Late yesterday, an old fundie bugaboo reared its head again--the Parental Rights Amendment. It's been introduced off and on since the late 1990s, but seems to be guaranteed at least a hearing this time around. How's that? The lead sponsor in the House, Trent Franks, is chairman of the House Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution.
"In my three decades of public service, I have consistently focused on protecting the right of parents to make decisions for their children," Congressman Franks says. "Put simply, there are really only two options when it comes to who will determine the substance of a child's education: it will be either a bureaucrat who doesn't know the child's name, or a parent who would pour out their last drop of blood for the child.
"I intend to continue that fight in my role as Chairman of the Constitution Subcommittee, doing everything in my power to help advance the vital Parental Rights Amendment through Congress. Nothing is more important to America's future than making sure that the education of the hearts and minds of our children is securely in the purview of the parents who love and understand them most."
This monstrosity has
32 cosponsors in the House--mostly a who's who of wingnuts. However, there are a couple of "moderates" on the list--Fred Upton and Frank Wolf. Jim DeMint is lead sponsor in the Senate, and
there are 10 cosponsors.
This proposal was introduced in part because the Obama Administration is making noises about ratifying the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Never mind that the convention explicitly requires signatories to allow parents to exercise their responsibilities. But of course, it was drafted by the UN--seems to be the only reason any thinking person would oppose it.