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White House Responds to All of Those Secession Petitions: There’s No Right to Secede

Jan. 12, 2013 11:03am Madeleine Morgenstern

The Obama administration on Friday responded to the wave of secession petitions that spread online following the November election, preaching unity over division and saying there’s no right to secede.

“In a nation of 300 million people — each with their own set of deeply-held beliefs — democracy can be noisy and controversial. And that’s a good thing. Free and open debate is what makes this country work, and many people around the world risk their lives every day for the liberties we often take for granted,” wrote Jon Carson, director of the Office of Public Engagement.

“But as much as we value a healthy debate, we don’t let that debate tear us apart,” he said.

More than two dozen states from all corners of the country filed online White House petitions after President Barack Obama’s victory over Gov. Mitt Romney, calling for the government to allow them to secede. Carson’s letter was filed in response to requests from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, all of which garnered the necessary 25,000 signatures. It was also a response to a petition to deport those who had signed petitions to secede in the first place.

White House Responds to State Secession Petitions

Carson said the Founding Fathers enshrined in the Constitution the right to change the national government at the ballot box, but not the right to secede.

“[T]hey did not provide a right to walk away from it,” he continued. “As President Abraham Lincoln explained in his first inaugural address in 1861, ‘in contemplation of universal law and of the Constitution the Union of these States is perpetual.’ In the years that followed, more than 600,000 Americans died in a long and bloody civil war that vindicated the principle that the Constitution establishes a permanent union between the States.”

After the Civil War ended, Carson said, the Supreme Court held that “[t]he Constitution, in all its provisions, looks to an indestructible Union composed of indestructible States.”

“So let’s be clear,” he concluded. “No one disputes that our country faces big challenges, and the recent election followed a vigorous debate about how they should be addressed. As President Obama said the night he won re-election, ‘We may have battled fiercely, but it’s only because we love this country deeply and we care so strongly about its future.’ Whether it’s figuring out how to strengthen our economy, reduce our deficit in a responsible way, or protect our country, we will need to work together — and hear from one another — in order to find the best way to move forward.”

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Related:

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Comments (658)

demsrtraitors
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 1:01pm
you can’t be united if you are forced by a threat of military violence. Its time citizens wake up and start segregating the population. NOT by color but by liberals and conservatives. Then compare the two societies. You’ll will see which side is productive and low crime compared to high crime, high taxes etc.
If you are conservative you should make plans to leave cities, towns and states which are governed by democrats. They are making plans to stick you with taxes from your state no matter where you move to.

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- Mil-Dot
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 6:23pm
  Exactly. I don”t care if you are green and have two heads. A conservative that believes in hard work and ethics is my brother/sister no matter what they look like. But, a prog is my bitter enemy whom I will fight to the death.
  
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- demsrtraitors
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 7:35pm
  @Mil-Dot There is no bigger traitor to this country than a liberal/ progressive. Especially WHITE LIBERALS. they have caused more damage to this once great nation than any foreign military or terrorist.
  
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scudster
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:57pm
I really doubt any state that decides to secede is going to ask these unAmerican bastages permission anyway and at this point I would’nt blame anyone for wanting out !

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- taxpro4u03
  Posted on January 13, 2013 at 9:36am
  This is ‘deeper’ than what the ‘States’ can and cannot do — that issue by and large was put to bed when ALL the States by 1971 had jumped on board the Mothership (D.C.) by enacting the Uniform Commercial Code – fully incorporated subsidiaries of the corporate charter (coming OUT of the 2nd Organic Acts of 1871/74 -. The UCC is at its core, Administrative BANKRUPTCY law — Corporations can do what they want. And they do. If corp usa wants to be in bankruptcy — that’s their business — where the FRAUD reared its ugly head was in 1933, when the corp FAILED to tell our grandparents and great-grandparents that the crux of Social Security Act was to BIND THEM ALL and their descendants into financial servitude. 4 terms FDR was ‘elected…’ the ‘savior’ of the great depression…. What a worm….. :-)
  
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CulperGang
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:57pm
Obama and his sycophants are the fifth column and are trying to mislead the masses with their propaganda. Facts, the Federal gov., was created BY the delegates of the 13 STATES. The States rights DO supersede the Federal gov., Just because the Confederates lost doesn’t mean that their CAUSE of “States rights” was wrong. It wasn’t then and it is not now. The Confederates lost because they ran out of rescources and offended God by enslaving his other children.
God is about to knock the teeth of the fifth column down their throats for TRYING TO ENSLAVE his children again.

