Religious conservatives push for rewrite of the U.S. constitution?

[Aphro]

Religious conservatives behind push to rewrite U.S. constitution

Religious conservatives are pushing an obscure legal maneuver to rewrite the U.S. Constitution to better reflect their views, a secular watchdog group warned Wednesday.

The Constitution has been revised throughout the nation’s history by gaining support for amendments by two-thirds of the House of Representatives and then the approval of three-fourths of the states.

But it can also be changed if two-thirds of the states apply for a constitutional convention, and a conservative activist is pushing Bible Belt lawmakers to call for this never-attempted mechanism.

Michael Farris, founder and president of the Homeschool Legal Defense Association, is behind the Convention of the States campaign that seeks to limit the federal government through the obscure procedure.

The group’s website lists fairly mundane goals – a balanced budget amendment, clarified definitions of the general welfare and commerce clauses, and limits on federal taxation – but most constitutional experts agree that a constitutional convention would open any topic for discussion and possible change.

COS does not specifically mention religion in its goals, but the movement is closely tied to conservative activists who promote the unhistorical idea that the U.S. was founded as a “Christian nation.”

Those supporters include the pseudo-historian David Barton, religious broadcaster Rick Green and right-wing talk show host Glenn Beck, and Farris himself founded the Christian fundamentalist Patrick Henry College and has strong ties to the religious right.

If a constitutional convention was convened, religious protections guaranteed by the First Amendment could potentially be weakened or repealed to promote the conservative Christianity advocated by COS supporters, according to Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Article 5 of the Constitution outlines some rules for the process, which would require at least 34 states to petition Congress for a date and venue.

Each state would then send one voting delegate, most likely selected by a joint session of the state legislature, and amendments could pass by simple majority and then be sent to the states for ratification.

However, any amendments proposed at this convention would then require ratification by three-fourths of the states, making radical changes unlikely.

Not all conservative groups support the measure, including the anti-communist John Birch Society.

“A lot of educational effort is going into both sides of this issue,” said the group’s spokesman, Bill Hahn. “However, since an Article 5 convention process would be unlimited, the outcome of such a convention could be detrimental not only to the Constitution, but to the security and happiness of this and future generations of Americans.”

But the COS movement, which is promoted by Tea Party groups and the conservative American Legislative Exchange Council, is gaining momentum.

The Georgia Senate voted 37-16 last week to set aside the Constitution written by the Founding Fathers and start over again, and lawmakers in eight other states – Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Florida, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, and South Dakota — are deliberating similar proposals.

Virginia’s House of Delegates rejected a measure 67-29 last week to ask Congress to convene a constitutional convention, but its sponsor has already promised to introduce it again next year.

Seriously?

 

[RobDownSouth]

Religious Conservatives love Murica, it's just that pesky Constitution they can't stand. Noted Christian philosopher George W. Bush once neatly encapsulated their position by saying, "It's just a God damned piece of paper".

 

[Busybody]

Religious conservatives behind push to rewrite U.S. constitution




?

GOOD!

 

[Aphro]

Religious Conservatives love Murica, it's just that pesky Constitution they can't stand. Noted Christian philosopher George W. Bush once neatly encapsulated their position by saying, "It's just a God damned piece of paper".

Is there such a thing as a non-religious conservative down there any more?


How, in today's America, do you separate fiscal conservatism from borderline religious fundamentalism?

 

[Busybody]

Religious Conservatives love Murica, it's just that pesky Constitution they can't stand. Noted Christian philosopher George W. Bush once neatly encapsulated their position by saying, "It's just a God damned piece of paper".

if its COMMON SENSE

why was it in there the FIRST PLACE?

why wasn't it FIXED when we all made note of it, for the past 3 yrs?

why delay it until AFTER an election?

WHY NOT FIX/REPEAL IT?

if its NOT good NOW, why will it be good 3 yrs from now?

betcha you gonna pretend not to know what I mean.....or ignore it!....we know why

 

[Sean]

Is there such a thing as a non-religious conservative down there any more?


How, in today's America, do you separate fiscal conservatism from borderline religious fundamentalism?

You can't. The whole Tea Party movement, which started as an anti tax protest, has morphed into some bizarre extreme right wing religious jihad group.

 

[koalabear]

Religious Conservatives love Murica, it's just that pesky Constitution they can't stand. Noted Christian philosopher George W. Bush once neatly encapsulated their position by saying, "It's just a God damned piece of paper".

"Progressive" ain't he Fatty.

 

[Sean Renaud]

They got my vote. Though I'm not entirely certain this should be left entirely up to a handful of delegates. We haz internet and moderators to keep the discussion from devolving too far.

