Things to Consider Before Supporting Any Candidate for Public Office
General George Washington: The model of the disinterested, reluctant leader. A man who turned down and walked away from power at least three times in his life: first, by refusing the offer of a military coup at the height of his power; second, by retiring from public life after the Revolutionary War when he likely could have become “King of America,” and third, by, to the astonishment of the world, term-limiting himself and walking away from what could have been presidency for life. How does your candidate compare?
When you are considering supporting any candidate for office, consider the following four criteria:
1. Do they know and understand the Constitution? If they don’t know and understand it, how can they possibly defend it? As a threshold matter, do they know the text? Have they even read it? If they don’t even know what it says, how can they follow it? If the can’t be bothered to read it, just how sincere a Constitutional defender are they? And do they understand it? Do they have a firm grasp of the basic principles and concepts of our Constitutional Republic? Attend a town hall meeting and ask them some pointed questions to test their knowledge. A good list of questions to ask can be found at the back of the excellent book, the Five Thousand Year Leap, by W. Cleon Skousen. If they don’t know the text or the answers to those questions, then you should be very hesitant to support them for office. Certainly you can have good, sincere people of demonstrated courage who have recently woken up and had not heretofore studied the Constitution. But courage without understanding will just not cut it. At the least they should correct their ignorance, and you can help them do so, such as by giving them a copy of Skousen’s book to go along with their reading of the text of the Constitution itself, but frankly I have to wonder why they are even running for office if they have not yet bothered to read and study the Constitution.
2. Even if they know what the Constitution says and understand it, do they have the integrity and courage to follow the Constitution, come what may? Knowledge without courage and integrity is even more useless than is courage without understanding. There’s a thundering herd of politicians, most of them lawyers, who do know what it says but simply don’t give a damn. When trying to figure out whether a candidate has the courage and integrity to actually be faithful to the Constitution, look not to what they say now, on the campaign trail, but to what they have done. If they have already served in office, what was their voting record? If they have already voted for unconstitutional bills, then they have shown you all you need to know. Such a person is a demonstrated oath breaker. If, to be fair to them, there is a valid question of whether one of their votes was a violation of their oath, ask them to explain why they voted the way they did. Unless they can articulate a credible rationale for why the bill was constitutional, you should pass. And have they spoken out against the violations of the Constitution by their own party, or do they only point out the violations by “the other team”? And even if they have no political voting record to look at, have they, in the past, ever stood tall in any situation, with the courage of their convictions, even at personal risk? In other words, what have they DONE? When have they taken a stand? If you can’t find any examples of them taking a stand, I would be very suspicious of believing the campaign promises.
3. Do they have the personal integrity to keep specific campaign promises, such as promises to term limit themselves or to vote for or against particular bills? What about them or their past behavior makes you confident they will keep their promises? When have they been true to their word even to their own harm?
4. What is their motivation for running? Do they look forward to public office? Are they excited about the prospect? If so, run! Frankly, the best candidate is the sincere constitutionalist who does not want to run for office, who loathes the thought of all the headaches that go with the job, that you have to convince to run against their better judgment (because serving in public office is a royal pain in the rear to normal people. Only psycho sociopaths enjoy it). You want someone who is not interested in power and perks. All too often I have seen people who were sincere constitutionalists but who also were very keen on public office sell their souls and compromise their principles because they were star-struck with the prospects of fame and fortune and liked the idea of being called “Senator” or “Representative” so-and-so just a bit too much. Seek out the person who doesn’t care a whit about all the perks and power, who detests the idea of running for office, and convince that one to run. You will more likely have someone who will stand tall no matter what.
A candidate for office must know the Constitution, must have the courage to follow it, must have the integrity to keep promises, and must be in it not for personal gain, but to serve, protect, and defend. Look past the campaign rhetoric and see if you can find a track record of knowledge, courage, and actual devotion to country. If you can’t find such a clear track record, look elsewhere.
Stewart Rhodes
Founder of Oath Keepers
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January 6th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
This is a very good and informative post thanks.
