Why did the GOP wait till now to read our constitution?

[warrior1]

I sure wouldn't want my doctor to start learning about medicine after I've made an appointment.

[rfranklin]

1. they think they are teaching us a lesson...

however without a interpreter fluent in whacko you can't understand their version of it.

[warrior1]

2. I think

it's to muddy the waters. The Constitution is a living document and they just hate that.

[TomClash]

3. They had to learn how to read first nt

[warrior1]

4. so they are

reading the amended Constitution, didn't the baggers want to go back to the original Constitution where African Americans as equaling three-fifths of a white person?

I'll bet they're going be pissed.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/01/house-reading-amended-slavery-free-constitution.php?ref=fpb

[spanone]

5. they are only using it for theatrics and to try and embarrass democrats

[warrior1]

6. it's not working

the democratic party have read the Constitution.

[no_hypocrisy]

7. Reading doesn't necessarily mean comprehending or appreciating.

[chelsea0011]

8. Because they know the media will create the myth that republicants

are really the voice and party of the constitution....like the myth they are the party of fiscal responsibility and are the party of family values, and on and on and on. But we know none of it is true.

[kctim]

9. They didn't

They just believe that their interpretation of it, which favors individual rights and limited government, will resonate with more people and turn into more votes.

[LynneSin]

10. Perhaps they finally figured out how to master all those big words

If Harry Reid is smart he'd put the senate to work.

[Stevenmarc]

11. Just because they read it doesn't mean they comprehend it

[ljm2002]

12. They are great at political theater...

...and this reinforces their message that our Constitution is in danger from the awful Democrats who have held sway for the last 4 years, and even worse, that awful (black) Democratic (didja notice he's black?) President.

It also distracts from the many real threats to the Constitution that were done under Republican leadership.

Like it or not, this is excellent political theater. For example, just asking "Why are they reading the Constitution?" can be immediately spun into "Why would you object to our reading the Constitution, the founding document of this Great Nation?".

So as usual, our side is put in the position of being reactive while those on the other side take the symbolic reins and lead the narrative.

Until we get smarter about how to do things like this, we will continue to be led around by the nose.

Of course I don't expect that to happen soon, mostly because so many on our side have been so co-opted and corrupted by corporate money that they really don't have any grounded, populist principles to fall back on. That is why they never fight for principles, they don't really have any. The other side has principles -- twisted, to be sure: namely, do what's best for the rich and the corporations, while lying about it and exploiting wedge issues, and convince people that you're really the populists. It works because our side has forsaken their own historic populist principles and kowtow to the money boys so they can get re-elected. This, of course, continues to weaken our party because people sense when someone is not speaking from a grounded and principled position. Even if the principles are wrong on the other side, people see that they really believes them -- or at least, they will really go to the mat for them. Our guys won't go to the mat for much -- see, for example, Obama's latest caving-in on the end-of-life counseling provisions in health care. It is appalling.

[timtom]

13. I asked the same question

Here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=439&topic_id=126067&mesg_id=126088

[HopeHoops]

14. They just found out that it existed. They can read it, but they won't understand it.