Rick Perry Snubs Obama's Offer Of A 'Quick Handshake' On The Tarmac

[DonViejo]

CATHERINE THOMPSON – JULY 8, 2014, 8:06 AM EDT

President Barack Obama won't be greeted by Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R) when Air Force One lands Wednesday in Austin. Perry, who has been critical of the President's handling of the influx of undocumented migrants at the Texas border, said the White House extended an invitation for him to greet Obama at Austin-Bergstrom Airport. But Perry wrote a letter Monday to the President that rejected the traditional handshake in favor of a private meeting.

“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,” Perry wrote, as quoted by the Wall Street Journal. “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.”

Perry's refusal to greet the President upon his arrival may preclude the sort of awkward tarmac tiff Obama experienced with Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer (R) in 2012, although the Texas governor apparently has subtler ways of getting his point across. Perry slipped a letter requesting more border security to a White House adviser when he met the President in 2010 at an Austin airport, according to the Journal.

Obama is slated to visit Dallas and Austin on Wednesday for a pair of Democratic fundraisers. White House senior adviser Valerie Jarrett replied to Perry by inviting the governor to a round table discussion on border issues that Obama plans to attend in Dallas, according to the Austin American-Statesman.

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http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/rick-perry-snubs-obama-tarmac-meeting

[JoePhilly]

1. Dirtbag. nt

[underpants]

2. He's scared of getting "Christied"

Kristy Kreme is just now getting past "the hug"

[RKP5637]

3. He's such a consistent asshole IMO. n/t

[obxhead]

4. Wonder who wrote that letter.

Thoughtful discussion.... Together in the same sentence no less.

[Erich Bloodaxe BSN]

5. On the upside, he won't be wagging his finger in Obama's face

on the tarmac to delight the idiots who voted for him.

[rtracey]

6. Well how about this

Since Texas wants to secede from the Union anyway, the State of Texas can pay for all the border patrols and guards needed to stop the incoming children. Funny how the right ALWAYS screams... "too much government, too big of government", yet when they have a disaster, or need federal help, they are the first to plead for it.

[Third Doctor]

7. Exactly. This along with the rest of the red states.

[Marrah_G]

8. I think Obama should meet with him

Just the two of them in a closed room. The President is a very good conversationalist and persuader. He might be able to sway Perry a bit. Also, it removes ammunition from the right that Obama refuses to do anything about border security. If he has the round table AND meets with Perry no one can say he isn't doing anything. It also takes the wind out of Perry's sail because Perry made that statement betting on the fact that Obama won't meet with him.