January 6th, 2010 at 6:39 pm
Well said Stewart. There will be many saying they are Constitutionalists, but will be wolves in Patriot’s clothing.
January 7th, 2010 at 3:33 am
Well said Stewart. Thank you very much for posting this very good advice. It should be read and understood by all Americans.
January 7th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Friends,
My tipping point came during retirement four months ago while having coffee on our deck with my wife and reflecting on our RINO Congressman’s support of Cap and Trade, TARP, Hate Crimes, ad nauseam. Combining that with other national dismantling was all it took. Here I am. And here is my campaign website. Check it out.
Ernest Huber
http://elect.ernesthuberforcongress.com/
January 7th, 2010 at 10:40 pm
Thanks Stewart. If American voters would have taken time to consider the four points you posted
before supporting a candidate, we would have more honest people in office and less of the “bottom of the barrel” unscrupulous politicans now in power.
January 8th, 2010 at 4:05 am
I, too, want to thank you, Stewart, for giving order and process to this duty of American citizens. As I looked at the list, I thought,
uh-huh, that’s right, that’s right…very good.
For just a moment, I got sort of an “us vs them” mentality, as I don’t qualify in all those areas. I’m a newer kid on the block and a work in progress in the earlier stages. I began to settle into the comfort zone that my job was only to check out the candidates and, if none are fit, find someone else who is. Pretty tall task to be called a comfort zone, eh?
Something didn’t “fit” in my mind. Then the light bulb came on. The only division between “us” and “them” is arbitrary and chosen in the sense that it should rest on the shoulders of all Americans to prepare themselves to perform the Constitutional responsibilities of public office should they be needed.
My job is not just to find someone else, but to be prepared to step up and do the job if there are no others willing. I must remove the self-imposed boundary of “us” and “them” and merge all into We The People.
This is the flip side of the Militia Act of 1792, so to speak. In this case, the knowledge, and the understanding of the appropriate application of that knowledge, is the equivalent to the musket, balls and knapsack required of all able bodied males between the ages of 18 and 45.
I am grateful for the list of questions as a starting point, but the fact is, I should personally have the grasp and deep understanding of the force empowered by our Constitution. Such power has never been acknowledged to the individual in all the history of mankind until our founding fathers saw fit to stake their lives upon it and give it to me. Imagine ignoring that.
It is no less my duty to train myself (and others) in this discipline than it was for the men of the early United States to stand ready for militia duty. After all, the same logic that a man will fight hardest for his own piece of ground and family should apply to those who lead our country.
It makes no difference upon which battlefield we fight, for the greatest victory on the one may be completely destroyed by a crushing defeat on the other. Without an educated populace, we guard the front and rear, but the flanks are exposed.
The enemy has positioned himself well within our ranks to alienate the process of governing, creating the illusion that it is much too difficult for the average person. They feign service to us by doing that which they say we can no longer do well for ourselves.
Beware, my fellow Patriots, of the hand that feeds you if it is not your own. It is up to us to remove the poisonous spines and embrace once again a days work well done by each and every citizen.
January 8th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
I have to commend Ernest Huber for running for Congress and having the courage to openly state his views on everything from soup to nuts, and to specifically tackle the subjects that are considered controversial. Good Luck with your campaign, you obviously have the balls to put your money where your mouth is and to stand tall about your views on controversial issues.
January 9th, 2010 at 1:01 pm
Hi All,
I have read some of the comments by individuals on this website and Mr.Huber’s campaign webite. I am a retired 20 year veteran who served in the Navy. I will also say that I do agree with some of the comments on this website, but not all of the opinions or comments. I figure though everyone has a right to their opinion whether I agree or not. One area that I found interesting was the comment from Mr. huber’s campaign website. I would like to ask Mr. huber a few questions:
1.) Your comments about the present situation in Iraq and Afganistan. I’m cofused as to how it is the fault of Obama of the situation that our military is in in those locations. Was it not a conservative president and conservative congress that put the country in this mess in the first place?
