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The Constitution is Not a “Living, Breathing Document” (Fred fires back at Huck)
Fred08.com ^ | 18 Jan 2008 | Fred Thompson

Posted on 01/18/2008 12:43:08 PM PST by commish

This morning I heard that one of the other candidates commented that the Constitution is a “living, breathing document.”

Frankly, I assumed this came from Senator Clinton or Senator Obama. It is identical to what Al Gore said when he was running for President in 2000, when he said he would look for judges “who understand that our Constitution is a living, breathing document, that it was intended by our founders to be interpreted in the light of the constantly evolving experience of the American people.”

Imagine my surprise when I learned that this statement actually came from my opponent, Governor Huckabee, in an interview with CNN this morning. Now I know Governor Huckabee was talking about amending the Constitution, but I don’t think he understood that he was using code words that support judicial activism.

He does not appear to understand that reliance on the notion that the Constitution is a living, breathing document is precisely the kind of wrong-headed thinking about the Constitution that gave us Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion across our nation, and Lawrence v. Texas, which decriminalized sodomy.

I do not believe the Constitution is a living, breathing document. I am committed to appointing strict constructionist judges to the bench if I am elected President, strict constructionists who believe the Constitution has a fixed meaning that can be applied to cases that come before the courts today. They do NOT believe the Constitution is a “living, breathing document,” whose meaning, constantly changing with the sifting sands of our culture, can be determined and applied by unelected judges.

I fear that this loose language about our Constitution calls into question Governor Huckabee’s appreciation and understanding of the issue of judicial activism and raises questions as to what kind of judges he would appoint were he to become President.


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: conservatism; constitution; election; fma; fred; fredthompson; hla; huckabee; livingbreathing; marriageamendment; originalintent; penumbra; sc2008; scotus; thompson; usconstitution; ussc
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To: commish

Whoo Hoo!

Fred is the one!

As Fred has said....

“The Constitution means what it says.”


21 posted on 01/18/2008 12:51:29 PM PST by Route66 (America's Main Street - - - Fred D. Thompson / Consistent Conservative...The One with Gravitas)
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To: Lurker
Statements like this make me very proud to be a FredHead.

Yep. Yesterday I was really down after seeing the latest round of SC polls, but it is things like this that make me realize that they just don't matter. Sure, I want Fred to win, but mostly I just want him to continue to be Fred and educate the idiots that are infesting this country.

22 posted on 01/18/2008 12:51:39 PM PST by commish (Freedom tastes sweetest to those who have fought to protect it.)
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To: commish

Can someone please explain to me how Gov. Huckabee cannot know better than that? A person doesn’t just use that phrase by accident.


23 posted on 01/18/2008 12:51:46 PM PST by Ken in Eastman (Those who ignore history are destined to vote Democrat)
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To: commish

I’m sorry, but anyome who does not support Fred is an idiot. His thought process is clear, concise and correct.

I already voted for him.


24 posted on 01/18/2008 12:51:46 PM PST by cyclotic (Support Scouting-Raising boys to be men, and politically incorrect at the same time.)
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To: commish

This is brilliant. How can anyone even think there is a better candidate for President of the United States?

G-dspeed and prayers up for Thompson tomorrow!


25 posted on 01/18/2008 12:52:41 PM PST by Yaelle (If Fred loses it's our loss. Not his.)
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To: Theodore R.

If Fred isn’t the nominee, then the Republican party has left me. May the ash can of history smack it in the ass for me, on it’s way down.


26 posted on 01/18/2008 12:52:43 PM PST by AFreeBird (Fred 08)
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To: commish

27 posted on 01/18/2008 12:53:03 PM PST by McGruff (A "Big Time" Fred Thompson supporter!)
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To: commish

If the Republicans nominate this man, the party is officially dead. The socialists will be dancing in the streets.


28 posted on 01/18/2008 12:53:29 PM PST by txjeep
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To: commish
Now I know Governor Huckabee was talking about amending the Constitution, but I don’t think he understood that he was using code words that support judicial activism.

