Rick Perry Disrespects Obama by Refusing To Meet With The President and Shake His Hand

Texas Gov. Rick Perry has gone beyond conspiracy theories about immigration and is now openly disrespecting the president by refusing both a formal meeting with and a handshake from Obama.

Gov. Perry had the nerve to turn down a meeting with the president in Austin on Wednesday.

In a letter to Obama, Perry wrote:

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I appreciate the offer to greet you at Austin-Bergstrom Airport, but a quick handshake on the tarmac will not allow for a thoughtful discussion regarding the humanitarian and national security crises enveloping the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas. I would instead offer to meet with you at any time during your visit to Texas for a substantive meeting to discuss this critical issue. With the appropriate notice, I am willing to change my schedule to facilitate this request.

At any point while you are here, I am available to sit down privately so we can talk and you may directly gain my state’s perspective on the effects of an unsecured border and what is necessary to make it secure.

How considerate of Gov. Perry to offer change his schedule to fit the President Of The United States in.

The Austin American-Statesman reported on the details of a two page letter that White House senior advisor Valerie Jarrett sent to Perry. Jarrett wrote, “The president would welcome a meeting with you while he is in Texas.” She also invited Perry to join a roundtable discussion with the president, local faith leaders, and elected officials about the humanitarian crisis on the border.

Perry’s behavior is confirmation that he believes that the crisis on the border is his ticket to the White House. Republican voters love nothing more than disrespecting the president, so Perry’s refusal to meet the leader of the free world should be viewed as a 2016 campaign stunt. By requesting a one on one meeting with the president, Gov. Perry is trying to elevate himself to the status of equal to Obama.

This isn’t remotely close to true as Perry is a fading governor that’s under investigation for abuses of power who maintains delusions of occupying the White House. In situations such as this one, it is impossible not to wonder if Rick Perry would treat a white president the same way. Perry appears to have learned a lesson from Chris Christie. If a Republican entertains presidential ambitions, he must never physically touch the black man in the White House.

Never has a president had to tolerate the level of disrespect that Obama faces. Republicans think treating President Obama like dirt is good politics, but all they are doing is showing disrespect for the office of the leader of their country. It’s also why Republicans continue to lose presidential elections.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association