Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Dems vote for constitutional amendment to limit free speech and freedom of religion
WDTPRS ^ | 7/11/2014 | Fr. John Zuhlsdorf

Posted on 07/12/2014 3:26:45 AM PDT by markomalley

This is by Zac Morgan, a staff attorney at the Center for Competitive Politics writing at NRO.  My emphases and comments.

Does Religious Speech Threaten Democracy?
It could be restricted or banned under a constitutional amendment Democrats have proposed.

The Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday approved by a 10–8 vote a constitutional amendment that, if passed, would functionally eliminate the political rights of speech and association. While the committee made the language more succinct than in its original iteration, the law still poses a profound threat to fundamental liberties. [Mind you, a constitutional amendment doesn't happen over night, but... it has to start somewhere.]

For instance, Congress probably would have the power to ban religious sermons and church literature. [Can you feel things sliding in this direction?  This will fail, of course.  BUT... in the failure, they will have bumped the paradigm a little bit in this direction.  Call it creeping incrementalism.  That's how liberals work.]

Section 1 of the amendment permits Congress and the states to “advance democratic self-government” — whatever that means — “and political equality” by “regulat[ing] and set[ting] reasonable limits on the raising and spending of money by candidates and others to influence elections.” [Thus limiting free speech.  "No. You may not freely spend your own money to advance some cause."]

Section 2 specifically permits the federal and state governments to “distinguish between natural persons and corporations or other artificial entities created by law, including prohibiting such entities from spending money to influence elections.”

And section 3 — in a perfect demonstration that the eight Judiciary Committee members who are lawyers, yet voted for the measure, failed to pay attention in law school — claims to prevent anyone from reading the amendment in such a way as “to grant Congress or the States the power to abridge the freedom of the press.” [the press... which is on the side of the dems]

The First Amendment, as drafted by men such as Fisher Ames and James Madison, protects five freedoms: speech, press, assembly, petition, and religion. The newly minted constitutional amendment mentions only one of those as being untarnished — “press.”

Under a longstanding principle of statutory interpretation — expressio unius est exclusio alterius — the explicit naming of one member of a class means that the other members of that class are excluded. So, under this amendment, as long as the interests of “democratic self-governance” and “political equality” are “reasonably” at issue, Congress or the states may infringe on speech, assembly, petition, and religious freedoms.

There’s honestly no limit to the number of examples of “reasonable” restrictions that could be drawn under this amendment, but let’s discuss a particularly troubling one.

[...]

Read the rest there.

 


TOPICS: Catholic; Religion & Culture; Religion & Politics
KEYWORDS: fascist

1 posted on 07/12/2014 3:26:45 AM PDT by markomalley
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Actually, I put this kind of wet dream in the same kind of category as Fair/Flat Tax efforts.

I know that’s gonna pi$$ off a lot of you FT/FT er’s out there, but it’s reality time.

We are in the midst of a struggle for the soul of this country. We are in a battle with our own party trying to make them stand for the principles they’ve mouthed all these years but never acted upon in even the most basic tenets of the Constitution. And, to spend your efforts on it (FT/FT) is pointless.

Flame away.


2 posted on 07/12/2014 3:30:45 AM PDT by Gaffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

This is all those communist ******* ever vote for. To takes way people’s GOD GIVEN rights and silence their opponents. They are all seditious, treasonous SCUM!


3 posted on 07/12/2014 3:42:07 AM PDT by Viennacon (Rebuke the Repuke!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

And the idea they can shut down congregations? Insanity! Let me tell you there are plenty of God-fearing churches in America, with ARMED congregants. You want to shut them down, just saying, people are going to get shot. Every religious group has a breaking point. Muslims break every five seconds. Buddhists can tolerate a lot, but look at Burma.

For Christians, when you come into our churches and stop the preaching of the WORD OF GOD, then you will bring down His wrath upon the oppressors. I will not hesitate.


4 posted on 07/12/2014 3:45:40 AM PDT by Viennacon (Rebuke the Repuke!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

I haven’t had time to read up on this yet but two things to be done are prayer and put the the pressure on those ten. Make them pay a political price. Be single-minded. Don’t stop until the establishment gets the message. Who is up for 2e-election soon, I wonder?


5 posted on 07/12/2014 3:52:04 AM PDT by Faith Presses On
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Ten members of the Senate Judiciary Committee have no appreciation for the Constitution, and will gladly hold out their wrists as their chains are forged.

The reason this Amendment is dangerous is because it will make it nearly impossible to raise enough money to overcome the benefit of incumbency, and thus it will guarantee that every politician in the country will be guaranteed re-election indefinitely, while being relieved of the burden of fundraising.

Think you can’t get a whole lot of politicians to vote for that one?


6 posted on 07/12/2014 4:04:32 AM PDT by Haiku Guy (Health Care Haiku: If You Have a Right / To the Labor I Provide / I Must Be Your Slave)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Surprised??
Me neither.

Rope, neck, tree limb—some assembly required.


7 posted on 07/12/2014 4:08:35 AM PDT by Flintlock (islam is a LIE, mohamuud a PEDOPHILE, sharia is POISON.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Let me state the obvious here. This is all being done to
create civil unrest. They buy ammo like a mad preper and
then threaten to amend the constitution out of existence.
Obama is sitting there daring congress to impeach him and
opening the boarders to anyone who wants to do us harm all
along laughing at us, right to our face.
This is coup d’etat. He want’s marshal law. He knows if
the right people get into office this, and the next election,
there is a possibility he may end up doing the purp walk.
He has to destroy America and he has to do it quick.