So he was talking about the anti-abortion ammendment and the sactity of marriage amendment and Fred understands what he meant, but didn't like the words.

T minus 27 hours and counting until Fred drops out.

29 posted on 01/18/2008 12:54:09 PM PST by Soliton (Dr. Soliton suggests Ciallis for HDS. It 's no cure, but it will distract you for 36 hours.)
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To: AFreeBird

I think a lot of us feel the same way. Rush enunciated this exact sentiment today. If our fellow Republican voters nominate one of the other “front-runners,” the Republican party has lost all of the important components of its base. We might as well have Hillary in the White House. As Rush said, it might have taken a Carter to get a Reagan. We will all be seething and hopefully planning.


30 posted on 01/18/2008 12:55:20 PM PST by Yaelle (If Fred loses it's our loss. Not his.)
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To: rightinthemiddle

If it will guarantee a loss, The Republicans can pull it off.


31 posted on 01/18/2008 12:55:25 PM PST by isrul
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To: commish
"Frankly, I assumed this came from Senator Clinton or Senator Obama"

Fred can blow up verbal miscues without even raising a sweat....

GO FRed!

32 posted on 01/18/2008 12:57:17 PM PST by traditional1 (Thompson/Hunter '08)
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To: commish
I fear that this loose language about our Constitution calls into question Governor Huckabee’s appreciation and understanding of the issue of judicial activism and raises questions as to what kind of judges he would appoint were he to become President.

But none of matters because the Huckster is an all-knowing evangelical Christian and as a result, we owe him our vote. /sarcasm.

33 posted on 01/18/2008 12:57:19 PM PST by Labyrinthos
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To: rightinthemiddle
Will the party actually nominate someone most of its members despise as a politician?

I hope not but I did vote for Bob Dole (even though I was not certain he was electable).

I like Fred! I will vote for two or three of the others if they are nominated (even if I have to hold my nose to do so).

I WILL NOT VOTE FOR JOHN McCAIN! and I am beginning to think Mike Huckabee is another one of these RINOs that I will be unable to get past the stench to bring myself to vote for either.

34 posted on 01/18/2008 12:57:42 PM PST by Friend_from_the_Frozen_North (If you are, as Rush would say, "A Glittering Jewel of Colossal Ignorance" don't waste my time...)
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To: Yaelle

Maybe it’s time to take the stick down off the wall....
http://www.blog.newsweek.com/blogs/stumper/archive/2008/01/17/the-most-colorful-campaign-question-i-ve-ever-heard.aspx


35 posted on 01/18/2008 12:57:49 PM PST by Uriah_lost ("I don't apologize for the United States of America," -Fred D Thompson)
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To: Soliton
So he was talking about the anti-abortion ammendment

It was the "living & breathing" mindset that gave us that vile amendment!

36 posted on 01/18/2008 12:58:19 PM PST by tiredoflaundry (Huck vs.Truck...... ........ the Truck wins................... Fred08)
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To: rightinthemiddle

I believe it was thought that most Republicans despised James G. Blaine in 1884, but he was nominated, and he still almost beat Cleveland. Supposedly, young Theodore Roosevelt held his nose and voted for Blaine!


37 posted on 01/18/2008 12:58:23 PM PST by Theodore R. ( Cowardice is still forever!)
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To: commish

Fred who?


38 posted on 01/18/2008 12:58:30 PM PST by BMIC
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To: Friend_from_the_Frozen_North

The GOP in AR is so weak that no one will run for the Senate there this year. Huckabee left the party in tatters.


39 posted on 01/18/2008 12:59:19 PM PST by Theodore R. ( Cowardice is still forever!)
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To: Yaelle
I fear you may be correct. Mclaim, Rooty, and Huckleberry are RINO's, and I don't trust the man (Romney) that got elected to run one of, if not the most, liberal states in the union.

The Republican party is on crack, and they may very well have to hit rock bottom before they decide it's time to sober up.

40 posted on 01/18/2008 12:59:32 PM PST by AFreeBird (Fred 08)
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