14th Amendment clear to me

14th Amendment clear to me

I find it absolutely fascinating that people are seriously considering whether the former president has disqualified himself from the presidency under the 14th Amendment. Talk about drama!

Now, let’s take a closer look at Article 3 of the 14th Amendment. It clearly states that anyone who has previously taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States and then engaged in insurrection or rebellion against it, is disqualified from holding any office under the United States. Oh, and let’s not forget about providing “aid or comfort” to the enemies of the United States. That’s a big no-no.

So, when the former president* released that video on January 6, telling the goon squads to go home, he was basically offering them a warm and cozy embrace of comfort. Not exactly the kind of behavior that inspires confidence in his ability to lead.

But here’s the kicker: the 14th Amendment has always been a source of confusion and controversy. People have been bending its words to fit their own agendas since the day it was passed. It’s like that one friend who always twists your words to get what they want. Sneaky, right?

Just think about it. The whole idea of disqualifying a former president* under the 14th Amendment is enough to make our current political class break out in a cold sweat. They’ve become masters at ignoring or distorting plain text, like it’s some kind of Olympic sport. And we all know how much politicians love their shiny gold medals.

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But hold on, folks! In a future issue of the University of Pennsylvania Law Review, two conservative constitutional scholars, William Baude and Michael Stokes Paulsen, dropped a bombshell. They not only validated the relevance of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, but demanded its enforcement without hesitation. Talk about stirring the pot!

According to Baude and Paulsen, Section 3 is not some outdated relic gathering dust. It’s an active, self-executing command that even trumps earlier constitutional provisions. It covers a wide range of conduct that attacks the authority of the United States, and it applies to former oath-swearing officeholders turned insurrectionists or aiders and comforters of insurrection or rebellion. It’s like the ultimate “you’ve been caught!” clause.

And guess what? Everyone who has the power to judge someone’s eligibility for office has a duty to faithfully apply Section 3. That’s right, duty calls, my friends! It’s not like we can just ignore our responsibilities and hope someone else will step up. The Constitution is not an a la carte menu, and Section 3 is definitely not an optional side dish.

Lawrence Tribe and Michael Luttig took Baude and Paulsen’s arguments even further in The Atlantic. They made it crystal clear that disqualifying the former president* under the 14th Amendment is not just a suggestion, it’s a constitutional demand on every single American citizen. And we’re not talking about a lengthy legal process here. Nope, the provisions of the 14th Amendment work their magic automatically, no strings attached.

But let’s face it, the 14th Amendment has seen its fair share of turmoil throughout history. It’s like a teenager trying to find their identity in a world that’s constantly changing. We’ve twisted its words, misinterpreted its intentions, and sometimes completely forgotten its significance. It’s time for us to remember and appreciate the values it brings to our constitutional table.

In the words of historian and constitutional scholar Garrett Epps, “More troubling is the failure of memory, the inability of contemporary Americans to grasp that their Constitution was changed by the second Founders, that their 18th-century charter of limited government now contains the nineteenth-century values of equality, openness, and rule of law for all.”

So, my fellow citizens, it’s time to step up and embrace the true spirit of the 14th Amendment. Let’s hold those who betray their oaths to the Constitution accountable, whether they wield weapons or attempt to overturn elections through bloodless coups. Because if we don’t, who will?

Let’s make sure we keep our Constitution intact, like a prized possession that we cherish and protect. And remember, when it comes to the 14th Amendment, we’re all in this together.