We're saved! The Members of the House are going to read the Constitution out loud!
When Republicans take over the House next week, they will do something that apparently has never been done before in the chamber's 221-year history:
They will read the Constitution aloud.
And guess what?
Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said Democratic lawmakers are welcome to participate.
Maybe John Lewis would like to read Art. I, Sec. 2, cl. 3?
Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states which may be included within this union, according to their respective numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole number of free persons, including those bound to service for a term of years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons.
Or Sec. 9?
The migration or importation of such persons as any of the states now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a tax or duty may be imposed on such importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each person.
Just to make a point, perhaps?
That is, unless anyone else has any other ideas about what might be read aloud or recited in order to make the Congress super-awesome and patriotic. Like begin each day by squeezing open a can of spinach and sucking in in through a corncob pipe? Or bellowing out, "By the power of Grayskull!"? How about banning Kryptonite?
Of course, there's nothing wrong with reading the Constitution aloud on the floor of the House. But there's nothing magical about it, either. If it were just being offered as a reminder of its importance as a governing document, it'd be a fine idea, as a bit of pageantry. But for anyone pinning to it their hopes that everything that happens thereafter will not only become magically imbued with the spirit of the founders (or perhaps more to the point, their view of the spirit of the founders), there are better ways to spend your our time.
Seeking to remind the country of the principles the Constitution enshrined is a laudable goal. Turning the Constitution into the next American flag lapel pin "issue" is not.