Posted on 09/10/2010 5:41:57 AM PDT by Cowman
Proposal: Presidential Candidates Submit Handwritten Copy of Constitution
Posted on September 9, 2010 at 5:27pm by Jonathon M. Seidl
What if the president had to hand-write a copy of the Constitution before he took office?
That’s the question Dr. David Corbin and Dr. Matthew Parks of The King’s College-New York City are asking. Corbin is an associate professor of politics, while Parks is the assistant provost.
According to them, the presidential oath “to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States” is one that should be taken very seriously. But “you can’t do this if you don’t know the Constitution or aren’t willing to submit to it,” they say.
So, in a blog post on the First Things website, Corbin and Parks reveal a proposal that “each 2012 presidential candidate … adopt the ‘Constitution Pledge,’ promising to present a hand-written copy of the Constitution to the Chief Justice as he rises to take the oath of office.”
“We’re constantly looking for reminders of just what it is that makes America exceptional,” Corbin told The Blaze. “And our constitution is one of those things.” But presidents today are too preoccupied with “big things” such as sweeping reforms, he says. Rather than focus on grand projects that may or may not fail, he would rather future presidents understand their job description. The president’s, he says, is “ready made” in the Constitution.
“And how would we know that you understand the job description [of president]?” Corbin asks, “By you reading and writing it down.”
The idea of the pledge is based on two examples: a biblical one and an historical one. The biblical passage of Deuteronomy 17:18-20, which instructs new kings to transcribe a copy of the law and keep it with him “all the days of his life,” was part of the impetus. The other inspiration comes from historical education: writing something out by hand tends to impress it upon your memory, like most of us experienced with spelling words or math problems.
Currently, no large-scale “pledge” campaign is scheduled. Corbin envisions the idea taking off when citizens in primary states start asking candidates if they’ve taken “the pledge.” And while he says it may make “too much sense for it to happen,” he asks “why couldn’t it?”
For now, he and Parks will volunteer as the first interrogators: “Any takers?”
I think having them recite it from memory, or take a pop quiz during the final presidential debate would be more useful.
I think this hand written requirement is a good start on 'how can we be sure we have a constitutional office holder' ?
Conservative candidates could, right now, be publishing their birth certificates with a caption .. "Here's mine"
I think that would be a subtile but powerful tactic.
We've been end runned (end runned???), too many times by the opposition being evilly clever.
Conservative candidates could start a daily or twice weekly paid article in the help wanted section starting with the words; The Constitution says .. "
I love the idea, but truth is most likely an aide would write it for him/her.
“So help me God” is traditional.
I thought of having them copy in the presence of the supreme court but I have some misgivings about trusting the court as well.
“...actually making this a requirement of high school and college graduation might be better...”
THOSE days are OVER!!!
Yeah, some unlucky staffer would be stuck with the job.
I can just hear Conyers now — “I love these people who say, ‘write the Constitution...’”
I think it would be highly entertaining for this to be proposed at the State level, as a start.
“To become registered as a candidate for public office in the State of __________ , applicant must provide to the office of Secretary of State a notarized transcription of the complete text of the Constitution of the United States, written in their own hand, and signed and dated by them.
“If they are physically unable to do so, a handwritten transcription may be given by dictation by the candidate of the entire text, to the transcriber, accompanied by signed, dated and notarized affidavits by the transcriber and candidate that this dictation and transcription was done in person, and not by any electronic or other device.”
“This requirement shall in no way be construed to alter, modify, or supersede any other requirement placed on candidates for public office.”
Why limit it to the president? Every member of congress should also submit a hand written copy... Every election cycle
You can’t uphold that which you’ve never read
Must be real it was approved by congress.
Well, they have read the 16th amendment that's painfully evident.
I like it. I would include the need for them to include a copy of the state constitution as well. Some of the states around here make demands on office holders that would make them turn blue.
(Read the MA constitution sometime)
I think all candidates for Congress should have to prove they have read and comprehended the Constitution before they swear to uphold it. Perhaps they would have vetted the Presidential candidates for eligibility instead of allowing an enigma to become an aspiring dictator.
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