Ron Paul Still Feels ‘Secession is Very Much an American Principle’

Ron Paul spokeswoman Rachel Mills says the congressman "feels the same now" about secession as he did in an April 2009 YouTube video.

Residents of at least 19 states filed petitions this week for the right to secede from the United States. The petition from Texas, where Paul is a congressman, has so far garnered more than 80,000 signatures, enough to get the attention of the White House.

[RELATED:Texas Leads Secession Charge]

In the 2009 video, Paul says that secession is a legitimate issue to debate.

"Its very American to talk about secession -- thats how we came into being. Thirteen colonies seceded from the British and established a new country, so secession is very much an American principle," Paul says.

[READ:Ron Paul Won't Go Quietly]

The congressman also notes that while states may not be ready to secede just yet, they may be ready "when federal government can no longer deliver" on their needs.

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Elizabeth Flock is a staff writer for U.S. News & World Report. You can follow her on Twitter or Facebook or reach her at eflock@usnews.com.

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Ron Paul Still Feels 'Secession is Very Much an American Principle'