Fifth CD Candidates on the 10th Amendment

At the invitation of radio talk-show host Rob Schilling, six of the seven candidates for the GOP congressional nomination in the Fifth District of Virginia -- Ken Boyd being the exception -- have submitted short statements on their views on the Tenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

Rob lists the candidates in the order in which their responses were received, but I'll upend that by selectively quoting them in alphabetical order.  (Like Rob, I have not edited these sentences for spelling or grammar or syntax.)

Ron Ferrin:

Many have never read it before and had no idea that the REAL power of this country was placed by the constitution in the hands of the STATES. However, I believe that is about to change. For the first time, states have the motive and popular support to challenge a Federal Government action by the parameters of the 10 amendment.

Robert Hurt:

In Virginia, we are standing up for limited government and individual liberty. In fact, as a member of the Virginia General Assembly, I have cosponsored legislation that seeks to challenge the authority of the federal government to enact an unconstitutional federal takeover of our healthcare system. If elected to Congress, I pledge that I will continue to fight to reduce the size and influence of the federal government and to restore this country’s founding principles.

Jim McKelvey:

The tenth amendment to the Constitution is arguably the clearest statement in the bill of rights. There are powers and duties in the Constitution that spell out the scope of the federal government. The founders included the tenth amendment to help all of us understand where the power lies, powers that the Constitution did not impart on the government. It is clear and direct; it needs no interpretation, but it does need defending.

Mike McPadden:

...the Federal Government is only allowed to do what is actually written down in the Constitution saying what it is allowed to do. This was referred to by James Madison as the, “enumerated powers “, of the Constitution. If the Constitution doesn’t say that the Federal Government can institute universal health care, then it may not.

Feda Morton:

The Supreme Court has continued to turn its back on the 10th Amendment and given the Federal Government more power than strict Constitutionalists have deemed to be proper. With the establishment of the Interstate Commerce Clause, the courts have “discovered” all manner of permissions to elevate Washington and suppress state and individual rights.

Laurence Verga:

I am the only candidate who has signed a written pledge to uphold the 10th amendment. I challenge my opponents to do so as well if they want to take the amendment seriously.

It's clear that these six candidates are, to one extent or another, "Tenthers" -- a word not of opprobrium, but of pride.



Be sure to visit my CafePress store for gifts and novelty items!
Read my blog on Kindle!
Follow my tweets on Twitter!