The truth about Gov. Rick Perry and secession

It didn’t take long after Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced that he was running for president for Democrats to rekindle a favorite talking point: Perry, they say, wanted Texas to secede from the union.

But what did the Republican governor really say? Our colleagues at PolitiFact Texas first explored that question during the 2010 campaign.

Houston Mayor Bill White, the Democratic nominee who ran against Perry, said his opponent “threatens to secede.” We rated that False.

Perry, in explaining his remarks, claimed that he said there was “absolutely no reason to secede.” That earned a Mostly True.

This week, White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Perry “wanted to secede from the union.” We rated that False.