The leader of the nation and the leader of a state with a national controversy just don't seem like they'll be on the greatest terms anytime soon. (Via Getty Images)
President Obama heads to Texas Wednesday for Democratic fundraisers in Dallas and Austin, and the White House's invitation to Governor Rick Perry to join him when the president landed started all kinds of drama.
Texas is currently in the middle of what Obama has called a humanitarian crisis as tens of thousands of undocumented immigrant children from Central America cross into the U.S. without guardians to flee violence in their home countries. The White House estimated as many as 80,000 immigrant children may enter the U.S. this year. (Via CNN)
GOVERNOR RICK PERRY, R-TEXAS: "I have to believe that when you do not respond in any way that you are either inept or you have some ulterior motive." (Via ABC)
That interview on ABC's "This Week" was labeled as everything from terrible to distributing a conspiracy theory. (Via Houston Press, Yahoo)
But Perry's comments the president doesn't "particularly care" whether the U.S. border is secure certainly got the governor a lot of attention from both critics and his supporters.
While the liberal-leaning Huffington Post noted Perry refused to greet President Obama on the tarmac for a handshake, conservative site The Daily Caller wrote the governor did so "admirably."
Obama and Perry did agree to meet Wednesday and talk about the immigration issue Texas is now facing. However, the president won't actually go to the U.S.-Mexican border. Again, the media takes differed.
KRYSTAL BALL, MSNBC HOST: "I'm much more concerned about the policy rather than whether or not he happens to go to the border."
LAWRENCE O'DONNELL, MSNBC HOST: "Of course, the policy's always more important."
ANNA KOOIMAN, FOX NEWS ANCHOR: "He's offering billions to fix the immigration problem, but still refuses to see the border with his own two eyes. Is this anything more than a photo op?"
REP. HENRY CUELLAR, D-TEXAS: "I hope this doesn't become the Katrina moment for President Obama."
That was Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar — a Democrat — adding fuel to the border visit fire by comparing Obama to President Bush's mishandling of the massive hurricane damage in New Orleans in 2005. (Via USA Today)
The National Journal wrote the president's timing of these Texas fundraisers planned long ago couldn't be much worse.
"If Obama goes to the border, he owns the problem. If he doesn't, he's blasted for a lack of leadership." (Via National Journal)