“Shall not INFRINGE!!!!!!!”

Bring it on m**herf***kers. God of Abraham is with his righteous children.
HE made them FREE. HE will keep them free.
ARREST those b**** before God makes his move and nobody is going to like it.

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Elisheva
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:53pm
If you think for one minute “they” are not monitoring this site and have everybodys info…Think again.

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- darkeningskies
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 1:05pm
  AHHHHHHHH………………….I fear God, I do not fear tyranny !!!!!
  
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- DougHuffman
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 1:06pm
  That’s why I use my name as I exercise my first Amendment Right to say MOLON LABE Oedipus
  
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- Elisheva
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 4:25pm
  Dark I hear you and I agree…I was responding to another comment that said they have our isp#! I couldn`t care less if they know who I am!
  
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Luke_JSL
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:51pm
What do you think, they are just going to say “OK, go ahead”. If a state is going to secede, they are going to have to do so without the federal governments approval.

The better answer is nullification or creation of laws that make enforecement of federal law within the states boundaries illegal (see Wyomings recent gun proposal, or the Texas response to NDAA). You may also consider Colorado and Washington’s recent decriminalization measures.

Ultimately, if the states persist with such action, the federal government will have only one thing to fight back with – withholding funding. Of course, if the states can fund the public programs they desire with state funds, the use of the federal government would be severely minimized.

You have to look past legality and constitutional interpretation. If a state decides they want to govern their people differently than the federal government, what can the feds REALLY do other than withold money?

There is no need to secede. There is need for the states to exert their dominance over the federal governement. And, if most of those red states on the map were able to do so, the blue coasts could not tolerate. Those states are, by in large, going bankrupt as it is. The vast majority of agriculutre, energy, and transportation that feeds the northeast and east coast is located in the Midwest.

The blue states need the red states FAR more than they, or Washington, will ever be willing to admit.

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Textinstar
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:46pm
Wow, the White House says no to succession? You don’t say? This means nothing, they still have to respect our voice, for now. We are still an armed and possibly dangerous American people. If they succeed at taking our weapons why in the hell would they listen to anything we have to say anymore? For the most part they are all lifetime politicians that have nothing in common with us little people and they already surround themselves with armed security for their own protection, so why is it not ok for us common folk to protect ourselves? Anyways, I’m getting carried away……

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barber2
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:45pm
So our Chicago radicals who are all about ” change,” do not think that the individual states can change their minds about their trust and support of the current federal government ?? Typical of the hypocrites in the current Far Left Democrat Party ! And most ironically : Notice that the radical Democrats boast about ” fundamentally changing America , ” and then do not allow Americans to say NO to the ” changes” these arrogant radicals are instituting ? Hmm… stay tuned…

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HaploVoss
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:45pm
It doesn’t do anyone any good to separate anyway. States stay united, everyone hold your local and state government’s feet to the fire. It makes a huge difference. If all of the states come around to having surplusses of their own, good economies of their own, within their own laws abiding by the constitution… it will eventually force the Feds’ hand. It is inevitable one way or the other, but just stop and think about it for a moment. I think it is in Wyoming that the governer is writing a bill to include not just 2nd amendment protection but also including the step that any federal agent attempting to violate that right will be arrested.

We tried changing it from the top down. We need to change it from the bottom up. Hard. We let this happen over the course of a few generations. It’s going to take at least ours and one or two more to get it back if that quick.

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- darkeningskies
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:51pm
  Yes, the Firearms Protection Act.
  Several Wyoming lawmakers are proposing legislation designed to protect gun-owners from any potential federal firearm ban. The “Firearms Protection Act” bill, introduced this week, would make any federal law banning semi-automatic firearms or limiting the size of gun magazines unenforceable within the state’s boundaries.
  