2.) This country does not need any federal government employees. Since I retired from the Navy 20 years ago I was hired by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) to work on the maintenance and repair of airport radar detection and display systems. Are you willing to take my job away that I have earned after my dedicated service in the military?
3.) Mr. Huber you mention that homosexuality should be considered a felony and “all” homosexuals should be put in prison for a minimum of 40 years. Considering that at least one third of the population of this country is gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, or transgendered will this not be the equivalent of what the Nazi Party did in the 1930’s when the imprisoned all of the intellectuals, homosexuals, and people who they considerd not “right”?
Frankly your I’m just a little bit afraid of all of you people on this website. I fear that your more about taking away the rights of those who have not hurt any of you in any way, shape, or form and wrap the product up in some form of pseudo-patriotism. When I read writing such as what I have read here I feel as though my 28 years of combined military and federal civil service has been a great waste of time from my life. I will not wish any harm on any of you now will I ever take away your right to freedom of speech, happiness, or right to your opinions. In turn though I ask to not take my rights away to work for the federal government as a civil servent protecting the flying public as I ensure the quality and reliability of the equipment I work on that the airport I am assigned to. I also will that I am trnagenderd and transitioned to a woman and at no time compromised the security of this nation or the Constitution of this nation while on active duty in the Navy or as a civil servant. Take care and the best to all of you.
January 9th, 2010 at 6:50 pm
Boy if we all had know what was ahead of us and had stopped to think what we needed ahead of us we would not be looking at our enemey.We all thought we had left them behind but now we can see them looking us in the eyes.There is no knowledge of the Constitution,no integrity and no courage at all in Washington. Thanks Stewart for a great insight as to what we should have put in Washington instead of the GOOD OLD BOYS!!!
January 10th, 2010 at 7:40 am
Dasr11mj,
From which professional and peer-reviewed studies did you obtain your numbers related to sexual deviancy? Frankly, I think you blurted without thinking due to your personal agenda of sexual perversion!
Because you have proven that you have a perverse agenda and the willingness to lie about it, I also question your stated veteran’s status without seeing any proof.
Have a nice day!
January 10th, 2010 at 7:47 am
Stewart,
Your comments are excellent and so is the book, “The 5000 Year Leap”.
I just e-mailed both of my FedGov Senators to advise them that their first item to make certain they have thoroughly addressed with complete understanding is the Constitution! Based on my personal observation, MOST Senators are off the mark so far!
January 10th, 2010 at 9:14 am
Stewart,
If it is all right with you, I would like to utilize your article on supporting any candidate and use it in the next weekly Tea Party Meeting we have here in the Woodlands, Texas. I think it is an excellent piece and everyone should be made aware of this. I am getting involved in the National Precinct Alliance and one of my purposes in life since retirement from the U. S. Navy has been to attempt to educate the people prior to them entering the voting booth.
January 10th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Pete,
Thank you, and by all means please do pass on or otherwise use the article if you think it will help. Just include a link to this site, so folks know how to find us.
All, the opinions posted by any commenter here belong to that commenter alone, and do not speak for Oath Keepers. My goal is to defend liberty and the Bill of Rights for ALL Americans.
Stewart Rhodes
January 11th, 2010 at 9:12 pm
Thank you Stewart this was an excellent article.
I just attended a meeting in Plano Texas organized by the founder of GOOOH goooh.com/Act.aspx an d I have to his presentation covered just about everything in your article. I have to say if we get on the GOOOH bandwagon we can do away with the two party system and put the government back in the hands of the people. This system of YOU being able to be a part of choosing who will represent your congressional district is so simple you wioll wonder why you never thought of it.
This system of selecting your representative will take the CORRUPTION and the MONEY out of POLITICS AND RESTORE THE GOVERNMENT TO THE PEOPLE. NO MORE HAVING TO VOTE FOR THE BETTER OF TWO EVILS . Who says we have to have a 2 party system of Democrat or Republican. We don’t need any party.They are both corrupt and whoever you replace them with will eventually be corrupt.
