O'Donnell's Constitutional Ignorance Extends Beyond Church and State
Nicole Allan, staff editor, TheAtlantic.com -- Oct 20 2010
[...] When Democratic nominee Chris Coons said that public schools are not legally allowed to teach the theory of intelligent design alongside evolution, O'Donnell called this stance "a blatant violation of our Constitution."
When Coons pointed out that one tenet of the Constitution is the separation of church and state, O'Donnell asked him, "Where in the Constitution is separation of church and state?"
[...]
Ms. O'Donnell's unfamiliarity with the Constitution extended beyond the First Amendment, when she was asked her view of tea party proposals to repeal some or all of the 14th, 16th and 17th amendments.
[...]
"Can you remind me of what the other ones are?" she asked.
Hey, Christine instead of making jokes about 'forgetting to bring your Constitution with you' -- maybe you should actually take a half hour -- and ACTUALLY READ IT!
you might be surprised by what you find there ...
The Founding Fathers took great care and serious debate and discussion to establish the principles which established our Nation.
Tea Party members, many of whom, claim to be strict Constitutionalists -- would no doubt be surprised by the principles, written down, that the Founding Fathers wanted us to Govern by ...
Take Section 8 for example, it is treasure trove of democratic and progressive principles that run counter to much of the Tea Party/GOP's Privatize Everything rhetoric -- that Free Markets know best.
The Constitution of the United States -- Section. 8
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States; but all Duties, Imposts and Excises shall be uniform throughout the United States;
To borrow Money on the credit of the United States;
To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian Tribes;
[emphasis added]
Let's see ...
Congress is supposed to raise Taxes --
To provide for the general Welfare. (Gasp!)
Hey, Christine, It's in the Constitution! (Section 8)
Looks like the Congress can clamp down on Foreign Trade too --
Hmmm? I wonder if the includes "the exporting of our Jobs overseas" too?
Outsourcing effects the "general Welfare" too, right?
(Kind of hard to "be well" -- without a Job.)
But Wait there's more ... (hang in there Ms O'Donnell, we're almost through, afterall the Pocket-version does fit in a pocket.)
The Constitution of the United States -- Section. 8
To establish an uniform Rule of Naturalization, and uniform Laws on the subject of Bankruptcies throughout the United States;
[...]
To establish Post Offices and post Roads;
To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries;
[emphasis added]
SO you see, you No-Regs, Free Marketeers --
Congress is supposed to legislate control over Bankers --
and to Naturalize foreigners as citizens too.
It's in the Constitution! (Oh My!)
Congress is supposed to run Govt Services like the Post Office too.
Looks like the Congress CAN Build Roads too --
Hmmm? Maybe that "National Infrastructure" stimulus plan is NOT Socialism afterall? (uh oh!)
Roads, Power, Schools, Water, Parks, they all effect the "general Welfare" too, right?
In order to be able to "pursue Science and the Arts" -- we need a good system of Schools and Roads.
And maybe even a Student Loan Program too? (Oh Noes!)
The Constitution tells us to "pursue Science and the Arts" -- SO, Giddy up!
It's funny what you might find -- when you actually READ of the Constitution ... right Christine?
Now finally take a few seconds away from your Hannity Prep work, to read the the first Paragraph of the Constitution too, OK?
PS. this is usually called "The Preamble" (good to know, when you need to look smart on TV or in a debate, maybe.)
The Constitution of the United States -- the Preamble.
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.
[emphasis added]
SO Christine, the next time, someone in the Media asks you another one of those darn "gotcha question" -- about exactly how is the Tea Party "planning to get 'back to' following The Constitution again?" -- you have a nice little laundry list of principles, all from Section 8 (and The Preamble, too) that -- you can tell them, will be the first to go!
Just hand you that big Home School Eraser, and watch the magic:
-- Raising Taxes,
-- Promoting the General Welfare
-- Regulating Foreign Trade,
-- Regulating Bankruptcies,
-- Naturalizing Citizens,
-- Supporting the Post Office,
-- The Building of Roads,
-- The Promoting Science and the Arts,
-- The Encouraging of Inventors and New Discoveries?
Bye-bye Section 8 -- See ya! Wouldn't wanta be ya!
In other words, WE Shall have no more of all this Socialistic "insuring of domestic Tranquility and promoting the general Welfare" -- Once the Tea Party is finally in charge of setting the Nation's Agenda. Dam straight!
We all know the Founding Fathers really didn't intend to give Congress all those powers in Section 8 -- we all learned in 6th grade history class that the Founders were all about "Dismantling the Government" and especially those 'Red Coats', and about throwing a Bunch of Tea in the Bay too; So you see, it's all about morphing Govt into something ' very small' ... so small, you don't know it's even there!
That is what the "Founding Fathers" really wanted, or so the Home Office keeps saying in their weekly bullet points. They pay the bills and sign the checks -- so whatcha gonna do?
=========
Now some Extra Credit: Read the Amendments too, while you're at it.
Amendments 1 - 10
http://www.archives.gov/...
Amendments 11 - 27 (might want to scan the 14th, 16th and 17th of those; about rebellion and taxing etc.)
http://www.archives.gov/...
They are an important part of History too, and you never know when some pesky Reporter is going to ask you about one of them either.
PS. There was a reason why G.W. said "Governin was 'Hard Work'".
Those Reporters occasionally expect you to know "stuff" -- Yikes!
This Senatin Job better pay well -- Gosh darn it! Who knew there'd be a test, and stuff?
PPS. "Have read the Constitution" -- always looks good, on that old Resume, too, along with your other Politcal-related "training". But then again, maybe that's Just Me? You know?