The Constitutional Minute #14: Is the Constitution a religious document? Did it have a biblical foundation?
The fundamental act of our Founding, (the Declaration of Independence), recognizes the Creator God as the Source of Rights.
It acknowledges that the purpose of civil government is simply to “secure” the Rights God gave us.
The Constitution we subsequently ratified was based on God’s model of civil government as set forth in the Bible. Our US Constitution “secures” our God-given rights by limiting the scope of our federal civil government. Less government means more rights left to the people to exercise. More regulations = less rights exercised.
That is why our Country was the envy of the rest of the world since our founding. For the most part, we followed God’s model for civil government; other countries didn’t.
The blessing which flows from God’s model is limited civil government which is under The Law. That is why our Liberty Bell quotes Lev. 25:10 – “Proclaim LIBERTY throughout all the Land unto all the Inhabitants thereof.”
I encourage you to go online Here or to:
The Biblical Foundation of Our Constitution.
Please print this paper and give to your clergy.
The Constitution is a theological document! Our clergy should know this and be able to defend God’s Word as expressed in our Constitution.
Our churches must declare independence from the federal government who ignores the Constitution and throw off the chains of the 501 (c) (3) tax exemptions!
God requires our clergy to take an active role in protecting the People from a civil government which violates the Higher Law – be it God’s Law or our Constitution which is based on God’s Law.
Bob Hilliard
wethepeoplehandbook@gmail.com
http://www.buildingblocksforliberty.org
A Republic, Not A Democracy-The Dan Smoot Report
The late Dan Smoot, who rose from hobo to FBI agent before it became an arm of the Democrat Party, was one of, if not the first conservative T.V. commentators. His show “The Dan Smoot Report” was watched by millions of Americans from the mid 1950s to the mid 1960s. We uploaded this timeless classic several years ago but over the past month, it has been rediscovered.
Dan was the author of several books including The Invisible Government-one of the first exposes of the Council on Foreign Relations, The Business End of Government, and his autobiography, People Along the Way which we have at our on-line shop:
To Their Demise: The Battle of Trenton by Pastor Garrett Lear
Our late friend and instructor Pastor Garrett Lear gave this presentation on the Battle of Trenton in December of 2013 in North The battle which took place on December 26, 1776, was a total victory for the United States and proved to be a much-needed morale booster for the Continental Army.
The True Meaning of Christmas
(Our late friend Pastor Garrett Lear wrote this message for us in 2015)
I have mostly pleasant memories of CHRISTmas past (I have 67 of them so far though some are in “baby fog”). It is special to me though it may be hard for some to which I am compassionate.
“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men” (Luke 2:14).
The true meaning of Christmas is this: God took on the form of a human to die in our place, paying for our sins, so that humans who receive Him might be forgiven and be with Him forever.
You are free to reject that message and the One who delivered it, but what you are not free to do is to redefine or change the message into something that fits your own beliefs and choices.
As the carol says, “Where meek souls will receive Him still, the dear Christ enters in.”
The world today is a sad place, and those who love freedom sometimes feel we are shoveling against the tide. But for just a moment, at this time of year, we should pause and remember an event that occurred about 2,000 years ago in the Middle East.
The world then was a far worse place, yet a light seared through the darkness. A baby was born in a cave. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. The baby came into the world so that we might have life and live it abundantly. The baby came into the world so that we would be set free from our own sins, free from the temptations of the world and free from the governments that seek to control us.
The baby was the Son of God and the Prince of Peace and the Savior of the world. This week we celebrate His birthday.
Merry CHRISTmas.
