Comment on White House says it welcomes open debate, rejects secession

White House says it welcomes open debate, rejects secession Express-News Copyright 2013 Express-News. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Published 9:56 pm, Monday, January 14, 2013 In a statement titled “Our States Remain United,” the Obama administration rejected nine secession petitions that have received at least 25,000 signatures on the White House's “We the People” website — the threshold to require an administration response. The understated White House response on Monday seemed more like a high school history lesson than a revival of fiery Civil War rhetoric. Gov.