Qualifications:
Meaning of 'High Crimes and Misdemeanors' by Jon Roland, Constitution Society
I post this because in the end this is what matters. This is an assertion of the definition of high Crimes and Misdemeanors. Most of it is concerned with one basic thing: Lying. When you take office for the President of the United States of America, you make a simple statement. Not long, not very fancy, but unequivocal. In doing so you're agreeing to do that which the Constitution demands of you, and to be forthright with the people for whom you are doing it. You are under oath.
Lets throw everything out for a second. All the hype about Obama. All the drooling over Palin. The War record of McCain, and Biden's foreign experience. Let us toss out everything about them right now that we think we know that makes them "qualified". Why? Because in the end only one thing really matters... Will you tell us the truth? Will you abide by your oath, uphold it dutifully and faithfully to the best of your ability.
This is a matter of character, regardless of political persuasion. This is a matter on which we, the voters, must ask: Who has been honest with us? Who is aspiring to keep this oath now? Proving that they are in fact worthy of taking the real oath in 4 months.
All politicians lie. All people lie. It's a fact of humanity. But some do it more than others, and some try and justify it to both themselves and others as being necessary. I ask you now to consider something with me, who in recent weeks has been lying the most? Who has gone against that very core principle of what we are asking them to do in representing us? No records, just the truth.
Being wrong isn't a crime. Committing an error can be grievous, but usually it can be rectified. But lying is deliberate and intentional. In so many words it sums up dishonesty, immorality, unethical, and improper behavior of someone who seeks jobs of prestige. We have laws that will put most of us, including the president, in jail for failing this sacred trust. So why aren't we picking the person who has been the most honest with us?
I don't mean honest in the sense that we feel empathy. I mean honest in the sense of real, verifiable truths. I charge you now to do your fact checking, on all the candidates, and find out who has spent the better part of the last two weeks lying. The media, bless their crooked wayward little souls, have even noticed it for a change. Maybe you should start reminding people of this.
To be president, neither left or right, neither liberal nor conservative, but Honesty to the American People.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
(Cross posted from my private journal.)
I post this because in the end this is what matters. This is an assertion of the definition of high Crimes and Misdemeanors. Most of it is concerned with one basic thing: Lying. When you take office for the President of the United States of America, you make a simple statement. Not long, not very fancy, but unequivocal. In doing so you're agreeing to do that which the Constitution demands of you, and to be forthright with the people for whom you are doing it. You are under oath.
Lets throw everything out for a second. All the hype about Obama. All the drooling over Palin. The War record of McCain, and Biden's foreign experience. Let us toss out everything about them right now that we think we know that makes them "qualified". Why? Because in the end only one thing really matters... Will you tell us the truth? Will you abide by your oath, uphold it dutifully and faithfully to the best of your ability.
This is a matter of character, regardless of political persuasion. This is a matter on which we, the voters, must ask: Who has been honest with us? Who is aspiring to keep this oath now? Proving that they are in fact worthy of taking the real oath in 4 months.
All politicians lie. All people lie. It's a fact of humanity. But some do it more than others, and some try and justify it to both themselves and others as being necessary. I ask you now to consider something with me, who in recent weeks has been lying the most? Who has gone against that very core principle of what we are asking them to do in representing us? No records, just the truth.
Being wrong isn't a crime. Committing an error can be grievous, but usually it can be rectified. But lying is deliberate and intentional. In so many words it sums up dishonesty, immorality, unethical, and improper behavior of someone who seeks jobs of prestige. We have laws that will put most of us, including the president, in jail for failing this sacred trust. So why aren't we picking the person who has been the most honest with us?
I don't mean honest in the sense that we feel empathy. I mean honest in the sense of real, verifiable truths. I charge you now to do your fact checking, on all the candidates, and find out who has spent the better part of the last two weeks lying. The media, bless their crooked wayward little souls, have even noticed it for a change. Maybe you should start reminding people of this.
To be president, neither left or right, neither liberal nor conservative, but Honesty to the American People.
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
(Cross posted from my private journal.)