Camp Constitution wishes our friends a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Blessed New Year. I would like to share my favorite Christmas Hymn performed by Robert Goulet and Carol Lawrence
Angels We Have Heard on High – YouTube
Hal Shurtleff, Director
Camp Constitution
The Weekly Sam: Alpha-Phonics Finds Huge Success in Zimbabwe School
Camp Constitution houses the Sam Blumenfeld Archives https://campconstitution.net/sam-blumenfeld-archive/ which consists of the work of the late homeschool pioneer, author and lecturer Sam Blumenfeld. Sam passed in June of 2015 and willed most of his papers, books, and recordings to me. Thanks to Camp Constitution’s newspaper editor Mark Affleck and our webmaster Eric Conover, the archive was created. It contains PDF versions of some of his books, articles, newsletters, manuscripts, and correspondence. It also has many of his lectures and interviews in audio and video format. Since its inception in 2015, the archive has received millions of views from people all over the world-mainly in the United States. Thousands of people have downloaded Sam’s Alpha-Phonics. It consists of 128 reading lessons. The archive also has an on-line version of Alpha-Phonics with all lessons in audio and video format. It was our good friend Bill McNally. founder of the Samuel L. Blumenfeld Literacy Foundation http://alpha-phonics.weebly.com/ that brought Sam into the Windham, NH Cable TV station in 2012 and taped Sam teaching the lessons.
We occasionally receive testimonials, and last year, we received one from Mr. Godknows Matizarofa ,the founder of Nottingham Junior School, a private Christian school in Harare, Zimbabwe. Mr. Matizirofa was looking for a reading program that would replace his school’s look-say which was not producing good readers. Godknows found our archive, printed out pages of Alpha-Phonics and began using it in his school. He calls it “The Blumenfeld Approach.” Within a short time, he saw excellent results and contacted us to request hardcopies of the workbook. We were more than happy to make the donation to his school. Last week, we had the opportunity to interview Godknows on our weekly program “The Camp Constitution Report” which airs on Catching Fire News. https://catchingfire.news/2022/12/19/alpha-phonics-finds-huge-success-in-zimbabwe-school/
Godknows pointed out something which we never considered: Alpha-Phonics is in American English. I joked that his students may end up with Brooklyn accents. Godknows has had success introducing “The Blumenfeld Approach” to government schools in Harare. Phonics has been soundly rejected in American government schools which led Sam to conclude that U.S. government schools do not want highly literate students; they want dumbed-down students who will embrace an atheist and socialist worldview.
Camp Constitution is planning on running some ads to promote the Blumenfeld Archives. Readers who would like to help may make a donation either through our PayPal account accessed from our website’s homepage http://www.campconstitution.org or by sending a check payable to Camp Constitution to our camp manager Mr. Charles Everett 5945 Quail Hollow Road, Unit D
Charlotte, NC 28210-5028
The 249th Anniversary of the Boston Tea Party
Samuel Adams led an effort for weeks to negotiate a resolution to the Bostonian’s desire to not unload, not tax and not put for sale, the East India Company monopolized tea sitting in Boston Harbor since late November, 1773, but to no avail.
December 15, Resolves were passed by the Assoc of the Sons of Liberty in New York against the trading and selling of tea [East India Co. monopoly].
— DVM III
Boston, Massachusetts
The day was rainy and chilly as most Massachusetts days in mid-December. The Assembly at the Old South Meeting House was held at 9AM and here the letters from Lexington and Plymouth were read to the people. Again, each community affirming commitment to the cause and will give their lives to the endeavor. The meeting was adjourned and scheduled to reconvene at 3PM. The afternoon meeting was to again have an inquest as to why the tea remained in the harbor. This information was to be gone over again for the benefit of the newly arrived hundreds from the out-lying communities, freshly arrived. The meeting last for two hours and instructed that the ship owners are to once again have an interview with (Acting) Governor for his permission to sail without unloading the tea consignments. The meeting adjourned until 6PM at which time an answer should be presented.
At 6PM, the multitude of citizens arranged themselves within the pews and gallery of Old South. Nothing yet from the ship owners or the Governor, but none was expected. One citizen, Josiah Quincy (member of the Committee of Correspondence) spoken of the peoples resolve and popular acclamations of willing to gives our lives. Others gave voice in similar tones to the crowd as all waited for the final answer from Governor Hutchinson.
Finally, the message arrives around 7PM, that there shall be no passes. Samuel Adams stands and says the words “This meeting can do nothing more to save the country,” In the back of the room and outside in the street, the Sons of Liberty street gang called the “Mohawks”, react to that remark by moving swiftly to Griffins wharf and board the three tea ships Dartmouth, Eleanor and Beaver.
