Led by the new GOP majority, House members kicked off the 112th Congress on Thursday with a full reading of the U.S. Constitution -- minus some controversial parts no longer in effect.
GOP leaders opted to read what they called an "amended version" of the Constitution, excluding language that was later superseded. As pundits including the conservative Daily Caller's Chris Moody noted, the decision allowed lawmakers to skip reading potentially embarrassing parts like Article 1, Section 2 -- which spelled out that when state populations were determined for representation and taxation, a slave was to be counted as three-fifths of a person -- as well as the 18th Amendment, which instituted Prohibition.
Rep. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) stepped up to the podium Thursday before the reading to question the omissions, and testy exchanges ensued. The video, courtesy of ABC News, also shows Idaho GOP Rep. Mike Simpson, presiding over the House, and Virginia GOP Rep. Bob Goodlatte, who organized the reading:
Republicans and Democrats, including former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, participated in the reading. Congressional historians say it was the first time the document has been read on the House floor.
Some Democrats called the reading a political stunt. In an interview with the Washington Post's Jason Horowitz, Rep. Jerry Nadler of New York went further, saying that the "ritualistic reading" was "total nonsense" and "propaganda."
"They are reading it like a sacred text" when the document is "highly imperfect," Nadler said. "You are not supposed to worship your constitution. You are supposed to govern your government by it."
In a statement, Goodlatte said: "This historic and symbolic reading is long overdue and shows that the new majority in the House truly is dedicated to our Constitution and the principles for which it stands."
Thursday's reading was marked by a separate controversy as well -- the notorious and spurious claim that the president is not a citizen. A spectator shouted "Except Obama! Except Obama!" when Democratic Rep. Frank Pallone of New Jersey was reading the part of the Constitution that says: "No person except a natural born Citizen, or a Citizen of the United States, at the time of the Adoption of this Constitution, shall be eligible to the Office of President." Watch:
The protester was removed by Capitol police, AFP reported.
(Photo of California GOP Rep. Darrell Issa holding the Constitution at Wednesday's congressional swearing-in: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
Posted By: anita moore
Thursday, January 6th 2011 at 5:19PM
You can also
click
here to view all posts by this author...
