Every Senator says it. Every last one of them. Of course, so does every Representative. And just about everyone in government except the President.
I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God.
Now, maybe it's me, but it sure seems to me that that implies that they will bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution of the United States... the first paragraph of which reads...
We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.
Now, again, maybe it's me, but is sure seems to me that promoting the general Welfare, which comes just after Justice, Order, and Defence, is pretty high up in the food chain of what these duly elected officials swear or affirm to bear true faith and allegiance to.
And, again, it seems to me that Promoting the General Welfare means, well, Promoting the GENERAL Welfare. Not the Welfare of the Wealthy, no. Not the Welfare of Corporations (which were not recognized at the time the framers put the document together), no. No, the Welfare of who? Of We the People of the United States.
And what exactly does that mean? Well, seems to me that all those duly elected officials have the same access to the dictionary that I do, but, just in case they are unclear on the concept of dictionaries in general, and how to use them in particular, allow me to quote Merriam-Webster
- the state of doing well especially in respect to good fortune, happiness, well-being, or prosperity <must look out for your own welfare>
2 a: aid in the form of money or necessities for those in need b: an agency or program through which such aid is distributed
Why would you look at that? Promoting well-being to the General Public, that being We the People, in the form of money or necessities to those in need, perhaps through an agency or program through which such aid is distributed. By gosh, by golly, and by Jove.
Seems to me that those nice Senators who are against the Public Option are simply ignorant of their job function, because otherwise, a plain reading of the Constitution would put them at odds with their Oath of Office.
Or is it me?