The Mohawk’s a group of a few dozen men, clothed to resemble Indians, extracted the tea from the cargo holds and disperse the leaves into the waters of the harbour. When completed, the ships were cleaned of debris and with no causalities.
“Some interesting extra facts
Late Thursday the 16, December 1773, was cold (low 35 degrees and rainy). The estimates of over 200 men are reported as having been involved. A list of 116 men is recorded with the added fact many not listed were there. The sheer weight of the containers indicates the time involved would be more than two hours as reported. Later, a letter from Dr. Warren to a friend also says the same and estimates the time rage to be more of 4 hours or 7 to 11PM but more likely nearer 8 to mid-night.
Each full container had a weight of 400 pounds, which is a total of all three ships at about 90,000 lbs. (45 tons) of tea, was thrown overboard. The destroyed tea was worth an estimated £10,000. The timing was more based on the local authority’s response then given credit. The British Army was inside Castle William and/or on Governors Island. There was no way the local guards were going to get involved with a few thousand irate Bostonians. They learned that lesson in 1771. So, they slowly rowed to the Island and give alarm. Mustering troops (late evening) and embark them and row them (in force) to the wharf then disembark. Muster into ranks and march over to the area. That would take four to five hours. The riot was over and the insurgents gone. No Loyalist could identify anyone as the “Mohawks” who had smudged their faces in charcoal.
“Next: Interesting point to the story is the lack of damage to property. All three ships were owned by Boston merchants and Lodge Brothers of the Saint Andrew Freemasons or the St Johns. In fact, Rotch (the owner of the Dartmouth) was the Grand Master of St. John’s. Each owner easily could be considered part of the over-all scheme of things. They knew from the beginning that once the ships docked, they were bound by law to remain until said cargo was unloaded, i.e. 20 days. Everything was very convenient.”
“Note: The incident was only referred to as the destruction of the tea at Boston. The earliest newspaper reference to the “Boston Tea Party” doesn’t appear until 1826. In the 1830s, two book; “Retrospect of the Boston Tea-Party” by G.R.T. Hewes and “Traits of the Tea Party” also by G.R.T. Hewes coined the express and is improperly used today.
https://archive.org/details/retrospectofbos00hawk
https://archive.org/details/traitsteapartyb00thatgoog
“Sam Adams: Pioneer in Propaganda” by John Miller
“Samuel Adams: A Life” by Ira Stoll
“Life and Times of Joseph Warren” by Richard Frothingham
“Defiance of the Patriots: The Boston Tea Party” by Benjamin Carp
The Boston Tea Party 1773” by Benjamin Labaree
“Peter Oliver’s Origin & Progress of the American Rebellion” edited D. Adair & J.A. Schutz
(The Bost
(The above article was originally published Dec 16, 2014) Below is a reenactment of the event that Camp Constitution Media videotaped in 2018:
The Bill of Rights: On the Ropes But Not Yet Counted Out
Today–December 15 marks the 231st anniversary of the ratification of the first 10 Amendments of the U.S. Constitution known as the The Bill of Rights. Sadly, the majority of Americans have little or no knowledge these amendments, and that is the main reason they are “on the ropes.” In the mid-1980s a survey discovered that only one in a thousand could name the five rights protected in the 1st Amendment.
However, thanks to some recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions made this year including “Shurtleff v Boston,” “Kennedy v. Bremerton School District,” “New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, INC., et al. v. Bruen,” and the repeal of “Roe v Wade,” the Bill of Rights has made a comeback.
But we still have at least two years of The Biden Administration which has, with the complicity and support of the corporate media, made violating the Bill of Rights a priority. It has weaponized the Department of Justice and its Federal Bureau of Investigation. Let us site just a few examples:
Last fall, we learned that parents who dare speak out against the racial hatred and moral degeneracy being taught to students in government schools are being targeted. The National School Boards Association demanded that the Biden Administration go after parents who speak out at school board meeting, and Attorney General Merrick Garland, sent a memo to the FBI warning about violence against school board members.
The Biden Administration created a “Disinformation Agency” to be led by far-leftist Nina Jankowicz. Public outcry from this blatant attempt to form this Orwellian “Ministry of Truth” forced the Biden Admin to put it agency on hold. Ms. Janowitz is now a foreign agent working for England’s Ministry of Truth.
