Obama Defends Constitution

"Who, among my conservative Republican friends would disagree with the idea that government should play no role in decisions regarding one's choice of religious faith or place of pursuing that faith?"

I asked myself that question as President Obama spoke from the White House in reference to the controversy over whether or not a mosque should be permitted near the site of the World Trade Center in lower Manhattan. I could not think of even one in the right wing of the GOP who would disagree with that. Surely, there is not one who calls himself an American who would disagree.

It is perhaps the most fundamental protection included in the US Constitution. If one believes in strict adherence to the Constitution, one cannot find fault in President Obama's remarks regarding the right of any faith to be practiced unfettered by restrictions of any sort from government at any level. Obama, after all, taught Constitutional law. He is not likely to make a mistake in its interpretation.

But I was wrong. there are plenty who, for purely partisan purposes, or perhaps because they have never read the Constitution, disagreed with the President. For them, I present the First Amendment of the US Constitution to consider:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances.”

President Obama spoke as a citizen as well as our President because it is his duty to defend the Constitution. He spoke because he must speak against anyone who would twist the Constitution to one’s own political purpose. He spoke because we must stand for religious tolerance or nothing at all.

Some on the left believe his remarks amounted to a “gift to the Republican Party.” I disagree. You and I have an obligation to make sure his remarks do not have legs in a political sense. Sure, the Becks and Limburgers will have fun with his remarks in the short run. But they are wrong on this issue…and it is up to real patriots to tell them so.

Admittedly, the emotional scar in lower Manhattan is still quite visible, and deep. The wisest decision would have been to wait, delay the announcement of a decision on the mosque until cooler heads everywhere could prevail. I don't like the idea of the mosque so close to the WTC but I also recognize the principle of religious freedom upon which this country was founded.

The President is right. Very right. He could not state this sacred principle of our heritage more clearly; nor could I.

Who's the Patriot in the race for President?

Friends say I see something political in nearly everything these days. If that be true, it’s because this election is so vitally important to America’s future.

All that we are, as a nation, is the result of those who walked this way before us, applying the full measure of their personal energy, integrity, resources, service, and frequently, sacrifice to “secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.”

That’s the essence of our federal system, isn’t it? So, can you blame me for being a bit concerned about the damage the Bush folk have done to our nation, our republican form of government, or as Lincoln so eloquently described it – a "government of the people, by the people and for the people.” As an American, concerned about this republic, I can’t escape these thoughts, even when I watch the Olympics.

It is at once a beautiful and inspiring experience, watching gifted athletes compete for the highest honors the world community can bestow. That makes them special, to be sure, but I see something else. Look at those who represent America. A woman of Chinese ancestry, now a naturalized American citizen, proudly competes in ping pong for the USA. A young man of Mexican descent wrestles his heart out for his new country. I saw another young competitor whose grandfather came to America from Hungary following the Soviet invasion in 1956. In nearly every competition there is someone just a generation or two removed from an immigrant family that came to this country seeking escape from poverty, war, or oppression. They or their parents or their grandparents came to pursue the American dream – to secure the blessings of liberty for themselves and their posterity. One look into their faces and you see the most dedicated of US citizens. No one would dare question their patriotism.

And yet we have a John McCain whose campaign staff finds it easy to suggest that Barack Obama does not love his country the way they do. McCain says “I will never question Obama’s patriotism.” But his staff will, his campaign will, his surrogates will, those 527 committees will.

“He doesn’t have the same values we have,” they have said and will say again. Excuse me; Barack Obama is an American citizen running for President of the United States! He says, “we don’t have red states, we don’t have blue states, we only have these United States.” Those are values fundamental to our federal system. Those are values we all believe in. And who among us does not want a President who shares that view?

The McCain campaign has demonstrated already it will seek to destroy Obama’s character, his integrity, and question his patriotism along the way if it has to in order to win the office. Who wants a President like that? Who wants a President who believes in the Partisan States of America, not the United States of America?

And I ask you, who is the real patriot in this race – the man who will do and say anything to get elected OR the man who believes so much in America that he is willing to tell us the hard truth about the Herculean effort it will take to become energy independent, or the hard truth about the cost of providing health care coverage to all of us, or is willing to ask us to actually sacrifice when it is time to defend this nation, who believes the bankers son and the miller's son share the same obligation to this republic?

It is not a display of patriotism, or leadership, to employ reckless bellicose rhetoric on the world stage as John McCain has done on more than one occasion. Saber rattling may get you votes today, but it will not earn you respect tomorrow when it is time to actually be sworn in as Commander-in-Chief.

So do your damndest, Mr. McCain. Have your minions practice their dirty politics. Have them attempt to tear down a good man, a real American, with their race card and their fear card, with their distortions, their fabrications, their lies, their innuendoes. We’re not buying your politically expedient approach to politics, “my friend.” Your anything goes approach is going to be rejected by the American people this November. We’ve seen it before and we’re not buying it this time.

And I hope you are sufficiently ashamed on the day after the election that you will go back to the US Senate, apologize to all those you have offended, especially the newly minted US citizens, and vow to read the US Constitution again (Robert Byrd will loan you the copy he carries in his pocket every day) and become the US Senator the people of Arizona deserve, and no doubt, thought they elected.

How to Begin to Repair Damage

My good friend, Joe Fab, recently described to me how Barack Obama could repair some of the damage Bush 43 has done to the US Constitution. Here are his thoughts:

“I'm repeatedly shocked to notice how few Americans seem to recognize the degree of destruction that the current administration has perpetrated in this regard. (If Obama would make this issue part of his campaign),Obama would also be buttressing his own image with respect to that critical factor: patriotism.

“A true patriot would understand the fundamentals on which the United States was built and would be able to explain how badly they've been broken. And, a patriot would stand up for those principles. Like those who serve this country in time of war, he would defend them with his life -- or in this case, with his presidential viability.

“I believe that a task force or some other substantial mechanism ought to be created within an Obama administration with the mission of identifying all the points of damage, and to prescribe and then manage their repair.

“When Obama spoke about the ongoing responsibility to work towards the perfection of the Union, he had one foot metaphorically on the ground I would like him to claim on behalf of us all. If he would vigorously announce his commitment to leading America in reclaiming her Constitution, I believe he would enhance his campaign and begin to organize us all around an issue that is absolutely critical to the future of this country.”

Thanks, Joe; I can’t think of any suggestion more in keeping with the thrust of this blog which is built on Ben Franklin’s description of the type of government he and the founding fathers created: “…you have a republic if you can keep it.”