Thursday, September 15th, 2011 12:09:38

Waiving the Constitution

We are used to flag-waving in this country, but we have moved to Constitution-waving as well. Small reprints often inhabit the jacket pockets of men and pocketbooks of women. My desk holds a 3.5-inch by 5-inch copy of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States.

Some might view this as a bit much, but not I. These two documents represent the creating document and the operating manual for our federal government. It is useful that they be readily accessible and easily referenced.

When eight Republican presidential candidates met this past Monday night for the CNN/Tea party debate in Tampa, Fla., they invoked the words “Constitution” and “unconstitutional” 12 times. The top spot went to Rep. Michele Bachmann, who used the words five times (including in her close, where she mentioned she would take “a copy of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights,” to the White House.” FYI, the Bill of Rights is part of the Constitution).