The Ripon Forum

Volume 49, No. 2

May 2015

What Every Candidate Should be Asked in 2016

By on May 20, 2015

Coburn“Do you support the Convention of States?”

by TOM COBURN

In 1984, Ronald Reagan assured us he wouldn’t exploit Walter Mondale’s “youth and inexperience.” In 1988, Lloyd Bentsen declared Dan Quayle was no Jack Kennedy. In 1992, George H. W. Bush checked his watch, and Admiral Stockdale asked “Why am I here?” In 2000, Al Gore sighed.

For concerned citizens across America, a Presidential debate is the Super Bowl of politics.  Millions tune in as the candidates line up on stage, shirts starched, shoes shined. How will our Presidential candidates brand themselves?  What “gotcha” topics will the moderator bring up?  What fights will break out?

Over the years, the same topics seem to come up repeatedly.  Entitlements.  Debt.  That wall that never quite seems to get built.  But there’s one topic that will come up in next year’s presidential campaign that will be new. Well, it’s really not “new.” In fact, it’s such an old concept that it is actually written in our Constitution. Every candidate in 2016 will have to answer this question: “Do you support the Convention of States?”

As much work as I’ve done in Washington, DC, Congressmen and Senators can only do so much. I saw from the inside that Washington, DC was never going to fix itself.

For you armchair politicos watching at home, here’s a primer:

The federal government has long overreached its Constitutionally-established boundaries.  It’s corrupt, too big, inept, and even has started politically-motivated harassment of its own citizens.  For 10 years, I created a “Wastebook” that documented the ridiculous ways that the government spends taxpayer money.  The annual publications got a lot of attention, caused a lot of eyerolls, and – in some cases – even caused politicians to stop their wasteful expenditures.  But as much work as I’ve done in Washington, DC, Congressmen and Senators can only do so much. I saw from the inside that Washington, DC was never going to fix itself. Instead of remaining in the bureaucratic morass that is the federal government, I thought it was important to work on something that could actually save the republic.  Something that could work.

When I announced my retirement, I said, “As dysfunctional as Washington is these days, change is still possible when ‘We the People’ get engaged.”  Well, the Founders gave the people a way to engage in a way that could actually change things.  Keen observers of human behavior, the Founders knew the day would come when the government would become so bloated and drunk with power that they wouldn’t restrict themselves.  That’s why they slipped something into Article V that would give Americans the opportunity to rein in federal spending and stifle federal power grabs in a way that bypasses Congress and the President.  That’s why I’ve dedicated my post-Senate life to this cause.

Article V allows citizens – through their state legislators – to call a Convention of States to return the country to its original vision of a limited federal government, and the idea has gained national momentum. Three states have passed the application for a Convention of States (Georgia, Florida and Alaska), and in a historic first, 36 additional states have introduced concurrent resolutions in the 2015 session. Of course, these grassroots movements inevitably get the attention of political leaders and candidates. So here we are – at the precipice of what might be the last great hope to put America back on track.

Article V allows citizens – through their state legislators – to call a Convention of States to return the country to its original vision of a limited federal government, and the idea has gained national momentum.

Rand Paul has already gone on record and said he believes Article V could be helpful for Congressional term limits and a balanced budget. Sarah Palin and Mike Huckabee have endorsed an Article V Convention.  It is also consistent with the values of Marco Rubio, Ted Cruz, and Scott Walker – strong proponents of states rights – though they have not publicly endorsed a convention.  How will Jeb Bush respond to the grassroots groundswell of support for a limited government?

Regardless of a candidate’s position just yet, every serious politician will need to make a statement on the Convention of States.  Never has our nation needed it more.

Let’s face it.  In 2016, there should be no more “armchair politicos watching at home.”  Unless citizens act, the federal government will continue to bankrupt this nation, undermine the legitimate authority of the states, and steal the liberty of the people. Without an intervention, future generations will be burdened with reckless debt, unable to enjoy the benefits of liberty.

As Americans, we have a profound opportunity – I would say “duty” – to do more than watch the spectacle that plays out on the political stage.  In Presidential debates, we’ve seen the posturing, the snide remarks, the good one-liners, and the spin.

Now we need to see change.  The Convention of States gives citizens the power to demand it.  Help me make it happen at www.ConventionOfStates.com.

Tom Coburn, MD, represented the 2nd District of Oklahoma in the U.S. of Representatives from 1995-2001.  He was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2002 and served two terms, before retiring at the end of 2014.

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