by Sherry Matulis, Peoria, IL

With the exception of Ron Paul, who I’m convinced is still a political Libertarian, I’ve found myself pondering whether the Republican candidates for President in their zeal to appeal to the Righteous Right have displayed more their arrogance or their ignorance. Both of which I find flabbergasting, to say the least. However, in speaking with one of my sons last evening, the puzzle was resolved.

“It’s both, Mom, it’s arrogant ignorance,” he said. And listening to these Good Old Boys over the past weeks try to out-do one another in their attempt to blatantly violate that document they pay such raucous lip service to – our Constitution – I thought, he’s so right.

Could it be that, just as with so many of the bills they ‘yay’ or ‘nay,’ they’ve never bothered to read this document? Or is it that they figure that so few Americans have read both it and the other of our Founder’s documents that they can slip their proselytizing propaganda by those of us who have?

Whichever, as one who adores genuine history and abhors the re-writing of it that is so prevalent of late, I would like to offer to those candidates who appear to be running for Pulpit Master rather than President just the final 20 words from Article 6 of the Constitution proper: “ … no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or Public Trust under the United States.”

These treasured words come down to us, lady and gentlemen, from the original framers of the Constitution you seek to swear an oath to uphold and preserve; they are not an amendment, nor should any American voter allow any of you to amend them with your particular brand of superstition.