The U.S. Justice Department is still holding some of those arrested in the wake of the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot without charging them of a crime. We are getting reports of ill treatment of these prisoner including beatings, and denial of medical treatment. So much for speedy trials guaranteed in the Sixth Amendment.
In the early morning hours, the FBI raided the Tennessee home of Paul Vaughn, his wife and eleven children His crime? Praying and singing hymns in front of an abortion mill. He had a shoving incident in early 2021 where no changes were filed by local police. He is facing the possibility of eleven years in prison. The FBI arrested many other Pro-lifers including an 87-year-old woman.
The Biden Administration raided the Mar o Lago home of Donald Trump, and the homes of a number of Trump associates including Rudy Giuliani, Roger Stone, and Peter Navarro. Mr. Navarro, who is 73 years old, was arrested at the airport, and placed in leg irons. He lives across the street from the FBI’s D.C Headquarters. An agent could have simply walked across the street and served a warrant. The FBI raided Stone in the middle of the night with CNN cameras standing by.
And, thanks to Elon Musk, we learned that the FBI worked with social media outlets to suppress information from Hunter Biden’s laptop with information that may have made an impact on the 2020 election.
Background to the Bill of Rights:
On September 25, 1789, Congress sent twelve proposed amendments to the states for ratification. Two of the amendments were rejected. One of them concerning congressional pay raise, was ratified in in 1992 making it the 27th Amendment. On December 15, 1791, Virginia became the ninth state to ratify making them part of the U.S. Constitution The reason for the Bill of Rights are spelled out in the little-known Preamble to the Bill of Rights:
Congress of the United States
begun and held at the City of New-York, on
Wednesday the fourth of March, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-nine.
THE Conventions of a number of the States, having at the time of their adopting the Constitution, expressed a desire, in order to prevent misconstruction or abuse of its powers, that further declaratory and restrictive clauses should be added: And as extending the ground of public confidence in the Government, will best ensure the beneficent ends of its institution.
RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Legislatures of the several States, as amendments to the Constitution of the United States, all, or any of which Articles, when ratified by three fourths of the said Legislatures, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz.
ARTICLES in addition to, and Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, proposed by Congress, and ratified by the Legislatures of the several States, pursuant to the fifth Article of the original Constitution.
Here are the five rights protected in the 1st Amendment:
. 1, Free Exercise of Religion
2, Freedom of Speech
3, Freedom of the Press
4, Freedom to Peaceably Assemble
5, Freedom to Petition the Government
for a redress of grievances
Since Camp Constitution’s inception in 2009, we have distributed over 20,000 pocket copies of the U.S. Constitution, hosted numerous classes, presentations, and outreach events about the U.S. Constitution. Many of those classes and presentations have been videotaped, and made available on our YouTube, and Rumble channels. Our instructors include Pastor David Whitney, Mrs. Kris Anne, Hall, Luke Boyce— “Kid Constitution,” Actress Janine Turner of Constituting America, Tom DeWeese of the American Policy Center, Catherine White of the Constitution Decoded, Pastor Garrett Lear, and yours truly.
Since I have been writing this column, I have offered readers free pocket copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence. While the offer still stands, let me offer extra copies to educators and local civic organizations. If interested, e-mail me your mailing address campconstitution1@aol.com
The Bill of Rights has survived a civil war, two world wars, and abuses by all three branches of the U.S. government. I believe that it will survive this current administration. Happy Birthday Bill of Rights
Overturning Obergefell Could Be on the Horizon
While members of the Left are celebrating another assault on morality and freedom in the United States, it may very well lead to the overturn the Obergefell decision. This is a press release from our friend at Liberty Counsel:
In his dissent, Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “Today, however, the Court takes the extraordinary step of ordering every State to license and recognize same-sex marriage. Many people will rejoice at this decision, and I begrudge none their celebration. But for those who believe in a government of laws, not of men, the majority’s approach is deeply disheartening…. Five lawyers have closed the debate and enacted their own vision of marriage as a matter of constitutional law.”
