Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

Pop Quiz on the Constitution – updated

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An A+ to Christopher for both nailing it and guessing why.

My guess as to why this was posted is that someone got the Constitution confused with the Declaration again, which seems fairly common among those who invoke these documents in their rhetoric.

It’s not just anyone who did it this time.

What’s really sad is that he purports to have the very document in his hand. But not in front of him, apparently.

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  1. It was the year of the bicentennial of the Constitution.  In 6th grade I had a nerd moment and diagrammed this sentence, along with the opening sentence to the Gettysburg Address:

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    p>”We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

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    p> Significantly, I think, the framers rejected the original proposal of saying “We the States of…” like the Articles of Confederation, partly because they weren’t sure every state would ratify at first, partly because there was a provision for new states, and partly to show that the people directly created the federal government rather than it being a creation of the states.  I believe every word is important and as an unapologetic loose constructionist I believe that any proposal which seeks to further any one or more of the six reasons stated herein is constitutionally legitimate, subject to a debate on the merits and any specific restrictions.  My guess as to why this was posted is that someone got the Constitution confused with the Declaration again, which seems fairly common among those who invoke these documents in their rhetoric.

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      p>Get your Wiki on:

      Schoolhouse Rock! began as a commercial advertising venture by David McCall. The idea came to McCall when he noticed one of his sons, who was having trouble in school remembering the multiplication tables, knew the lyrics to many current rock songs. The first song recorded was “Three Is a Magic Number,” written by Bob Dorough. It tested well, so a children’s record was compiled and released. Tom Yohe listened to the first song, and began to doodle pictures to go with the lyrics. He told McCall that the songs would make good animation.

      When a print workbook version fell through, McCall’s company decided to produce their own animated versions of the songs, which they then sold to ABC (which already was McCall’s company’s biggest advertising account) based on a demo animation of the original “Three Is A Magic Number” for its Saturday morning lineup. They pitched their idea to Michael Eisner, then vice-president of ABC’s children’s programming division. Eisner brought longtime Warner Bros. cartoonist/director Chuck Jones to the meeting to also listen to the presentation.

      The network’s children’s programming division had producers of its regular 30- and 60-minute programs cut three minutes out of each of their shows, and sold General Foods on the idea of sponsoring the segments. The series stayed on the air for 12 years. Later sponsors of the Schoolhouse Rock! segments included Nabisco, General Foods, Kenner Toys, Kellogg’s, and McDonald’s.

  4. Sounds like signing a document without reading it first – never a good idea.  Once again, though, I am in a position where I cannot play the video, so if someone could write the offending quote in the comments I would appreciate it.

      • Wrong document notwithstanding, if he’s a big fan of that clause then he would certainly vote in favor of marriage equality (goes to “equal” and “pursuit of happiness”) and health care reform (goes to “life”), right?;)

        • The Declaration clearly states
          “All men are created equal, etc., etc., etc.”

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          p>Women need not apply. I’ll leave the derivation of how gays are not “men” to the reader.

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          p>:-)

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          p>

  5. as always they cannot cite the docs they quote ignorance is a wonderful thing
    . Do you really need to know the difference between the Declaration and the Constitution if you are repub they think const is voluntary if not irrelevant

    • Can we count on the fingers of more than one hand the politicians that support the Constitution?  I think not.  (Kucinich and Paul – who else?)  

  6. Ever wonder why it’s extremely rare to hear a conservative accurately quote the preamble to the US Constitution?

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    p>Maybe they don’t like the part that states, “Promote the General Welfare.”  

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    p>It is conservative dogma to claim that something they perceive as liberal is also unconstitutional.  Yes, the preamble is right up front in big letters, but you’d be amazed how many self-named constitution-protecting, conservative “patriots” have never actually read it, or worse, choose to ignore it.

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    p>

    We, the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, ensure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common Defense, PROMOTE THE GENERAL WELFARE, and secure the Blessings of Liberty for ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

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    p>I’m sorry, conservatives.  The preamble addresses more than “provide for the common defense.”  It also includes, “promote the general welfare.”  You can’t pick and choose which parts of the constitution you like and ignore the others.

  7. …is that he’s holding a copy of the Constitution in his hand the entire time.

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