When a college student stood among an audience of roughly 350 people at Texas A&M University and asked Senator Ted Cruz his view on Texas independence, the crowd cheered and clapped, as he said out loud what everyone already seemed to be thinking. TEXIT has become an issue that has started flowing freely from the mouths and pens of the people. From college students to senators, to mainstream media.
Numerous media outlets have been talking about this interaction for the past few weeks. It’s as if they know something is happening. Although some media sites still speak quite negatively about TEXIT supporters, most are picking up on the possibility that it could actually happen, and that people aren’t crazy for considering it. Many of them mention the Texas Nationalist Movement in their recap of The Verdict.
In the above-mentioned episode of The Verdict (see 1:18:18-1:21:50), Senator Cruz admitted he was anticipating the question. He answered by saying he “understands the sentiment,” but he is “not there yet.” The fact that he was prepared to answer the question seriously is a clear sign that the TEXIT movement is gaining momentum as the state of the union continues to decline.
This is not the only time people have asked the question of our legislators. Recently, the questions are becoming more and more prominent and the public is more openly discussing the topic. Legislators used to avoid the question or laugh it off as unworthy of serious consideration. However, they are finding it harder to ignore the voices of the people.
The TEXIT referendum is supported by several elected officials in Texas, and upcoming challengers for state offices have come out openly in favor of at least entertaining the idea. In a recent Virtual Town Hall meeting, all three Republican challengers for governor have said they support the right of the people to vote on Texas Independence. On the US House floor, Representative Chip Roy asked if it was even worth it for Texas to join the union, and warned leaders that Texas was going to get sick of their antics and would not let them get away with it. He told them they should “Get out of the way!”
Although having the student and senator talk about the issue openly and seriously is enough to lend credibility to the topic, the media also seems eager to report on it. Talking about TEXIT used to be considered crazy and treasonous, and the media always had plenty of negative things to say about it. However, it seems that times have changed. The media is now starting to report on the facts about the movement instead of calling it a crazy extremist fantasy.
In a recent article, Newsweek mentions the TEXIT petition campaign and quotes Daniel Miller directly from the TNM website. “The movement’s website says TEXIT means that Texans determine our own laws and not 2.5 million unelected bureaucrats in Washington. It means that we get a government that begins and ends at the borders of Texas.” CBS News reported, “While Cruz’s comments were light-hearted, the prospect of a Texas secession is not new.” They quoted Daniel Miller saying, “Such an action would mean for the first time in our lives we control our own destiny.” These quotes are directly from the TNM.me website.
Although Businessinsider.com referred to it as the “so-called Texit movement”, they gave their readers a clear picture of the Mission of the TNM, which is to “secure and protect the political, cultural, and economic independence of the nation of Texas and to restore and protect a constitutional Republic and the inherent rights of the people of Texas.” They mentioned the petition campaign that would force the TEXIT question “Should the State of Texas reassert its status as an independent nation?” on the primary ballot next year. They even mention the need for donations to support the cause.
VICE told their readers, “the audience cheered,” and went on in detail about Cruz’s comments about the conditions on which he might be in support of Texas becoming its own nation. Cruz says Texas “has a responsibility to the country, and I’m not ready to give up on America. There may come a point where it’s hopeless, but we’re not there yet.” Cruz goes on to say that there are several scenarios in which he might support TEXIT, such as the Democrats “fundamentally destroying” the United States.
The Hill highlighted Cruz’s comment that “Texas is the only thing keeping America grounded in the values that built this country.” They also refer readers back to the TNM and quote the organization’s mission statement and purpose of the movement.
VICE News also said, “The question isn’t purely hypothetical.” They reminded their readers that Texas was once an independent nation, and the concept of becoming one again is not new. Former Gov. Rick Perry said in 2009 that Texans were “thinking about it again,” and said the concept has “once again gained steam during the first year of the Biden administration.” The article also informs readers that Daniel Miller is running for lieutenant governor of Texas.
Although some news sites like Salon inaccurately report the number of TNM supporters and petition signatures, they accurately quoted the mission statement from the TNM website. Although they say “Calls for secession have become a right-wing trope,” they are accurate in their observation that support for TEXIT is growing.
MSNBC didn’t have anything good to say about the episode or the issue itself. They call Cruz’s comments “ludicrous and dangerous.” They refer to him and the views of the entire Republican Party as “a threat that will disrupt and destroy our democracy…[and] poses a tremendous danger to the way we govern ourselves.”
The momentum is growing for TEXIT. It is on a trajectory towards becoming a nation. Informing the general public about the prospect and benefits of obtaining independence is extremely important. Texans should know that being an independent nation would allow Texans to choose how they want to be governed, not DC. The time has come to talk about it with everyone. Seize the moment and take advantage of the popular uprising to make Texas free, independent, and sovereign.
Get involved in helping to achieve independence and control of the great state of Texas. Go to the TNM website to learn more about TEXIT, how to JOIN, and how to GET INVOLVED!