“The majority’s decision is an act of will, not legal judgment. The right it announces has no basis in the Constitution or this Court’s precedent. The majority expressly disclaims judicial ‘caution’ and omits even a pretense of humility, openly relying on its desire to remake society according to its own ‘new insight’ into the ‘nature of injustice.’ As a result, the Court invalidates the marriage laws of more than half the States and orders the transformation of a social institution that has formed the basis of human society for millennia, for the Kalahari Bushmen and the Han Chinese, the Carthaginians and the Aztecs. Just who do we think we are?”
The RFMA cannot define marriage for the states. In 2013, the Supreme Court in United States v. Windsor, struck down part of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) that defined marriage for ALL the states as the union of one man and one woman. The Court noted that domestic relations and the definition of marriage is “an area that has long been regarded as a virtually exclusive province of the States.” In other words, the states, not the federal government, have the right to regulate marriage.
The second part of DOMA said that one state did not have to recognize same-sex marriage of another state. This is the provision that the Respect for Marriage Act repealed, and now it requires one state to recognize the same-sex marriage of another state.
Until now, the biggest obstacle to overturning Obergefell was based on those who relied on the flawed decision to obtain a marriage license. What happens to these licenses? The consequence of overturning Obergefell is now off the table and is no longer a policy reason for upholding the opinion. In other words, it is easy to attack Obergefell on the merits but the consequence of overturning it could, until now, result in chaos. The merits argument of why Obergefell should be overturned is easy. The policy argument that doing so would cause a huge disruption has always been the most difficult to overcome – until now.
As a result of RFMA, when Obergefell is overturned, those who obtained licenses will be “grandfathered” in and the licenses will remain valid. However, like abortion, the Supreme Court will overturn Obergefell and states will then be free to return to their laws prior to 2015 where they defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman.
Liberty Counsel’s case involving Kim Davis may be the vehicle to help overturn Obergefell. This case is working its way back to the Supreme Court where one of the arguments will be that Obergefell was wrongly decided. Justices Thomas and Alito have already invited future challenges to the 2015 Obergefell marriage case since the decision was never constitutional.
Justice Thomas previously wrote, “Davis found herself with a choice between her religious beliefs and her job.” He continued, “Davis may have been one of the first victims of this Court’s cavalier treatment of religion in its Obergefell decision, but she will not be the last.” Justice Thomas said “the Court has created a problem that only it can fix. Until then, Obergefell will continue to have ‘ruinous consequences for religious liberty.’”
The drafters and supporters of RFMA did not intend for the consequence that is forthcoming. But it will come. Like Roe, the days of Obergefell are numbered.
Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, “While I am disappointed that the ‘Respect for Marriage Act’ passed both houses of Congress, the bill will be the undoing of the Supreme Court’s 2015 same-sex marriage opinion in Obergefell v. Hodges. The advocates of RFMA may celebrate today, but that celebration will not last. Lawmakers have unwittingly created the perfect scenario to overturn the unconstitutional Obergefell decision.”
Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost.
The Constitutional Minute #13: What is to be considered to be the Law of the Land?
If the Supreme Court decides a case, is it to be considered the “Law of the Land”? We hear this all the time.
Nope! Read on.
Article VI, clause 2 of our Constitution (below) addresses this.
“This Constitution, and the laws of the United States which shall be made in pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made under the authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; and the judges in every state shall be bound thereby, anything in the Constitution or laws of any State to the contrary notwithstanding.”
So!! Only those laws and treaties that are in accordance with – in pursuance of – our Constitution are to be considered “supreme”!!.
The second clause (above) defines the “supreme Law of the Land” as the (1) Constitution, (2) acts of Congress authorized by the Constitution, and (3) Treaties which are authorized by the Constitution.
Supreme Court opinions aren’t included! The Supreme Court is not superior to the Constitution, contrary to what we are told.
So! When the Supreme Court decides cases contrary (NOT pursuant) to the Constitution, they are guilty of usurpation of power, and thus vulnerable to impeachment!
Does Roe versus Wade come to mind?
