to Barack Obama."
Wamp's comments came a day after he appeared to suggest to Hotline OnCall that mandates forced on the states by the Obama administration's health care bill have put secession on the table.
"I hope that the American people will go to the ballot box in 2010 and 2012 so that states are not forced to consider separation from this government," Wamp told the Hotline.
In the same interview, Wamp said he hopes voters send a message in November that the federal government should "strictly adhere" to the Constitution.
"Patriots like Rick Perry have talked about these issues because the federal government is putting us in an untenable position at the state level," he said.
Perry, the Texas governor who easily won a primary challenge earlier this year, saw his stock rise among conservatives after suggesting in 2009 that his state might consider secession.
Wamp's primary opponents, Lt. Gov. Ron Ramsey and Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, both have said they don't support secession.
The primary is set for August 5.
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For a member of Congress to talk about secession is treasonous, and he should be expelled from his elected office. Ditto for idiots like Rick Perry.
seperate from the government befor Obama wants to be called king, time to dethrone the wanna be obama, he is the biggest loser we have ever had.
Funny that Republicans weren't calling for secession when George Bush and Dick Cheney were spending billions of dollars on an illegal and immoral war in Iraq while cutting taxes for rich people at home and running up huge deficits. I wonder what's different now?
Zack, why do you speak of President Obama as if he is the president of some hostile nation. He is the President of the United States; learn to live with it.
Your impudent statement about seccession backfired on you and now you have to "eat crow". Oh, how the mighty have fallen.
IT seems to be a surplus of these clowns.
Wamp! There it is.
Um where exactly do you morons think you could go? I suppose Texas might be able to form it's own country nestled between the USA and Mexico (no sneaking across the border though!), but Tennessee is out of luck as it's completely surrounded by the USA. This is just another loud mouth politician pandering to the party faithful.
Secession was settled in 1865. Does anyone really want to raise it again?!
More importantly, his position is emblematic of what's so wrong with today's conservatives. Instead of working to seek compromises that strike a middle ground between the liberals and conservatives, they'd rather stop anything from happening.
Gee, Zach, it sure does sound like you were advocating separation from the government. Patriots like Perry? You have got to be kidding!
When is the moderate America going to say enough is enough to this kind of nonsense? Is it going to take protests at Bachmann, Palin and the rest of this idiot's rallies to make them stop spreading hate and division? If so, bring it on. If the independent voter signs on in November for these wing nuts they deserve what they get. And what they will get is more hate and division in their America.
I for one, do not support secession from the greatest country in the world. I truely believe the people will stand up and correct this wrong. I have faith in our citizens. November is the start, and some other actions, maybe empeachment processes to take care of the bigger problem is in order. This country needs to get back to what made it great, and that is the Constitution as it was written. Government was never designed to have the power it has now. People in this country were never supposed to be given free anything. Entitlements and racism have tore this country apart.
What a moron – any mention of secession is just nonsensical. Any politician suggesting it should be immediately dismissed from any serious consideration.
Rick Perry isn't a patriot – he's a crook lining his pockets while holding the state of TX back. He's an opportunist playing to the lowest common denominator – just like mr. wamp.
That 'Whir' you hear is Lincoln spinning in his grave.
Lincoln suspended 'Habeus Corpus' (the Constitution) in order to prevent secession and preserve the Union.
The Republican party of today has lost it's way and those who call themselves 'Patriots' and threaten secession are an insult to all who have sacrificed their lives in service to this Great Country!