 

[Busybody]

"Progressive" ain't he Fatty.

damn fucking piece of paper

written by RACIST WHITE RICH GUYS

NO WEEMEN, GAYZ, MOOSETURDS, TRANNIES, COLOREDS were involved

FUCK IT

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Religious conservatives behind push to rewrite U.S. constitution




Seriously?

How do you think we got our current Constitution? The guys went to Philadelphia to tweak the old Articles of Confederation, and created our Constitution.

So what in Hell is your problem with a process thats legal but rare?

 

[Busybody]

How do you think we got our current Constitution? The guys went to Philadelphia to tweak the old Articles of Confederation, and created our Constitution.

So what in Hell is your problem with a process thats legal but rare?

she wants MUSLIMS to amend our Constitution

 

[unregistered]

 

[patient1]

Seriously?

Certainly. People frustrated by a gridlocked dysfunctional legislature are going to look for other ways, whether it's targeting people in the primaries, or calling for a Constitutional Convention.

Since there are more red states than blue ones, and more registered democrats than registered republicans, it has to be attractive to settle things once and for all on advantageous terms.


A Constitutional Convention is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're going to get. That's why nobody has opened one. Libertarians who want a balanced budget amendment are fearful of how much might be added. Politicians who are in power don't want to be circumvented. Conservatives who distrust change don't like the uncertainty. Women who fear a right to life amendment, men who fear an Equal Rights amendment, Employers opposed to a Living wage amendment. There is horse trading and deal brokering potential at a convention, and the people who go don't want to come back empty handed. They might ratify all of the above and the kitchen sink amendment in a single up or down vote, or agree to do them all individually in a backroom package deal.

There is plenty of inertia against a Constitutional Convention.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

Is there such a thing as a non-religious conservative down there any more?


How, in today's America, do you separate fiscal conservatism from borderline religious fundamentalism?

Religion has nothing to do with real conservatism. Sixty years ago we LOL'd most of the denominations that weren't Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, or Roman Catholic. We still do.

I'm no Christian but they get a vote like everyone else. SO, go fuck yourself.

 

[Sean Renaud]

I posted on this in detail some months ago. Read Mark Levin's The Liberty Amendments. The Article V solution is the only way for the states to regain some of their power from an overbearing monolithic central government. The Article V solution is accomplished solely by the states and without the interference of Congress, the Courts, or the Executive.

I'm curious what makes anybody think this would lead to the States regaining some control instead of it becoming officially codified that states rights was something for a bygone era and has no place in modern America. One country, one rule. If you think America is too large to govern that's fine. Take your happy ass and form a new country. I'm sure we can carve off a hunk of America for all of you who are tired of being Americans and want to be Texans or whatever state.

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

she wants MUSLIMS to amend our Constitution

I bet she has no goddamned idea what she wants, except to piss on Christians and Jews.

 

[Aphro]

Religion has nothing to do with real conservatism. Sixty years ago we LOL'd most of the denominations that weren't Baptist, Methodist, Presbyterian, Anglican, or Roman Catholic. We still do.

I'm no Christian but they get a vote like everyone else. SO, go fuck yourself.

I can't. But you are doing a fine job.

Honestly, JBJ, if you try to get up my ass any farther, I am going to need a colonoscopy to find you.

 

[Busybody]

I bet she has no goddamned idea what she wants, except to piss on Christians and Jews.

like almost everyone else

 

[JAMESBJOHNSON]

I can't. But you are doing a fine job.

Honestly, JBJ, if you try to get up my ass any farther, I am going to need a colonoscopy to find you.

There are times when youre smart and common-sensical, when you don't need unplugging.

 

[Aphro]

I have NO vested interest in what happens with this...it was just my belief that Americans held their constitution up like some sort of holy grail.

Apparently not.

Colour me surprised.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Aphro]

There are times when youre smart and common-sensical, when you don't need unplugging.

If by common sensual you mean I don't turn every discussion into a personal attack, then ya, you're spot-on.

 

[unregistered]

 

[Sean]

They do, and when the federal government begins trampling on it the people can go to the solution in Article V, as the founders suggested.

You HATE the constitution. At least all of it except the second amendment.

 

[Sean Renaud]

Does anyone remember the Religious Left? You know Rev. Jackson, Reverend Sharpton, Fathers Berrigan, Rev. Drinan, Maryknoll Nuns, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. All of the other hustlers, traitors, racists, America haters.

No. For the most part we do our best to ignore all of those people. to the point that even when they are right we don't support them.