While much of America’s mainstream news media continues to scoff at the notion of Texas independence, journalists from elsewhere around the globe are beginning to recognize that the Texas Nationalist Movement is gaining momentum in its quest to put the issue of Texas secession before the voters of the state.
TNM representatives have been deluged of late by requests for media interviews, particularly from journalists from overseas. TNM President Daniel Miller has been interviewed by Iranian television and a request from British TV is in the wings, while stories about the movement have also been featured in Agence France-Presse, the French version of the AP, and other agencies.
“I think what this signals is that our message, because of its consistency, is being taken seriously,” said Miller. “Our only agenda is Texas independence, we’re all-inclusive, and we’ve done the research to back up our contention that Texas could stand on its own. We’re the only group that has done that, and because of that we are earning legitimacy.”
The number of requests for interviews, both from U.S. media outlets and those from abroad, has roughly tripled in recent weeks.
Quite often, the contact starts because they’re hunting for a ‘novelty’ story because of the rise of the ‘Tea Party’ movement, thinking that perhaps TNM is playing off them. But they quickly come to realize that the Texas Nationalist Movement pre-dated the Tea Parties by almost two decades, and that we’ve done our homework. We’re not the wild-eyed right-wing nut jobs that so many in the mainstream media try to paint us to be.
Miller admitted the movement, which began in the mid-1990s, has grown “exponentially” in recent months because of the actions of Congress, but that many of the movement’s new members have had concerns for years.
“Many of the people who are joining the movement, they’re telling me that they have been concerned for years, especially when (former President George W.) Bush was in office,” Miller said. “His concentration of federal power scared them.
“These people are educated. They’re very aware that it’s Congress, not the President, which is doing the real damage to the Constitution. And they realize that Congress no longer listens to the people. It’s not about Barack Obama, it’s about the federal government violating its contract with the states.”
And while many of the mainstream news media outlets keep trying to link the movement to Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s statements on state sovereignty and possible secession, Miller said the TNM is adamant that Perry is merely posturing to make himself seem more “conservative” heading into a tough re-election campaign.
“We tried to present the Governor with a petition which had more than a million signatures on it calling on him to enforce state sovereignty back on Aug. 29,” Miller said. “We gave him the chance to take up the banner. He claimed ‘other commitments’ that day.
“When his constituents scheduled a meeting to address him with their grievances, he answered a phone call from someone else. I think that speaks volumes about his willingness to listen to the voices of the people of Texas.”
Comments
I am pleased to hear the TNM is gaining the attention of other countries. When is the Texas government going to start listening, and for that matter the federal government.
They the elected officials who are supposed to be our servants are with a few exceptions out for themselves and the special interests that got them elected.
As I understand it, the petitions are being ignored, demonstrations get a little media attention. The elected state and federal officials could give a tinkers damn about Texas except to feed their egos, and they could care less about us the citizens.
Of course there are a few who do care for their constituants but it is a small minority.
My concerns are turning to rage states rights are being ignored by Washington. Austin is lead(I use this term loosely) by an ego maniac who seems to always have a "prior commitment.
If the TNM membership is what Mr Miller stated on the Glen Beck show, then why not issue a challenge to Perry to accept the petition.
Outside of the power centers of the Northeast, basically everyone hates Washington, DC and the Federal Government - that is no secret. When millions of people in virtually every State that is polled on the issue want out of the US - you know there is something serious and ground-breaking going on. People are tired of the warmonger, taxing, regulating, etc that comes from that evil city of DC. Millions of us think we'd be far better off without DC in our lives.
When big countries like Russia and Brazil take an interest we'll know we've had an effect.
As a Texan, I feel its' time we took a stand and demand our independence. We have everything we need, rich farm land, oil, factories, mountains, valleys, rivers, lakes and a coast for importing and exporting goods.
We do not need to have to answer or pay taxes to a government that does not have our best interests in mind. Bush led us into a war without end and without purpose. Obama has promised us the "moon" but has just gotten us further in debt with his socialistic methods.
I feel its' time we "called the ball" and demand our independence once again.
Remember, Texas never needed the US but the US needed Texas. For this reason we fly our flag at the same height as the US flag and for this reason, we have every right to.
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