  Wyoming, I am VERY PROUD of you.
  
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darkeningskies
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:44pm
The Constitution was a contract with the states when the contract is broken it is the responsibility of the States in question to NULLIFY the contract.

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blazingaway
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:43pm
for all of you commenting on the people who signed these petitions might as well have had their picture taken … well, at best, you’re only one step away from that by commenting on this board … you don’t think they can’t identify you too from your computer signature

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No Grass
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:43pm
Mr. Carson is fundamentally ignorant of the design and character of the U.S.A. form of government. The Constitution creates a Republican form of government, not a Democracy as he states in the response.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/response/our-states-remain-united

“In a nation of 300 million people — each with their own set of deeply-held beliefs — democracy can be noisy and controversial. And that’s a good thing. Free and open debate is what makes this country work, and many people around the world risk their lives every day for the liberties we often take for granted.”

The people in the White House, Congress and the Federal Judiciary take an oath to uphold a constructed social-political system they don’t understand. Democracy is next to Anarchy, and historically it is controlled by an Oligarchy prior to failure. Our Republic has been redefined as a Democracy, and the Oligarchs have taken over. The U.S.A. is now approaching de facto failure.

Something is gonna give soon.

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ScarletRose
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:42pm
There is no RIGHT – and CERTAINLY NO AUTHORITY for 99% of everything OBAMA has done in Public office, and no doubt OUT of it, either.

Since OBAMA and his administration do not honor the Constitution, the Foundation of the Ratified Bonds of community, then NO CITIZENS are bound towards him and his Administration, and also to the Congress and Supreme Court in as far as they have supported his UNAUTHORIZED and UNCONSTITUTIONAL conduct to the detriment of All American Citizens.

And the list of his ATROCITIES is endless, at this point. He has taken TAX FUNDS alocated to Public Improvements and given them to Feudalistic Power-Mongering associates TO THE DETRIMENT of Tax Payers. He has shut down legitimate industry, promoted unemployment by calling “unemployment checks” JOB SECURITY, railroaded Obamacare into “LAW” against the known outrage of taxpayers when all the Federal Government has known all along there is no money for the program, causing massive layoffs and shutdowns of Private Business, and has continued massive land grabs under the false auspicies of Federal Preserves, destroyed millions of acres of farmland, and perverted the natural function of Crop Harvesting, while outlawing Natural Substances as “pollution”. And much much much more. All while trampling the Constitution to pieces.
Even taking Federal jobs and Federal Programs to raise a “youth army” loyal to himself in an unprecedented move to strengthen UNCONSTITUTIONAL power for himself.

We owe him

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MCLOVINIT
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:40pm
“Give me liberty or give me death” – Said by some dead white guy around 1776.

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2smart4libs
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:40pm
I really thik tey shoudl have jsut let this go and not said anyhting more aobut i. Looks to me like this trgime can’t hold it together when you already have riots for the free stuff what makes this backwards thinking regime think theis will be any different? This is going to come to praise the lord and pass the ammo if jugears doesn’t start taking ito account what the peopel that make this country work think

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darkeningskies
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:38pm
The United States shall GUARANTEE to EVERY state in this Union a Republican Form of Government, and it shall Protect each of them against Invasion,

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KidCharlemagne
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:36pm
“Any people anywhere being inclined and having the power have the right to rise up and shake off the existing government, and form a new one that suits them better. This is a most valuable, a most sacred right — a right which we hope and believe is to liberate the world. Nor is this right confined to cases in which the whole people of an existing government may choose to exercise it. Any portion of such people that can may revolutionize and make their own of so much of the territory as they inhabit.”
-Abraham Lincoln, House of Representatives, January 12, 1848

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MrKnowItAll
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:34pm
When you See a Bum on the Street. You know they have Successfully Seceded.