I urge each and everyone of you to check out the site and actually see for yourself how we can change the system.It is completely non partisan and you can have a part in selecting who best represents the values and views of your district. I understand that oathkeepers as an organization supports GOOOH. I actually met several Oathkeepers at the meeting tonight.
We always complain about how screwed up the system but we don’t kn ow how to fix it. Well now you know, and if we don’t do something now I am afraid that the next box we go to will not be the ballot box but the ammo box and we don’t want that.
January 13th, 2010 at 8:31 am
I feel that,if every Christian, were to puit up a Cross, o significant size, on their own property, The ACLU or anyone from the government could say nothing about it…. It wiyld stand as mute evidence that we still beleive in our fundamental right to beleive the wat our forefathers beleived….
If anyone is offended by our testamony, let them feel free to find a better country and go there… Bro. Jim Nettles Pastor Manchac Baptist Church, Akers, Louisiana…. 1/13/10 @ 9:30 AM
January 16th, 2010 at 9:55 pm
Thanks for the writeup on what to look for. You are very right and these politicians seem to fall short of what is most important right now to save our country and our freedom.
January 17th, 2010 at 2:17 am
Dasr11MJ: Get used to reading things that you don’t agree with on this site. There’s a lot of us that don’t agree with everything that is stated and obviously there are going to be differences of opinion, even the minutia of situations involved in the oath itself. For example I’m a peace officer and I know that there are times when I will have to conduct searches without a search warrant or there might be situations where a state of emergency might be legitimately declared. The idea is that we start thinking about these things PRIOR to being thrown into a situation where our military or para-military training kicks in and we act like robots taking orders from clueless superiors who haven’t thought about it in the same way. I disagree with Mr. Huber’s stance on homosexuality yet I admire the fact that he has the guts to confront the issue in a straightforward way without fear of political consequences. That takes guts and conviction and I figure that a guy that can cast aside political correctness and state his true beliefs is the kind of guy who when he takes an oath, will adhere to it and believe in it.
January 20th, 2010 at 2:03 pm
As an educator for 30 years, I am willing to bet that we will have to teach almost every canidate the constitution and bill of rights since it has not been a priority in the educational system for many years. I think the article was very informative and made good sense for canidate support. So educate all your canidates by sending them the book and then quizzing them. More of them may reach a level where they may be considered.
January 22nd, 2010 at 6:54 am
Hi All, What a great amount of information! It is so important that candidates are vetted to choose the best common sense candidats who will defend our Constitution and do what is right for our country.
I live in Florida and am very active with other Floridian patriots. We are well on our way in vetting candidates and learning all we can in order to make wise choices.
It is now obvious to all Americans that we the people can make things happen and we took action in many ways to help elect Scott Brown to the US Senate. This can happen state by state when the citizens get behind a constitutional conservative candidate who will defend our Constitution and follow the principles of our Founding Fathers.
The next “special election” that will most likely receive national attention will be here in Florida District 19 on April 13th to fill the US House seat vacated by Wexler. I am supporting Ed Lynch from District 19 although I can not vote for him from my District 10.
As a Floridian patriot, I know my state will be taking a very active part in supporting many constitutional conservatives in the upcoming 2010 elections. Perhaps other Floridian OathKeepers will take a look at the following congressional candidates who already have the support of many FL patriots. Jean St. Pete, FL
Dan Fanelli – electdan2010.com/
Running for Congress from FL District 8 against Alan Grayson. Dan has been endorsed fy the Florida MinuteMen Organization.
Ed Lynch – http://electlynch.com/
Runing for Congress from FL District 19 to fill the seat vacated by Robert Wexler. This special election will be held on April 13, 2010.
Robert Lowry – http://www.lowryforcongress.com/
Running for Congress from FL District 20 against Debbie Wasserman-Schultz
Lt.Col.Allen West – FL District 22 http://www.allenwestforcongress.com/
Running for Congress against Ron Klein.
