A Nation Made for the People

Thomas Jefferson once said, “When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty.”

The more our government officials speak, the more aware we are that they do not fear “we the people.”

Recent comments made by Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), son of late Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA), should leave no doubt in our minds that many officials do not care what we think.

On Feb. 4, Rep. Kennedy was critical of Scott Brown’s desire to be seated in a timely fashion. In fact, he said, “Brown’s whole candidacy was shown to be a joke today when he was sworn in early.” Rep. Kennedy went on to accuse Scott Brown of wanting to take his seat early in order to vote against President Obama’s nominee to the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).

For the record, Brown denies wanting to be seated “early” in order to cast such a vote. However, “we the people” will never know, because Brown was not sworn in until after the vote had taken place.

When that vote took place, who was sitting in the seat entrusted to Scott Brown? That’s right—Paul Kirk. Yes, the same man who vowed to stay in office until the last moment. This was despite a 1939 Senate Judiciary Committee ruling which states, “the term of service of a Senator appointed to fill a vacancy in an unexpired term ends on the day when his successor is elected by the people.”

It should be noted that there were 76 Senate Democrats in the 75th Congress and 69 Democrats in the 76th Congress. In other words, it isn’t like a bunch of “kill-joy” Republicans decided the Constitution didn’t allow an interim senator to retain his seat after a special election.

Instead of Kennedy demanding that his Congressional colleagues acknowledge the will of the people, he chose to criticize a man who simply demanded to do the people’s work.

Even if Sen. Brown had wanted to be seated in time to vote against President Obama’s NLRB nominee, how does that immediately concern Rep. Kennedy? Sure, Kennedy can say all day long that “seven out of 10 of Brown’s voters were labor households” and that voting against Obama’s nominee would be “the most anti-labor, the most anti-what his constituents thought they were voting for when they voted for him.”

In the end, though, what Brown votes in favor of, or vice versa, is between him and the people of Massachusetts. When he stands for reelection the people will let him know if he has served them well.

To make matters worse, Kennedy continued his assault on Brown by asserting, “This is where he shows that when they need him, he’s in the tank for the Republicans.”

After considering Brown’s voting record and personal beliefs, one would be hard-pressed to find a man who is “in the tank for the Republicans.” The “independent-minded” label he has
placed upon himself appears quite accurate.

In American politics, being “independent minded” is usually a good thing. Rep. Kennedy certainly seemed to disparage those who are “in the tank” for a political party.

I guess he forgot to examine his own voting record. OpenCongress.org calculates that Rep. Patrick Kennedy “votes with (his) party 99 percent” of the time. In his mind, “being in the tank” for a political party is only bad if you happen to be a Republican.

Even then, Rep. Kennedy is so intelligent and all-knowing that he can tell whether or not someone will be “in the tank” for a party before they ever cast a single vote. One has to wonder what his prediction about himself was.

Remarks such as those made by Rep. Kennedy are only part of the reason why Americans are becoming disgusted with the political process. What can we do to ensure that our officials act responsibly? We should seriously consider advice given by Kennedy’s late uncle, President John F. Kennedy. President Kennedy famously said, “Ask not what your country can do for you— ask what you can do for your country.” President Kennedy proudly and nobly served our country in World War II.

Even if we don’t serve our country militarily, we can make sure that we elect men and women who will respect the choices made by the people. We can no longer stand for politicians who flippantly ignore, and even criticize, the will of the people. Elected officials must be reminded “that government (is) of the people, by the people, (and) for the people,” as President Lincoln so nobly stated. Remind “forgetful” politicians of this American principle by throwing them out of office and putting in their place individuals more inclined to honor the choices of the people!

--As Appeared in The Daily Mississippian on Tuesday, February 9, 2010