Being a Constitutionalist

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Proof of Citizenship and the American Voter

Yes, Congress Can Write Election Laws

Separation of Church and State - Part 1

Separation of Church and State - Part 2

Politics in America – An Overview

In the U.S. political arena, people hold many titles. There are, of course, Republicans and Democrats, but a plethora of other titles come into play…some on the political right and others on the political left. For instance, on the left, some people identify as liberal. Other titles include progressive, left-wing, social liberal, democratic socialist, pro-choice, etc., …each name depending, at least in part, on that individual’s stance on various issues and degree of liberalism. The same is true on the other end of the political spectrum. On the right we find conservatives, pro-life, libertarian, etc.; once again depending on issues and degree of conservatism.

Personally, I consider myself a constitutionalist. That is to say, I believe government decisions and actions – all government decisions and actions – should be grounded in the U.S. Constitution. Consequently, I naturally lean to the right politically. I don’t particularly identify with any of the above-mentioned titles, although I agree with many of the views of those who do. For instance, I am certainly pro-life, and yet, there are other issues where I agree with libertarians. For this reason, I tend to vote Republican since that is the party that is much more aligned with, and grounded in, constitutional principles. That is not to say that I am happy with the party. They disappoint me far too often.

Understanding Constitutionalism

As a constitutionalist, my position on any given policy does not depend on who is in the White House or which party controls the House or the Senate. For instance, on separate occasions, two close friends recently complained to me about the Pentagon’s changes in policy where the press is concerned, insisting that it was infringement on freedom of the press. Yet, if a Democrat rather than Donald Trump was in the White House, I suspect those two friends would have ignored the Pentagon’s actions. I, on the other hand, responded that I don’t particularly want the press to have unlimited access to a place where wartimes strategies, military secrets, and advanced weaponry are developed.

Some, including the two friends who ridiculed the Pentagon’s decision, misunderstand the concept of freedom of the press. The independent character of the press does not mean that the press is entitled to gain access to every piece of information they desire; nor does the federal government answer to the press any more than citizenry answers to the press. It is my view that the press can have their questions answered at the seat of the executive branch, which is the White House. I can also say that my answer would be the same regardless of which party held the presidency.

Sidestepping the U.S. Constitution has become commonplace for both political parties. For instance, as much as I may agree with Donald Trump on several issues, I find nowhere in the Constitution the authority for the federal government to establish bank accounts for newborns and fund those accounts with tax money. It may be a popular move politically, but it will be done without constitutional support. Consequently, I would oppose this move without respect to who sits in the oval office. It is likely that many conservatives who support this decision would oppose it if a Democrat held the office.

The Constitution was written with the intent that the federal government should abstain from involvement in the daily lives of the citizens. Consequently, not one federal social program in America can find support in the Constitution. In fact, the 10th Amendment actually prohibits social programs. An even bigger problem is the likelihood that this particular program, once established, will expand, digging the U.S. in an even deeper financial hole. That’s one of the issues with ignoring the Constitution and establishing social programs. Every government social program ultimately ends up growing exponentially.

Weighing Political Policy

With the exception of the abortion issue (pro-lifers are generally not wishy-washy), the problem with many people on both sides of the political aisle is that they are inconsistent when it comes to policy. What they believe often depends on which party, Republican or Democrat, holds the White House. This is especially true of those on the left. Take, for instance, the current renovations to the White House. Many on the left (including the legacy media) are making a big deal out of Trump’s renovation at the White House. Yet, in retrospect, those same people saw no issue with Obama’s basketball court renovations or John Kennedy’s swimming pool. While those were slightly smaller projects, some earlier presidents have made even bigger changes than are currently taking place. That leads to one possible conclusion. The new ball room is despised primarily because Trump is in the White House.

Kennedy’s swimming pool and Obama’s basketball court were funded by taxpayers while the current changes are being funded by private individuals and companies, including Donald Trump. Of course I want to see the list of contributors for transparency’s sake. Still, vilification of the renovation is preposterous, especially since, if a Democrat president made those same changes, those currently decrying Trump’s work would be some of the first to donate to the project; although they would probably prefer that the alterations be funded with tax dollars. On the other hand, only a few on the right side of the aisle would care if a Democrat president did this, although those few would likely complain.

Perhaps the most egregious disparity on policy positions can be demonstrated on the topic of illegal immigration. When Trump first held the White House and wanted to build “the wall,” most Democrats fought him aggressively. They came across as pro-illegal immigration, insisting that it was good for the economy along with a host of other reasons. Then, when Biden was in the White House, those same Democrats fully supported the open border. However, many of those who have been fighting Trump on this issue sang a different tune before Trump came on the scene. Here are some interesting quotes from some of those individuals.

Joe Biden (2006): “Folks, I voted for a fence. I voted, unlike most Democrats ― and some of you won’t like it ― I voted for 700 miles of fence. But, let me tell you, we can build a fence 40 stories high ― unless you change the dynamic in Mexico and ― and you will not like this, and ― punish American employers who knowingly violate the law when, in fact, they hire illegals. Unless you do those two things, all the rest is window dressing.”

Chuck Schumer (2009): "Illegal immigration is wrong, plain and simple. Until the American people are convinced that we will stop future flows of illegal immigration we will make no progress on dealing with the millions of illegal immigrants who are here now. When we use phrases like undocumented workers we convey a message to the American people that their government is not serious about combating illegal immigration which the American people overwhelmingly oppose. If you don’t think it’s illegal you’re not going to say it. I think it is illegal and wrong."

Barack Obama (2005): “We simply cannot allow people to pour into the United States undetected, undocumented, unchecked, and circumventing the line of people who are waiting patiently, diligently, and lawfully to become immigrants in this country.”

Hillary Clinton (2003): "We’ve got to do several things and I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants. … certainly we’ve got to do more at our borders. And people have to stop employing illegal immigrants."

I could go on, but these are sufficient to make the point. These individuals, all Democrat leaders, have pretty much made a 180 degree turn on this subject. It makes one wonder what they have to gain with the import of millions of illegals. However, it is probably safe to say that a certain amount of their change of heart is simply opposition to Trump at all costs. At best, the change in position is disingenuous and politically motivated. At worst, it is a devious scheme to try to unlawfully expand a seriously dwindling Democrat party.

Conclusion

The words of the U.S. Constitution comprise some of the finest ideas ever penned by mankind. The governmental design and constitutional principles laid out in that document can be measured against anything else written over the history of humanity and, with the exception of the Bible, the U.S. Constitution may well be considered superior.

Still, being a constitutionalist is challenging since it requires policy consistency rather than surrendering to the political winds. It actually begins with reading and understanding the Constitution. It then entails commitment and faithfulness to constitutional principles while most people want to deny what the Constitution says or simply ignore it altogether. Sadly, this is even true of many elected officials.

Being a constitutionalist requires a well-above-average measure of political stamina and patriotism, since constitutionalists are generally reviled. Yet it seems a worthwhile goal to do our best to keep this nation focused on the Constitution, even when it is unpopular. Perhaps it is time for you to set aside other titles such as Democrat or Republican and join those of us who are simply constitutionalists. You can still vote for the candidate of your choice. It's simply a matter of weighing that person's policies against the U.S. Constitution and casting your vote for the candidate whose views reflect constitutional principles. As a constitutionalist, you should always vote for the candidate who embraces constitutional principles and American values. Also, with this new title, you might have the opportunity to enlighten your friends about the Constitution when they start discussing politics. Maybe we could even start referring to ourselves as Constitutionalists (capital “C”). Everyone else seems to do it.

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