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- mykidswillbfree
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 9:35pm
  I have seen the bum on the street and he was an occupy freak and had no adherence to honor or anything of value. He does not want to fight for his freedoms that he should want to pass on to his children.He does not value hard work or any of the values we were taught when we grew up.An American Patriot however will always stand for Freedom…
  
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M24
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:33pm
The States Don’t Need to Be Involved In Secession ,They Must Be Involved In Total Impeachment On Obama And ALL His Lawless NAZI Administration !! I Wiil Not Comply with Any Attempt To Ban Any Weapon that is used to protect My person And My Property!! The Constitution Clearly states I Have The Right To Bear Arms ,It Dosen’t Say What type Or How Much Ammunition !!

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- right-wing-waco
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:44pm
  I totally agree. (This would be a better way.)
  
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- barber2
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 1:04pm
  M24: I agree. We must use the law. Unfortunately, there seem to be no congressmen willing to withstand the radical’s media Character Assassination Squad which has been in action since Barack’s Big Bullies muscled their way into the Democrat Party. The radical Left Democrats and their MSM idiot henchmen, would love to have a reason / cause to declare Martial Law. And we know how they love to cause/ exploit a “crisis !” Remember Zimmerman ? Remember the Muhammed video ? Remember Benghazi ? One must be Machiavellian when dealing with the radicals who have been studying how to ” change” ( wink, wink ) America for 50 years !
  
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- Small World
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 7:21pm
  The Blaze needs to hire Judge Napolitano . We could send donations . Benghazi should be enough to impeach this guy.
  
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breakobamanow
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:32pm
Daniel 4:17
This matter is by the decree of the watchers, and the demand by the word of the holy ones: to the intent that the living may know that the most High ruleth in the kingdom of men, and giveth it to whomsoever he will, and setteth up over it the basest of men.

Verse 35
And all the inhabitants of the earth are reputed as nothing: and he doeth according to his will in the army of heaven, and among the inhabitants of the earth: and none can stay his hand, or say unto him, What doest thou?

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thegreatcarnac
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:29pm
Do not believe that your federal government is good and just, especially under the obama regime. When we secede (and we will eventually) they will attempt to kill us. The drones killing afghanis now will be fllying over us. They will go to any end to protect their corrupt and tyrannical position. We patriots CAN win if we stick together and fight a guerrilla war. Why do we ask permission to leave if we are free people. Washington D.C. was a dictatorial entity in 1860 and is 10 times more tyrannical now. I will not comply. I will not abide registering guns, taking away guns, taking ammunition or not one more gun law.

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darkeningskies
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:28pm
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers form the consent of the governed,——That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness…….
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

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- DougHuffman
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:58pm
  Thanks for posting the truth. I tried but it got deleted – by the thumb in the eye of DaBlasé.
  
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fedlibertarian
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:24pm
When I was residing in a former Soviet republic everyone laughed in mockery and disbelief that our ‘union’ of democratic socialist republics could fall apart.

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Alborn49
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:22pm
Guess what Britain said the colonies could not leave their tyranny either. Did the founders listen. If they had there would be no USA for us to have this discussion. Just saying, of course this is what an elitist power hungry government would say. Peaceful but prepared.

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flypantherfan
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:21pm
I have created a new petition to make The Blaze the official website of The United States of America. Sign it at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-blaze-official-website-united-states-america/qVz9Qqv4 I know every The Blaze fan wants Obama to respond to this petition. It needs 25,000 signatures by February 11, 2013 so do not wait to speak your voice if interested.

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- wildwood
  Posted on January 12, 2013 at 3:54pm
  wOULD YOU PLEASE START A NEW petition?/
  there is a little secret congress and the president does not want you to learn?
  Obama signed a bill giving himBush and future presidents security for life. 10 years is is not enough for the parasites.
  Tax payer should not be burdened with this expense. let the millionaires pay for thei own security/
  Obama says he should pay a little more, he really means he is taking more and more??
  I an 84 years old and my internet skill are limited!!
  
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flypantherfan
Posted on January 12, 2013 at 12:20pm
I have created a new petition to make The Blaze the official website of The United States of America. Sign it at https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/make-blaze-official-website-united-states-america/qVz9Qqv4 I know every The Blaze fan wants Obama to respond to this petition. It needs 25,000 signatures by February 11, 2013 so do not wait to sign it if interested.

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