I watched an
MSNBC interview of South Carolina Congressman James Clyburn which aired on
Saturday and listened to his opinion in stunned disbelief. Clyburn opined that he
believes there would be “strong support against the Bills of Rights among
people who would like to see many of the guarantees uprooted.”
Clyburn went
on to say he believes we live in a climate where the first ten amendments of
the United States Constitution would not pass muster with the electorate.
I find it
hard to believe that a sitting congressman, who took an oath to “support and
defend the Constitution against all enemies---foreign and domestic,” would say
such a thing. It leads me to believe that maybe he has second thoughts
concerning his allegiance, which also would be counter to his oath.
Its obvious
Clyburn and many like him don’t like the second amendment…our right to keep and
bear arms. The first amendment gives him the right to say so. If he really believes there is an overwhelming
sentiment to alter the current Constitution, the founding fathers provided a
process. But Clyburn knows the repeal or alteration of the Bill of Rights will
not happen in his lifetime.
Political
discourse is expected and encouraged in our history and culture. Congressman Clyburn
needs to either live by his oath or start a movement to amend the Constitution
to represent his perception of reality.
I guarantee,
it will go nowhere.
You don't even know what you're talking about here. I'm fairly certain you read an article about this and then decided you could chime in without actually watching the clip in question, because I found it and he says the exact opposite of what you imply that he means.
ReplyDeleteHe did say he thought people in his constituency would want to uproot parts of the Bill of Rights, as part of a larger conversation about the reactions people have about the 1994 Crime Bill. However, Rep Clyburn specifically states "I do not agree with pulling things up from the root. You go and try to build on what you've done. You know what? I really believe sincerely, the climate we're in today, if the Bill of Rights, the first Ten Amendments of the Constitution, were put before the public today, I'm not too sure that we would hold on to the Bill of Rights"
He goes on to say, hearkening back to the question of whether the Crime Bill should be fully repealed. "So, you don't tear stuff up in order to improve on it. Let's look at what's wrong. Let's look at what can be improved. And let's go out and work together to improve these things, not just throw things out and say 'let's start over.' No. No. We don't start over in this country. We correct our faults."
So when you say,
'I find it hard to believe that a sitting congressman, who took an oath to “support and defend the Constitution against all enemies---foreign and domestic,' would say such a thing. It leads me to believe that maybe he has second thoughts concerning his allegiance, which also would be counter to his oath. "
and
"If he really believes there is an overwhelming sentiment to alter the current Constitution, the founding fathers provided a process. But Clyburn knows the repeal or alteration of the Bill of Rights will not happen in his lifetime. "
your McCarthyist cries about Democratic disloyalty look absolutely foolish, because that's literally the opposite of what he was saying. He doesn't want people to do that. He was stating that it's a hot political climate where consensus seems basically impossible between different sections of the American population.
One last quote from you:
"Congressman Clyburn needs to either live by his oath or start a movement to amend the Constitution to represent his perception of reality.
I guarantee, it will go nowhere."
Why would he start a movement to do something he doesn't want to do? Why is the perception of people he's met HIS "perception of reality" now?
This had to be one of your dumbest comments so far. And that's really saying something. For anyone that wants to see it, I'll provide a link to the clip in question in a reply to this one.
Here's the clip. Imagine my shock that Mike Drieth lied through his teeth, and at no point did Rep Clyburn say he wanted to shred the Bill of Rights:
Deletehttps://www.msnbc.com/david-gura/watch/james-clyburn-not-sure-if-bill-of-rights-would-pass-today-68476997604
The key quote, as cited above: "So, you don't tear stuff up in order to improve on it. Let's look at what's wrong. Let's look at what can be improved. And let's go out and work together to improve these things, not just throw things out and say 'let's start over."
ReplyDeleteSo the Congressman's point is the opposite of what MD is saying in his commentary.
Mischaracterizing what another person says it the epitome of "cheap talk."
Stop pandering. Stick to the truth.