8 posted on 07/12/2014 5:12:35 AM PDT by Slambat
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

We already do that. Say the N word...and off to jail you go. Tell a fag to get out of your face...and off to jail you go.


9 posted on 07/12/2014 5:16:36 AM PDT by Sacajaweau
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Slambat

Why the fear over civil unrest? Can finally get this over with.


10 posted on 07/12/2014 6:15:26 AM PDT by Crazieman (Are you naive enough to think VOTING will fix this entrenched system?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

With democrats you get Mao.


11 posted on 07/12/2014 6:42:04 AM PDT by Vaduz
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Just remember:

It was reasonable to imprison an entire racial class, without trial and without limitation. So said the Democrats in 1942.

Without any kind of proof all Japanese-Americans living west of the Serra Nevada mountains were ordered to report for imprisonment on very short notice. Generational wealth had to sold for pennies on the dollar to meet the time limits imposed by this order.

Multiple families had to live in crudely constructed wooden barracks. Interior partitions were basically bed sheets. Armed military police personnel could and did wander through the “common” areas of these barracks randomly through out the day.

Executive Order 9066, issued by FDR on 19 Feb 1942. It was supported by multiple rules, regulations, and policies issued and enforced by non-elected bureaucrats safely in the rear with the gear.

This affected around 127,000, around 80,000 were natural born American Citizens.

In 1944 the Supreme Court weaseled out by declaring the Executive order and the resulting orders were two separate issues. IMHO you couldn’t have one without the other.

46 years later each of the 82,219 survivors were paid $ 20,000 each because the government actions were based on “race prejudice, war hysteria, and a failure of political leadership”.[

Anyone want to bet it can not, excuse me - will not - happen again based on the current membership of Congress?


12 posted on 07/12/2014 6:52:36 AM PDT by Nip (BOHEICA and TANSTAAFL - both seem very appropriate today.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Gaffer

Actually, I put this kind of wet dream in the same kind of category as Fair/Flat Tax efforts.


Nothing to flame about, the flat tax would have been a good thing but won`t happen for that reason.

But taking any amendment rights away is a bad thing so it might actually happen.


13 posted on 07/12/2014 6:54:07 AM PDT by ravenwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Crazieman

I’m with you.
Things are getting worse at an exponential rate.
If we wait until it is literally on each of our door steps it will be too late to do anything.
Our political process is designed to be slow and grinding so as to prevent radical change in a short period of time.
But that assumes that the rule of law is being followed.
With a despotic executive all limits are off, and a nation can very quickly fall into either anarchy or totalitarianism.
With the militarization of local, state, and federal agencies I tend to think it will be the latter.
I told my dad a few years back that when the Feds start building a wall on the southern border that’s when we know there is serious trouble.
That’s because the purpose will be to keep us in, not prevent foreign invaders from coming in.
My comment was sort of tongue in cheek at the time, but now I see it as a very real possibility.
It’s clear to me that most people here at FR (including myself) have been right all along that this administration is set on carrying out the wildest dreams of Zero’s mentors like Bill Ayers.
He still has at least 2 1/2 years in office, and I can barely grasp what damage can be done in that time.
And with that understanding I would bet even money that he doesn’t have any plans to leave after 8 years.
Fundamental transformation includes ridding us of that pesky constitution thingy.
One thing is for sure. Preventing peaceful revolution will make violent revolution inevitable-JFK.
I hate it and it scares me for my three young children.
They are the ones I fear for.


14 posted on 07/12/2014 6:59:59 AM PDT by Clump ( the tree of liberty is withering like a stricken fig tree)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: markomalley

Two soldiers came into a packed Church with machine guns, they told the people they were going to kill all of the Christians.

However they said if there is any one here who is not sure they may leave, most of the people got up and left.

The soldiers then said to the ones remaining , we are Christians too, but we had to be sure there were no one to turn us in for it.

An old story but good for these coming times.


15 posted on 07/12/2014 7:05:40 AM PDT by ravenwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Slambat

He want’s marshal law. He knows if
the right people get into office this, and the next election,
there is a possibility he may end up doing the purp walk.
He has to destroy America and he has to do it quick.


Yes, marshal law would be his goal even if he is not worried about any consequences.


16 posted on 07/12/2014 7:10:26 AM PDT by ravenwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: ravenwolf

I support either FT or FT - abolish the IRS cabal.

I just happen to think that efforts spent on them now in this crisis of tyrannical proportions are equivalent to rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.


17 posted on 07/12/2014 7:21:13 AM PDT by Gaffer
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: AdmSmith; AnonymousConservative; Berosus; bigheadfred; Bockscar; cardinal4; ColdOne; ...

Thanks markomalley.


18 posted on 07/12/2014 7:55:28 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: Gaffer

I support either FT or FT - abolish the IRS cabal.


Flat tax is the only thing that makes sense second to abolishing the I.R.S.

And that will not happen with all of the commies we have in congress.

Its up to the people to get rid of them, but have the people got enough of the crap yet?

I think as long as people can eat like pigs they will go for anything.


19 posted on 07/12/2014 7:58:37 AM PDT by ravenwolf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
Religion
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson