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John Romano: Here's to the politicians who only defend certain parts of their beloved Constitution

 
Published Oct. 14, 2017

Sometimes, the truth is in the silence.

You can learn more by what a person does not say than when they are shouting from a mountaintop. Or so it seems when it comes to Florida politicians.

Take, for instance, the question of the U.S. Constitution. Pretty important document, right? Candidates and office-holders fall all over themselves when it comes to quoting, praising and honoring the words of the Founding Fathers.

Especially the Second Amendment.

"He has waged war on the Constitution," Sen. Marco Rubio said when President Barack Obama proposed background checks for guns bought online or at gun shows.

"We have seen yet again that we have a president who does not think the law, or the Constitution, applies to him," Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera said of Obama's background checks.

"Our right to bear arms is enshrined in our U.S. Constitution," Commissioner of Agriculture Adam Putnam felt the need to point out in a news release following Obama's proposal.

"Some on the left believe the Second Amendment is negotiable, flexible — even forgettable. I don't," Panhandle congressman Matt Gaetz once wrote in an opinion piece. "Our founders understood that America's strength comes from empowering citizens, not government."

Pretty strong stuff. Unequivocal, you might say.

These politicians want you to believe they view the Constitution, and its amendments, as sacred documents, not to be tampered with by a president.

But what about the First Amendment?

Last week, President Donald Trump threatened NBC's broadcast licenses because he was angry about the network's coverage of the White House. In a best-case scenario, he was trying to dictate future coverage with a chilling threat to put media organizations out of business. In a worst-case scenario, he was suggesting the kind of media control usually reserved for dictators and communists.

Call me an alarmist, but that sounds like he's destroying the concept of freedom of speech. Freedom of the press. In other words, he's threatening the entire basis of the First Amendment. And that's a far more radical suggestion than Obama wanting background checks on gun sales.

So where were Florida's defenders of the Constitution?

Which one of our flag-waving patriots called a press conference, sent out a release or wrote something suggesting Trump was waging war on the Constitution?

Near as I can tell, former Gov. Jeb Bush was the most notable Florida politician willing to step forward by retweeting Nebraska Sen. Ben Sasse, who pointedly asked the president if he was recanting his inaugural oath "to preserve, protect and defend the First Amendment."

Otherwise, someone seemed to hit a mute button on what seems to be one of the most naked threats to the Constitution in recent memory.

And that has to make you wonder:

Are Florida's vocal cheerleaders of the Second Amendment — Putnam recently declared himself a proud sellout to the NRA — really defending the Constitution, or just pandering to their political base?

If you're in the Constitution-is-gospel crowd, then you have to be willing to defend the entire Constitution, not just the parts that suit your ideology or polling numbers or favored president.

By failing to speak up, a lot of politicians appear to have revealed what's truly in their hearts.

Although, on the bright side, they do seem more articulate when they keep their mouths shut.