January 22nd, 2010 at 3:20 pm
I hope and pray the Scott Brown will keep his promises he made and if he does the other Senators will follow suit. The need to listen. The Constitution should be the up most in their confusion.
January 22nd, 2010 at 3:26 pm
I need to add in my post by their confesion that they swore they would support this document and never read it. This confesion should be made loud and clear to the people they swore to protect.
January 31st, 2010 at 8:40 pm
Thank you for an interesting read! I almost wish voters would have to take a short civics test before they are allowed to vote.Example ; name your states Lt.Gov….Name your state Capitol.Who is the Vice Pres?…These questions could be simple and kept down to maybe 5 or 6 questions.There are still people that vote one way or another because “my family voted that way for years!” And Ive heard this one on election day “I still dont know who to vote for!” Dont blame everything on the candidates for who gets elected!
February 7th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
Wow! Obviously, a few people are not voting for a candidate that will adhere to the delegated limitations of the constitution, but rather, a personal agenda.
Mr. Rhodes, while you can lead these people to water … it is obvious that not many are willing to drink it. For if they did, it would require of these people self responsibility and the ability to live freely without chains. Something that most people are not willing to do.
So sad.
February 12th, 2010 at 11:03 am
Here is a little food for thought concerning the defense of the constitution. There are,I regret to say amendments to the constitution that I will not defend. They are: the reconstruction acts, the expatriation act and the 14th amendment.
Let me explaine.Before the 14th amendment was established,the post civil war congress (rump) instituted its parallel predessors:
The reconstruction acts which ammounted to a bill of attainder against every man woman and child in america-all at once.Andrew Jackson stated:”Such a power has not been wielded by and Monarch in England for more than five hundred years. In all that time no people who speak the english language have borne such servitude. It reduces the whole population of the 10 states-all persons,of everycolor,sex,and condition, and every stranger within their limits-to the most abject and degrading slavery. No master never had a control so absolute control over the slaves as this bill gives to the military officers over both white and colored persons”…
Then the expatriation act passed the day before the 14th amendment was {illegally} ratified. This act basically declaired that all Americans would “naturalized citizens”,to be called “federal citizens” by the 14th amendment on the following day.
Why would they want us to be federal citizens? Arent we already American citizens?
The answer to that question lies in the 14th amendment itself.
The preamble states “Rights of the American citizen in foreign states”. What foreign states? Foreign to whom? The answer is foreign to the federal government about to be set-up.
It further states that “such American citizens,with their decendants,are subjects of foreign states {eg mass,conn,etc…}owing their allegiance to the governments thereof;and whereas it is necessary to the maintance of public peace that this claim of foreign allegiance should be promptly and finally disavowed. In other words to become a federal citizen {or a citizen of the United States}you must necessairly disavow your allegiance to your present government “ie your state” That is the government that the first 12 amendments established.
How can Americans be forced to do that? We cannot be forced…but we can be tricked into it.
And the way we can be tricked into it is the 14th amendment.
The primary purpose of the 14th amendment is to place Americans into a situation where they un-wittingly forfeit their natural rights and collective rights to the federal government.
The 14th amendment states “but when the right to vote at any election for the choice of electors for pres.,vp,reps.in congress….therefore is “denied” to any of the male inhabitants of such state being 21 years of age,and a citizen of the United States or in any way abridged,’EXCEPT for PARTICIPATION IN REBELLION OR OTHER CRIME”…
Whan in the hell are they talking about?What rebellion?What crime? They are stating that I must participate in rebellion or crime to vote?Remember that the federal government didnt even exist until this amendment was ratified. The rebellion and crime was voting in a federal election. We commit the “crime of rebellion” against the laws of our soverign governments {ie the state we were born in or live in} when we vote in a federal election.Remember the federal government considers all of the states to be “foreign”to it..and so we are. It would be the same thing if you were to go to mexico and vote in an election.It is a crime and that crime is treason.However once you have comitted this crime,you become a citizen of the federal government and are subject to its laws.
