President Trump's Commitment to Constitutional Government

President Trump lost no time in starting his administration.  He put up a website, greatagain.gov, that outlines his priorities, advertises for political appointees of the highest caliber, and states his positions. 

He devotes a policy section to Constitutional Rights.  In it, he goes much further than recent residents of the White House.  His choice of words is telling.  From greatagain.gov:

Donald Trump understands the solemn duty that comes from the Oath of Office – swearing to “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.” He embraces the fact that the reason the Founders of this nation decided to adopt a written Constitution as the Supreme Law of the Land for the first time in world history was to create a democratic form of government in which ordinary people would know the powers of government and the rights of the people. That is why the Constitution’s 4,400 words were written in a way that ordinary Americans would read and understand them, and use a standard to hold public officials accountable.

As President, Donald Trump will fulfill that sworn duty, vetoing legislation that exceeds Congressional authority, taking actions as Chief Executive and Commander-in-Chief that are consistent with his constitutional role, and nominating Judges and Supreme Court Justices who are committed to interpreting the Constitution and laws according to their original public meaning. He will defend Americans’ fundamental rights to free speech, religious liberty, keeping and bearing arms, and all other rights guaranteed to them in the Bill of Rights and other constitutional provisions. This includes the Tenth Amendment guarantee that many areas of governance are left to the people and the States, and are not the role of the federal government to fulfill. The Constitution declares that as Americans we have the right to speak freely, share and live out our beliefs, raise and protect our families, be free from undue governmental abuse, and participate in the public square.

There are important particulars in this document.  First, it is not the simple platitude that politicians often spout. Many politicians will say they “support the Constitution” or “the Bill of Rights” or the “Second Amendment”, without any particulars, and most importantly, with the understanding that the Constitution is the false malleable, plastic, non-protective, “living constitution” fabricated by “progressives”. 

Key phrases that jump out to those who have followed political debate for the last few decades:

“fundamental rights”

“committed to interpreting the Constitution and laws according to their original public meaning”  (no “living constitution”)

“religious liberty”

“keeping and bearing arms” 

“This includes the Tenth Amendment guarantee that many areas of governance are left to the people and the States, and are not the role of the federal government to fulfill.”

Who was the last president that even remembered the Tenth Amendment?  This is a remarkable policy statement for a president, just after his election.  It is a good sign.

©2016 by Dean Weingarten: Permission to share is granted when this notice and link are included.

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