Bring 'the real facts' to the American public

Abraham Lincoln said, "I am a firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts."

Perhaps the greatest problem facing President Obama and the Democrats is that they have not be able to connect voters in such a way as to be able "to bring them the real facts".

The conservative Republicans, and in particular, the Tea Party, are extremely effective in their ability to deliver messages that resonate with their core group of supporters and those supporters consistently vote. They liken themselves to the group who fought and won independence from England. But their rhetoric is much closer to the political leaders in the Southern States in the years leading up to the Civil War.

Those men, primarily slave-holding plantation owners looking to not just maintain the "status-quo", but increase their own personal wealth at the direct expense of others, were able to convince poor white non-slaveholders that fighting for and maintaining slavery was beneficial for all whites, even thought that was certainly not true. They were also able to convince their fellow citizens that the Federal Government was intent upon not only usurping States' rights, but individual right as well.

Conservative Republicans and the Tea Party have convinced their supporters that any programs put forth by President Obama and/or the Democrats will do more harm than good and take away State and individual rights. Sadly, some of their most ardent supporters are not the wealthiest nor in the upper classes. The very programs they have been told to oppose are the very programs which they need now or may need one day such as healthcare insurance, Social Security and Medicaid.

A majority of Americans, including members of the NRA, believe that the country needs more restrictions on gun ownership, yet the GOP, Tea Party and NRA are fighting against any regulations and because some Democrats fear losing their seats in Congress, they will not vote for any regulations.  But clearly regulations are needed, especially a ban on assault-style weapons and clips that hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

We must, like Lincoln, reach out to all people, regardless of political beliefs and find the way "to bring them the real facts."

Michele Bachmann, the Founding Fathers and slavery

When U.S. Representative Michele Bachmann stated that "the Founding Fathers worked tirelessly to end slavery."  She was wrong.  Slavery did not end until the Civil War and none of the Founding Fathers were alive at the start of the Civil War.  While James Madison and George Washington and a few others left instructions in their wills to free their slaves, they did not work for emancipation.

Rather, the Founding Fathers worked tirelessly to write a constitution, create a new form of government and get the Constitution ratified.  They made comprises and one of those compromises was on the issue of slavery.  While some delegates in the northern colonies wanted slavery abolished, they knew that no constitution which prohibited owning slaves would ever get support from the delegates from the southern colonies.

While Rep. Bachmann made this error in a speech over a year ago, the significance, even now, is that she does not seem to have a basic knowledge of the early history of the United States.  This is troubling because there are people who rely on her for information.  Although members of Congress need not be experts in U. S. History and/or the Constitution/Bill of Rights, they must be certain their facts are correct.

Should United States Senators and Representatives understand the United States Bill of Rights and Constitution

Thursday, March 14 2013, Democratic Senator Dianne Feinstein from California and freshman Republican Senator Ted Cruz from Texas debated the Second Amendment.  Senator Cruz attempted to argue that any restrictions on gun ownership would be unconstitutional by lecturing Senator Feinstein on the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.  Unfortunately, he does not have the knowledge to teach the Senator or anyone else about either of these documents.  He wanted to know if Senator Feinstein would approve any attempt to place restrictions on rights guaranteed by the First Amendment.  Apparently,  the Senator from Texas is not aware that there are certain restrictions on freedom of speech and freedom of the press.  The example used most often to illustrate restrictions on free speech is "You can't yell 'FIRE' in a crowded place when there is no fire." Newspapers and magazines are subject to charges of libel and/or slander if they print stories which are completely false.  These are basic examples that Senator Cruz should have known.

Unfortunately, Senator Cruz is not alone in lacking understanding of the Bill of Rights and/or the Constitution.  There are other members of Congress who also do not have a working knowledge of these documents.  In October 2010, Representative Michele Bachmann said she would hold Constitution classes beginning in 2011 taught by ultra conservatives.  She, her fellow members of Congress and all the people they represent would have been better served if they were taught by professors and/or teachers who are experts in their fields.  While every Representative and Senator does not need to be an expert in Constitutional History and/or Constitutional Law, shouldn't they at least have a basic understanding of the document?  But then again, shouldn't the people who elect them?