Dakota Beacon

The “Con-Con” Con
Sally Morris

“Having witnessed the difficulties and dangers experienced by the first Convention which assembled under every propitious circumstance, I should tremble for the result of a Second, meeting in the present temper of America, and under all the disadvantages I have mentioned. . . “ (James Madison, 11-2-1798)


My son has his own way of addressing certain kinds of problems. Say, if his alarm clock quits working and he finds himself late for work he is likely to throw the offending timepiece off of the balcony. Well, I have counseled against this, but today I am tempted. I got another one. Another email where I am one of a list of 20+ lucky recipients of the wisdom of conniving conspirators and the misguided who would relieve us of our Constitution. I am talking about the chorus who are chanting that we should call a Constitutional Convention. And it makes me want to go up to the balcony, unscrew my head and throw it off.

Those who are summoning this disaster remind me of people out in a boat on the high seas, taking it upon themselves to disassemble the boat. It is nothing less than insanity. Except, of course, when it is treachery. Because there are two types of proponent of this shocking idea.

True, our frustrations with corrupt politicians feed this, and our dread of reckless spending. But just who do those who call for throwing over our Constitution think will write the “new” one? Better men than James Madison, perhaps? This year’s answer to George Washington, maybe? Or maybe the guys we actually have today – Barack Obama, Bill Ayers, Tim Geithner, John Boehner, Newt Gingrich, Harry Reid, a little advice from George Soros, maybe the folks who brought you ACORN – some of those guys? Or maybe they really think that they will have a part to play, that is, after they pull the trigger on the starting gun. I hate to be the bearer of awful news, folks, but if you are one of the dupes calling for a Con-Con you are being conned. You will not be a part of it. Oh, you might show up like the 9-12’ers, with your funny hats, slogan tee shirts and witty signs. You can mill around outside, but you won’t have any more input
 than you do
 today, with Congress. In fact, you will have a whole lot less.

The Constitution our Founders created gives you a lot of rights. True, you probably haven’t gotten around to exercising them much until very lately. It is a lot like that pot belly you don’t get around to working off until that first heart attack. And, like the old flab, it doesn’t make it easier that you have been sitting around on your duff for 40 years letting “George” do it for you. You have thought it was enough, a big deal, in fact, that you voted every two or four years. Well, it wasn’t enough. If you don’t like what Congress has been doing it is your own fault. Why? Because if you are uninformed enough to call for a Constitutional Convention you have probably neither read much history nor ever been anywhere near a political party’s nominating convention, nationally, statewide or even locally. And that is where you determine who will represent you. If they don’t, just whom SHOULD you blame?

So you want “term limits”? Well, guess what? You’ve already got them. Just elect someone else. If you don’t like your Congressman, get off your butt and get someone else elected. You don’t like the “other guy”? Well, that’s where that tiresome old nominating convention comes in, right? Our ability to return men and women to office gives us great leverage. Term limits would guarantee lame duck sessions every year. Remember how you bitched about last year’s “lame duck session”? Well, help yourself to that every year. Lobbyists would love this. Now they won’t have to stand in line outside your congressman’s door. The congressmen will be standing in line outside their doors. Of course, should you still want to tinker with that idea, there already is a process in place – under the Constitution of the United States.

You want a “balanced budget” item in there? You can have that without a Constitutional Convention. Just pass an amendment. There is a process in place for that. And don’t be surprised if you get it and we still spend money we don’t have. California does.

There are those out there who would profit immensely if a Constitutional Convention were called. Remember how the barbarians crossed the Rhine finally to deliver the coup de grace to the Roman Empire and sack the cities? They just waited until the river froze. A Constitutional Convention would be our frozen Rhine. The damage the socialists and Marxists have been able to accomplish already, in spite of a strong Constitution would be overwhelmed by the destruction they would wreak should we open the floodgates by way of such a Convention. The most eager of all for the calling of a Constitutional Convention will be those who want to see America destroyed – even quicker.

Another group we could expect to have a loud voice in any Constitutional Convention is the Muslim Brotherhood. Anyone out there have any questions about what “reforms” they will demand?

We know who these people are, the Marxists, the “one-worlders”, the Sharia advocates. We know to expect this of them. What is far more troubling is that patriotic Americans who care about their country have been drawn into this, duped by this insidious campaign to strip us of our American rights and heritage and replace it with their agenda. For over 200 years, Americans have fought and died for the ideal of an America founded on a Constitution which eloquently and effectively protects American citizens and affords them full voice in their government. We have not always known we would be victorious. We have had to fight for this on faith. This has made the valor of our patriots the more impressive. A people does not stand and fight this hard for an expendable bit of parchment.

Our Constitution is nothing less than a masterpiece. It is without question the most important work man has wrought in all the millennia of human struggle. The men who wrote this came together from all parts of America and all walks of life. They weren’t perfect and didn’t pretend to be. They were humble, honest, and earnest in their aspirations for a just and good nation, strong enough to withstand the assault of foreign attack, intrigue either at home or abroad, and stand the test of time. They were informed by the most enlightened thinkers of their era, motivated by the yearning for freedom that had propelled their ancestors across the ocean to a wilderness. They sought to protect the weak, to empower the individual and reward his labor and creativity. They sought to present America as a worthy player on the world stage. Do we have such men or women today? Just look around.

In truth, we all know that the real impetus behind the call for a Constitutional Convention from the tea party side is our anger and frustration that our leaders have not been following the one we have. Does it make sense to anyone – at least anyone with America’s best interests at heart – to tear up the one we have and try to write a “better” one? If by some second miracle we could produce such a work would these people follow THAT one? The problem is not that our Constitution isn’t good enough. It is that we have allowed our leadership to betray us by not obeying it. If we live by the Constitution of the United States of America we will be out of debt and out of trouble. Our rights will be secure and we can return to an America that works.

If, on the other hand, we open the door and let the thieves in we will not be able to limit the damage. Chief Justice Warren Berger wrote, “After a Convention is convened it will be too late to stop the Convention if we don’t like its agenda.” Any such Convention would set its own rules, participants and objectives. The chief players will be Leftists, not real Conservatives. Such “conservatives” as we have today are represented by the likes of John Boehner, Eric Cantor, the Bushes, Karl Rove and Mitch McConnell. Does that foster confidence? Everything would be on the table. You like the Second Amendment? Too bad. The powers that be don’t. You like freedom of the press, speech, internet, religion? Too bad. THEY don’t. You don’t like abortion? Too bad again.

If the people of the Right were in power we would not be hearing about a Constitutional Convention. That is because we would live under the one we have and be guided by it.

Those who support a Constitutional Convention are either part of an effort to destroy everything America stands for or dupes of that contingent. Anyone who loves America will love its Constitution. If we need to amend it we can. If we return to its formulae - guided by the intent as expressed voluminously by the framers – we will have a solvent, strong, proud and just nation worthy of the Founders and of the patriots who have sacrificed and died for her. If you get one of these inane chain letters in YOUR email, think about your fathers, grandfathers, their wives and mothers, and your own brothers, sisters and the men and women defending this nation today. Don’t just delete it, send your own message on to your mailing list to stand firm and protect the Constitution which has guided and preserved America since 1787.

Sally Morris is a member of Americans for Constitutional Government and the Executive Committee of the Valley Tea Party Conservative Coalition. She is indebted to a long standing acquaintance with the writings of Phyllis Schlafly and requests that you go to her website, www.eagleforum.org and read her insightful comments on this and other vital issues.