Meet Cenk Uygur host of the Young Turks which was named after a group of Muslims who committed genocide against the Christian Armenians from 1915-1923 where 600,000 to 1.5 million souls including women and children were murdered. Uygur has denied that the Armenian Holocaust happened. He was born in Istanbul, Turkey in 1970, and at the age of eight moved to the United States. As a young man, he was conservative but since then has become a hard leftist. He was raised in a secular Muslim home but now considers himself an agnostic. He harbors a particular contempt for conservative Evangelical Christians.
This Progressive paragon of virtue supports the legalization of bestiality “where the animal is being pleasured” which even surprised his self-loathing, foul-mouthed side-kick Ana Kasparian. In 2019-2020, he ran twice-for California’s 25th Congressional district. The first election was a special election to fill the vacant seat, and the second was the general election. All the left-wing PAC money couldn’t get him a seat in Congress. He initially was endorsed by Bernie Sanders, but ‘The Bern” withdrew his endorsement after learning of Uygur’s racist, sexist, and anti-Semitic comments he has made over the years. He is a 2024 candidate for President of the United States knowing full well that he is Constitutionally unqualified.
(Uygur and Lessig at Harvard 2011)
In September of 2011, I encounter him at an event at Harvard University’s School of Law called A Conference on the Constitutional Convention that was co-hosted by Mark Meckler and leftist Harvard law professor Larry Lessig. Cenk was interviewing Lessig, and they both hoped for a “runaway” Article V convention. I videotaped the conversation. Readers can find that video on Camp Constitution’s YouTube channel. In the wake of the Harvard event, Uygur formed Wolf PAC-a group that is lobbying for an Article V Convention. Mark Meckler followed by forming Convention of States (COS), and Lessig founded the May Day PAC.
The goal of Wolf PAC ostensibly is to hold an Article V Convention to pass an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would end “corporate personhood” and give the federal government more power over elections. They were able to get five states pass Article V applications, but two of the states have wisely rescinded leaving only RI, VT, and CA with extant Wolf PAC resolutions. In the 2016, and 2018, election cycles, Wolf PAC used 80% of its funds for salaries and expenses.
What is an Article V Convention?
Our founders gave us two ways to amend the U.S. Constitution found in Article V of the U.S. Constitution:
“The Congress, whenever two thirds of both houses shall deem it necessary, shall propose amendments to this Constitution, or, on the application of the legislatures of two thirds of the several states, shall call a convention for proposing amendments, which, in either case, shall be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of this Constitution, when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress…”
While the first method has been used a number of times, the second method where states apply for a convention has never happened and for good reason.
Since its inception, Wolf PAC lobbyists have tried unsuccessfully to get their Article V Resolutions passed in New Hampshire. Convention of States and now Term Limits USA have been collaborating closely with Wolf PAC. COS, which enjoys the support of many well-meaning conservatives, have vociferously denied working with Wolf PAC, but such an alliance was on full display on January 19 at the New Hampshire State House where the House Committee on State and Federal Relations and Veterans Affairs held hearing on HCR 8 and HCR 9.
HCR 8 is a vaguely written resolution, sponsored by Wolf PAC that calls for New Hampshire to pass an application for an Article V Convention to introduce amendments that would end corporate personhood and have free and fair elections-a euphemistic term that, in reality, would give more power to the federal government over elections. The electoral college would also be on the chopping block. HCR 9 is a resolution to rescind New Hampshire’s only application for an Article V–a resolution which I fully support. While an accurate number of extant applications depends on how they are counted, it appears that Congress is looking at those that are similarly worded. We may be just a few states away from the 34 needed.
Despite the wording, a resolution applying for an Article V Convention cannot limit a convention. Supporting amendments that would give the federal government more power over anything should be strongly rejected by conservatives, and any self-respecting person or organization on any side of the political spectrum should have nothing to do with Cenk Uygur. But not in the Granite State where we witnessed the New Hampshire director of COS along with some of its supporters, as well as Mr. Ken Quinn, the out-of-state lobbyist for Term , testifying for the Wolf Pac resolution, and against the resolution to rescind.
Mr. Quinn, who spends a good portion of his time trashing conservatives who oppose his well-funded agenda, harbors a particular hatred of The John Birch Society (JBS), an organization that has done much to thwart his desire for an Article V Convention. He engages in childish antics like superimposing tin foil hats on pictures of JBS leaders. (As an aside, the late New Hampshire Governor Mel Thomson was not only a member of the JBS but served on its national council.) Back in 2016 while Quinn was a lobbyist for COS, its New Hampshire group sent out an E-mail accusing the JBS of bribing State Senator Kevin Avard. This was a bold-faced lie which was exposed by a friend who was receiving unsolicited E-mails from COS. COS has been involved in other dirty tactics around the nation. In South Dakota, State Senator Mark Willardsen returned a $1,000 donation to COS when he learned that COS was running attack ads against his opponent that were “full of half-truths, innuendos and outright lies.” This may explain why COS leadership have a cozy alliance with Cenk Uygur.
Quinn, ostensibly advocating for a limited convention, defended the idea of the need for structural change in the U.S. Constitution. John Adams once quipped that “facts are stubborn things.” If he were around today, he may have added “And so are screen shots:
It is important to point out that the vast majority of the supporters of COS and Term Limits USA are decent and honorable people that would have no part in COS tactics nor ally themselves with Cenk Uygur.
An Article V Convention, which we have never held, cannot be limited to a single amendment or topic. There are no laws guiding a convention, and rules and laws cannot be passed by state legislator. It is the job of Congress under the necessary and proper clause of Article 1, Section 8 to make laws or rules that would guide a convention. While I share many of the concerns that supporters of an Article V Convention, holding a convention and adding amendments to a constitution that is regularly ignored by Congress is not the solution. Readers are asked to contact their state reps urging them to oppose HCR 8 and vote for HCR 9. For those who would like more information on this critical issue, feel free to contact me. My E-mail is campconstitution1@gmail.com