Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 85, 1788
How can perfection come from imperfection? How can we be expected to do perfect works if we ourselves are imperfect? Take a look at this quote by Chuck Baldwin, the Vice-Presidential candidate of the 2004 Constitution Party –
More than thirty years as a student of American history, constitutional government, and the Holy Bible leads me to the conviction that the two major political parties in this country are equally culpable in stripping America of its founding principles. In my opinion, both the Democrat and Republican parties in Washington, D.C., have zero fidelity to the U.S. Constitution and zero respect for America’s foundational precepts” – Chuck Baldwin – Constitution Party 2004 Vice-Presidential Candidate
Mr. Baldwin seems to expect a perfect nation from imperfect men. If his statement were true, if both the Democrat and Republican parties have no fidelity to the U.S. Constitution and no respect for America’s foundational precepts, then how come we are where we are today? Why is it that we still have freedoms? How come we can still find traces of our foundational precepts?
Either we are living in an illusion, or Mr. Baldwin is mistaken. I will be the first to admit that the Republican and Democrat parties are not perfect. Neither of them follows the will of the Founding Fathers perfectly. But neither does the Constitution Party. And their first mistake is believing that the Democrats and Republicans have no respect or fidelity to the Founding Fathers’ Original Intent.
As a supporter of the Constitution Party, I have to take issue with this editorial. I cannot see any circumstances under which Mr. Baldwin is expecting perfection from anyone. What he wants is fidelity to the Constitution, something every American should desire, and he does not see any fidelity to our nation’s law among either of the major parties. I wholeheartedly agree with his analysis. One would be hard-pressed to find almost any law, probably since World War 2, that did not skirt around the Constitution. To make excuses for defying the Constitution by saying “Nobody is perfect” would relieve our elected officials of all responsibility. After all, wasn’t God telling His people the same thing when he said, “Be ye holy, for I am holy.” ? We can’t be perfect, but that is His demand, nevertheless. I’m not saying never to forgive any mistake by a politician, but when their pattern of conduct is continual disobedience to the Constitution, vote them out! And that would include nearly every member of the United States Congress, be they Representative or Senator.
I must commend you on your article and I must say that I wholeheartedly agree. While I admire the Constitution Party for their devotion to adhering to the constitution, I cannot help but think that they have, in a sense, become like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. How? They see all others as inferior and no wrong in their own person.
This isn’t to say Constitutionalists are this way but that the PARTY is.
Go with God,
David Ketter