Memoirs From a Young Conservative

Via the Texas Insider:

Former Texas Comptroller and candidate for Kay Bailey Hutchison’s Senate seat, John Sharp, launched a web ad criticizing Governor Rick Perry’s recent comments about state sovereignty during the nationwide tea parties on April 15, 2009.

In the ad Sharp says, “During WWII, my father was shot in defense of the greatest country on earth and I proudly wore the uniform of a United States Army Reserve officer. So, I’m offended when it becomes acceptable for anybody to talk about Texas leaving the union.” Sharp’s ad went on to say that Perry’s talk about secession is “radical anti-American rhetoric.”

His criticisms fall in line with sharp partisan attacks like those from MCNBC’s liberal talk show hosts Chris Matthews, who called Perry a “bozo” and Rachel Maddow, who accused Perry of “flirting to the point of adultery.”

Meanwhile, Congressman Ron Paul, defended Perry’s comments, arguing the founding principles of the nation. In an interview with CNN’s American Morning Paul said, “I heard people say, well, ‘this was treason,’ they say, and ‘this is un-American.’ But don’t they remember how we came in to our being? We used secession. We seceded from England….It’s a principle of a free society. It’s a shame we don’t have it anymore.”

Paul further commented that if the principle of secession exists then the federal government would not be as intrusive into state affairs.

Affirming thoughts about states rights is currently under debate in the Texas House. Yesterday, the House Committee on State Affairs heard testimony on HCR-50, a resolution affirming states rights under the 10th Amendment. Dustin Matocha of the Young Conservatives of Texas said in his testimony, “The expansion of the Federal Government in this administration [is] especially worrisome.

When the President of the United States took an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land, he swore to uphold the entire document, not just bits and pieces he thought were relevant. The tenth amendment guarantees the sovereignty of not only each individual state, but the people of this country as well.”

Notably, Rasmussen Reports released a nationwide poll that showed 51% of Americans held a favorable view of the tea party rallies, while 32% had a very favorable view of the nationwide rallies.

Despite criticisms from John Sharp and others on the liberal side of the aisle, it appears the American people are happy with the outcome of the tea parties and the national movement to fix Washington, stop wasteful spending and affirm state sovereignty that stemmed from them.