For more study, go here: https://publiushuldah.wordpress.com/2018/11/25/why-supreme-court-opinions-are-not-the-law-of-the-land-and-how-to-put-federal-judges-in-their-place/
Bob Hilliard
wethepeoplehandbook@gmail.com
www.buildingblocksforliberty.org
Bluffing Their Way to an Art. V Convention Part 2: The Best PR Money Can Buy
In Part 1, we saw that ever since 1907, 2/3 or more of the States have had at least one active application on record asking Congress to call a convention under Art. V. And if Congress is hoodwinked into validating all non-rescinded applications by passing H.R.8419 or its 2023 counterpart,[1] Congress will likely trigger the first constitutional convention since 1787.
So why wasn’t Congress deceived into calling a convention 50 or 100 years ago? Perhaps it’s because the PR industry hadn’t come of age yet! To justify a “call,” Congress, whose priority is getting re-elected, would require considerable constituent pressure—or the appearance of such—before casting a vote that would risk our Constitution.
Enter Mark Meckler, President of the Convention of States (COS), who has been waging a PR war with millions of dollars in dark money for almost a decade. COS is creating the impression that Americans are demanding a “convention of states” under Article V, while most Americans have no clue what an Article V Convention (A5C) is.
“Grassroots”—From the Top Down?!
In 2011—while Meckler was still with the Tea Party and just getting involved in the convention deception, he joined Eric O’Keefe’s John Hancock Committee of the States (JHCOS) as a Director and President. O’Keefe is known as the front man for the Koch brothers’ money. He is also Chairman of the Board and co-founder of Meckler’s Citizens for Self-Governance (CSG)—parent to COS.
In its 2011 IRS filing signed by Meckler, JHCOS reported over $1.8 million in anonymous contributions (pg. 1), and almost one million dollars in expenses to public relations & lobbying firms (pg. 8).[2] At least 38% of the contributions can be traced to Donors Trust, the “dark money ATM” of the Right.
Hmmm—right out of the gate, almost $2 Million in seed money; pricey PR and lobbying firms; and $180,000 per year for Meckler by 2013, which appears to have started in mid-2012—well before Meckler introduced his first A5C application. Moreover, two members of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR)[3]—Robert P. George and C. Boyden Gray—have been on Meckler’s Legal Board of Reference since its inception in 2014. That isn’t exactly how a grassroots organization gets started!
An “Army of 5 Million”
Petitions. A sophisticated computer has been spinning numbers representing alleged signers of COS petitions for years. But when Meckler was confronted with fake signatures in Idaho a few years back, he admitted (@ 1:28:00) that he can’t guarantee who signed, whether they remember that they signed, or whether they changed their mind since they “signed.” Indeed, it’s a mystery why half of Meckler’s “army” hasn’t bothered to sign at all![4]
Nevertheless, Meckler gets away with claiming he has “an army of 5 million” supporters nationwide and boasting about tens of thousands of supporters at each Legislature he visits. That’s twice the size of China’s army! And Meckler doesn’t bother to prove his numbers; nor is he usually questioned about them publicly.
Polls. COS commissions polls which proponents claim show bipartisan support for a “convention of states”—a complicated, little-understood issue—from data collected in a one- to three-minute robo-call, text, or phone survey. But COS polls don’t measure public opinion. COS commissions “push polls” to sway public opinion. PR firms and private pollsters design polls to get the response their clients pay for. The result is often published as News. Outcomes are manipulated by the questions asked.
For years, COS has routinely released official-looking poll results showing close to 2/3 support or more from voters responding to trick questions. Yet contrary to being a popular issue, A5C legislation is a hot potato, drawing bipartisan opposition nationwide from grassroots constituents defending the Constitution. To pass these controversial applications, it often takes years of false narratives, wining & dining, pressure from leadership, backroom deals, empty promises, threats, stifling the opposition, dirty tricks,[5] smear tactics, contributions, wearing down legislators, and more.[6]
Meckler simulates pressure from below by touting his “army” and convincing Republican legislators that they’re putting their jobs on the line, should they oppose his “grassroots” legislation. In addition, pressure from above, exerted by lobbyists and leadership, can be intense—including threats of running primary opponents against incumbent holdouts. This leaves too many Republicans shaking in their boots with visions of Meckler’s army knocking on doors to defeat them at the next election.
