Columnist George Will, a pundit from the swamps of conservatism, has delivered readers a little ditty on Sunday. In eleven paragraphs, he delivers us with an interesting discussion about the 17th amendment to the Constitution from a right-wing populist perspective. Taking ownership of political correctness on the issue, he quickly leaps across his chasm of logic and lands on campaign finance reform claiming it an affront to the right of free speech.
Somehow, I am reminded of former President Gerald Ford’s infamous wave to the crowd from Air Force One wherein he proceeds to fall down the stairs from the plane. That said, let’s take a moment to look at George Will’s recent diatribe and its collapse into blather.
For those of you unfamiliar with the 17th amendment, it speaks to the executive authority of each state to fill vacancies for U.S. Senate seats. Specifically, the amendment allows governors to appoint replacements to vacant seats. Mr. Will’s opening for his seemingly high handed attack comes from a recent attempt by Senator Russ Feingold to change the 17th amendment of the Constitution by requiring that states elect replacement senators by a vote of the people. Feingold’s proposal comes on the heels of the Rod Blagojevich debacle where the then Illinois governor sought to sell the vacant Obama Senate seat.
While I question Senator Feingold’s logic in this effort, given the far more pressing matters facing Congress today, I get his desire to tidy up the debacle created by the Blagojevich scandal. Somehow though, I don’t see this effort getting too far down the political pipeline but no matter.
Embracing the states rights theme that characterizes the right wing ideology of today, George educates us about the Federalism versus states rights debate of yore. Once firmly embracing the American flag via his intellectual prowess, George makes a fantastical leap only a Bush propagandist could fully appreciate: upending the Constitution by allowing citizens to elect replacement senators is part of the grand conspiracy that includes efforts to deny political donors their free speech rights through campaign finance reforms. Remember, Senator Feingold, along with Senator John McCain, sponsored the McCain Feingold Act, which altered the landscape for campaign finance by limiting political contributions on the federal level.
So let me get this right George. The Constitution as you interpret it is designed to limit the rights of Americans to freely elect their senators – a sacrosanct right you feel is properly held by state governors: Check. And the Constitution is also crafted to protect the wealthiest and most powerful from laws designed to limit their influence over the election of political candidates. Check.
Wow.
Is it just me or does anybody else find it remarkable that right wing intellectuals engaged in American political discourse today still buy into the notion that by calling a pig a prom queen they have a pretty date to the school dance? It seems that Mr. Will has not overcome this failing.
Stumble It!
{ 0 comments… add one now }