SmashMouth

The White House responded this week to a petition posted on its website seeking approval for Louisiana to "peacefully...withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government." The statement was made in response to both the Louisiana petition as well as similar petitions from eight other states.


"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. But as much as we value a healthy debate, we don't let that debate tear us apart," the official White House response from Office of Public Engagement Director Jon Carson read.



"No one disputes that our country faces big challenges...We will need to work together -- and hear from one another -- in order to find the best way to move forward," it added.

The original petition, posted by Slidell resident "Michael E." Nov. 7 on the White House's official petition webpage "We the People," garnered nearly 39,000 votes. The Louisiana petition was the first to be posted after election day.

Within a week, all fifty states except for Connecticut, Maryland and Vermont had posted similar petitions. Louisiana's signature numbers were second only to Texas', which nearly 126,000 signatures as of Jan. 13.

Numerous petitions were filed in response to those calling for secession, including one to deport everyone that signed a petition to withdraw their state from the U.S. and another to allow New Orleans and Orleans Parish to remain in the U.s. if Louisiana was granted secession.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal also came out against the petition calling it "silly" and highlighting regardless of "political differences, we are American first."

The White House petitions website was begun under the Obama administration in 2011. If a petition reaches 25,000 signatures within 30 days, the White House is required to respond, under the terms of the site.

White House responds to Louisiana secession petition | NOLA.com

TheOak

In theory I understand the threats... I would love to see the states plans for handling everything on their own. A reality plan

SmashMouth

I did not realize how remarkably easy it is to create your very own petition.

https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/create

TheOak

Just as easy as getting on a "White House list"...

arsaint

We need a 25 plan.

25 red states - 25 blue states with separate governments bound only for national defense.

25 years of Conservatives running one half, 25 years of liberals running the other half. Get back together at the end and run the nation based off which approach worked best. Assuming the liberal half wasn't totally bankrupt by then...