Sam Gibbons: “today, yes, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States in Philadelphia in 1787 should not…”

“today, yes, the anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States in Philadelphia in 1787 should not be an occasion for partisanship. However, we are forced to confront the reality of how liberals and conservatives have two very different views of the Constitution and about the history of the United States. Conservatives have a novel belief that the Constitution actually means what it says. Liberals, on the other hand, are fond of calling the Constitution a ``living document'' that, quote-unquote, evolves over time. The liberal view of the Constitution allows them to interpret the Constitution any way they choose. Conservatives look at the Constitution and believe that its explicit prohibitions on what the Federal Government is allowed to do are a fundamental safeguard of our liberty and protection against too much government. Liberals look at the Constitution and believe that the Federal Government can get involved in every aspect of your life, always, of course with the misguided belief and justification that it is ``for your own good.'' Two different views, views with profound and differing consequences for our liberty.”