[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 124 (Thursday, September 17, 1998)]
[House]
[Page H7927]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               TWO DIFFERENT VIEWS REGARDING CONSTITUTION

  (Mr. GIBBONS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GIBBONS. Mr. Speaker, 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.

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