Name-dropping. For lack of a sound argument, Meckler resorts to reckless name-dropping when he’s among Republicans:[7]
“And this is an irrefutable fact. In the United States of America today, every single nationally-known conservative, law professor, talker, politician, who has taken a position–nationally known–on the convention of states is in favor. There are no exceptions. Rush Limbaugh, God rest his soul, Levin, Hannity, Beck [since reversed], Shapiro, all the professors I’ve named on our legal advisory board; there are NO exceptions…” —Meckler, Roundtable discussion, Harrisburg, PA Nov. 8, 2021
COS has courted big name endorsements since 2014, and Meckler has admitted he’s willing to pay for them. In this 30-second clip from 2019, Meckler tells his fans that he tried unsuccessfully to get Rush’s endorsement, knowing it would have cost $2.25 million just to start negotiations!
Apparently, Meckler has managed to convince—or buy—a few dozen well-known politicians, pundits, and public figures. And we don’t know if COS endorsements are a result of direct payments, payroll, paid advertising, or something else, because COS expenses are lumped together on financials in broad reporting categories like “advertising and promotion” and “fees for services,” with most recipients anonymous.[8]
Still, from the little COS must disclose, we know that COS Action (COSA) bankrolled former US Senator Tom Coburn (turned COS lobbyist) to the tune of $240,000 annually for a combined total of almost one million dollars in 2016, 2017, 2018, & 2019. The 2017 link also shows former US Senator and COS endorser Jim DeMint as a paid COS lobbyist, raking in $140,000. Former US Senator Rick Santorum, who replaced Coburn, admits he was formerly opposed to an A5C. Not surprisingly, Santorum’s appearance as an endorser on the COS website coincided with his being added to Meckler’s 2021 payroll.
Posthumous Endorsements. Meckler apparently conjured up Justice Antonin Scalia’s support after Scalia’s death. Scalia’s opposition to a constitutional convention was a matter of public record from a 2014 interview. But Justice Scalia’s body had scarcely gone cold when Meckler broadcast that Scalia supported an Article V Convention, based on law professor Scalia’s published comments from 1979. That was seven years before Justice Scalia’s 30-year tenure on the bench, during which he changed his mind. Neither Rush’s nor Scalia’s support for an A5C appeared on COS’s endorsement page while they were around to speak for themselves.
Smoke and Mirrors
As it turns out, the “grassroots momentum” behind COS is smoke and mirrors. The total number of States with non-rescinded applications on record today, is the same as the 2012 total (39). So, if we were to judge by the validation scheme built into H.R.8419, COS has made no progress in the past decade! That’s because as many states rescinded their applications as passed new applications since 2012.
Nevertheless, the deceptive PR campaign and misleading validation schemes[9] complement each other. Without the PR campaign, the validation schemes lack the appearance of public support. And without the validation schemes, the PR campaign would have no quick path to victory. The con-con lobby, backed by both the globalist Right and Left, is hoping to turn their bluff into a self-fulfilling prophecy. And they need only one convention to impose their preferred Form of Government.
But bluffing works only by deceiving the uninformed. Please share this article and PART 1 with your State Legislators and members of Congress.
[1] The 2023 bill# will change, but the content will probably remain the same.
[2] Later Forms 990 show JHCOS DBA (doing business as) CSG with the same tax ID#.
[3] CFR sponsored “Building a North American Community,” which promotes integrating Canada, the US, & Mexico politically and militarily. To move the US into the North American Union, they need a new constitution.
[4] At this writing, Meckler claims an “army” of 5 million while his computer shows 2.4 million “signatures.”
[5] See e.g., “How the ‘COS’ Cheated Utah.”
[6] E.g., after 7 years of trying, NE passed the COS application in 2022 by suspending a Senate rule and trading votes: “I’ll vote for your bad legislation, if you’ll vote for mine.”
[7] Among Democrats, he’s bipartisan!
[8] Form 990 requires that only the 5 highest-paid independent contractors receiving over $100,000 be reported.
Bio: Judi Caler is a citizen activist working to defend our Constitution from those who would risk it at an Article V constitutional convention. She serves as Article V Issues Director for Eagle Forum of California.