Very sneaky this 14th amendment.
Check out the validity of my statements @pacinlaw.org
February 17th, 2010 at 11:01 pm
A critical moment in history, concerning the Freedom for Christian Americans is approaching fast. This president is a clandestine muslim and he is beginning his first stages of desperation as many of his voters are wising up. He is rapidly losing supporters and he is likely to implement strategies to drastically undermine our bill of rights soon. The Oath Keepers may have been born at just the right moment. Remember, if the “southern poverty law center” is alarmed by it, then it’s a good organization for freedom including white rights.
February 18th, 2010 at 9:07 pm
Stewart, you should reconsider your support for Adam Kokesh.
http://unitedconservatives.blogspot.com/2010/02/infil-traitor.html
http://unitedconservatives.blogspot.com/2010/02/wst-picks-loser.html
February 21st, 2010 at 8:50 am
Thank you Stewart for the courage of this fine organization. I URGE everyone to watch this video to really understand HOW SERIOUS the threat to our Republic is! This is a long video but worth every second! Educate yourself as to WHY Oath Keepers is CRITICAL to defend our Republic! I will be supporting Oath Keepers ongoingly! WATCH THIS! http://bit.ly/jbraR
February 23rd, 2010 at 6:32 am
It was not so long ago that more than 450,000 Americans gave their lives in World War II to defeat Italy, Germany, and Japan in what surely was the greatest conflict in the history of the world.
Are we today, less endangered? I say; No, we are more endangered.
Why? In the 1940’s we fought and defeated “countries”. namely, Italy, Germany, and Japan. Those geographical entities were easily identified as the enemy and the allies effectively coordinated to defeat them. We are the beneficiaries of that “Greatest Generation.”
Today, we war not with countries, but with “culture.” We deal politically with countries harboring this obscene culture; even those that are training our enemies who would kill us all; destroy America, and have any survivors bow to an Islamic idol.
How do we defeat this? You and I must maintain constant, unrelenting, tremendous pressure upon elected representatives to recall; to remember; indeed, to memorize their oath: “To Preserve, Protect, and Defend The Constitution of The United States Against All Enemies, Foreign or Domestic, so Help Me God.”
I took that oath as an officer in the United States Army. That I am no longer on active duty does not relieve me of my Patriot Duties. Nor does it you.
Stay frosty.
Stay active.
Never surrender.
Never.
March 15th, 2010 at 1:35 am
This country is far from beaten. What the brit hasn’t seen is the sleeping anger that american citizens build just before they put their boots on and go to kicking. Our government has foolishly tested those lines this time and it won’t be forgotten.
March 17th, 2010 at 5:08 pm
How about WWII FDR purposely put us navy ships in a direct attack. He got us in WWII to end the depression. Your all slaves to the government. Last time our country won a war was in 18th century.
I want to bring back slavery, that is a business man makes money plus its what our founding fathers wanted. So long terrorists.
March 25th, 2010 at 4:56 pm
god bless you all in the oathkeepers!!!!!!!!!!!!THE STATUE OF LIBERTY STILL STANDS,if these politicians do not understand the oath they took the should step down,claim ignorance,and go home. just mary
June 14th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
So the President must be your hero! Hooray! I mean, he being a former Constitutional law professor who has actually, for the first time in many years, stayed within the boundaries of the Executive branch and not interfered in the activities of the Legislative; he who has proven repeatedly that he is not focused on re-election, but rather on accomplishing much needed progressive reforms; he who has, even as an Illinois Senator, expanded rights of gun owners; he who has made hard choices to fix the damage done by the previous administration (an administration, by the way, that brought us closest to the brink of fascist totalitarianism than ever before in our history); and he who by his behavior, and not rhetoric, embodies the Americanism and family values that too many so-called conservatives think are lacking in the world today.
It’s good to have heroes.
It’s also good to be mindful of cognitive dissonance.