U.S. Rep. Zach Wamp of Chattanooga, in town to rally voters for his gubernatorial campaign, brushed aside a report out of from The National Journal's Hotline that opened by saying Wamp "suggested TN and other states may have to consider seceding from the union if the federal government does not change its ways regarding mandates."
Standing in front of The Regional Medical Center at Memphis, Wamp explained that he felt the reporter had taken a story about his opposition to the Affordable Care Act in a direction he never intended go. The story said Wamp "lauded" Texas Gov. Rick Perry as a "patriot;" Perry has floated the idea of secession, although Wamp emphasized Friday, while standing in front of the state's largest public hospital, that he intended to send a message to the reporter that he wants the health-insurance reform passed this year repealed.
"Of course no one wants even the talk of secession, no one wants that," Wamp said. "But the fact is we have a conflict. We need to resolve the conflict. And we need strong, tough governors to step up, not, you know, status-quo blueblood, it's-my-entitlement-to-be-governor people."
That last was, of course, a shot at Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, who Wamp contends is "in trouble" in the campaign. Wamp and Haslam have been lately trading shots in campaign advertisements and on the campaign trail.
Haslam, campaigning in Middle Tennessee Friday, responded to the Hotline's report about Wamp and secession.
"I can promise you that if I'm governor we won't secede from the union. Period," Haslam said.
Haslam added: "I really don't know what Zach is thinking on that. The country had that experiment 150 years ago. Do we have issues in the country? You bet. But is this still a great country? You bet. I think most Tennesseans are committed to making America better, not leaving it."
Standing in front of The Regional Medical Center at Memphis, Wamp explained that he felt the reporter had taken a story about his opposition to the Affordable Care Act in a direction he never intended go. The story said Wamp "lauded" Texas Gov. Rick Perry as a "patriot;" Perry has floated the idea of secession, although Wamp emphasized Friday, while standing in front of the state's largest public hospital, that he intended to send a message to the reporter that he wants the health-insurance reform passed this year repealed.
"Of course no one wants even the talk of secession, no one wants that," Wamp said. "But the fact is we have a conflict. We need to resolve the conflict. And we need strong, tough governors to step up, not, you know, status-quo blueblood, it's-my-entitlement-to-be-governor people."
That last was, of course, a shot at Knoxville Mayor Bill Haslam, who Wamp contends is "in trouble" in the campaign. Wamp and Haslam have been lately trading shots in campaign advertisements and on the campaign trail.
Haslam, campaigning in Middle Tennessee Friday, responded to the Hotline's report about Wamp and secession.
"I can promise you that if I'm governor we won't secede from the union. Period," Haslam said.
Haslam added: "I really don't know what Zach is thinking on that. The country had that experiment 150 years ago. Do we have issues in the country? You bet. But is this still a great country? You bet. I think most Tennesseans are committed to making America better, not leaving it."
The ONLY problem with Tennessee seceding from the U.S. would be OVER-POPULATION of Tennessee by U.S. refugees.