History consistently proves the wisdom of the Founders exceeded their own comprehension and imagination.
I doubt Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, or Charles Pinckney could fathom an African American-led nonviolent civil rights movement that based their cause on the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, especially after the 3/5 Compromise of 1787 meant that male slaves would only constitute 3/5 of a man.
While our 21st century hindsight may find this compromise deplorable, without it, the 13 colonies would have found it difficult to become what we now call the United States of America.
Since women were not part of the census count and largely denied the right to vote, it is equally debatable that women's suffrage would have been part of the Founder's worldview by the time the Constitution was ratified in 1788.
But the Founder's inability to see the specifics that the elasticity of the Constitution would create does not excuse the ignorance or unbridled ambition of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to go without comment.
I know a column pointing out the deficiencies of Sarah Palin hardly seems newsworthy, and it risks redundancy, but hear me out.
Palin, on the campaign trail this week stated: "This is not a man (Barack Obama) who sees America as you and I see America." This statement assumes that America is a homogenous country with a single narrative; the Civil Rights Movement and women's suffrage clearly debunk this notion.
But Palin, wasn't finished. She said, "Our opponent is someone who sees America as imperfect enough to pal around with terrorists who targeted their own country."
Palin was referring to William Ayers, who co-founded the 1960s-era Weather Underground, an organization the FBI labeled as a domestic terrorist group. What's next, photoshop portraits of Osama bin Laden wearing an 'Obama 08' t-shirt while hugging Jeremiah Wright?
I understand that such debase diatribe is the modus operandi of a campaign that believes the poll numbers are solidifying against it. But the irony of Palin's comments would be laughable if the charges were not so desperate.
Palin levies unsubstantiated political charges against Obama while her husband, Todd, was in fact a member of the Alaskan Independence Party, which includes in their platform a desire to vote for Alaskan secession from the United States.
Moreover, the head of her ticket, John McCain, opposed the Martin Luther King Holiday and supported South Carolina's right to fly the Confederate flag. In fairness, McCain has subsequently apologized for both positions.
Before assuming the traditional role of vice presidential attack dog, shouldn't it be a prerequisite that the nominee at least have some working knowledge of the constitutional mandated duties of the office that is a heart beat away from the president?
When asked about the role of the vice president Palin said, "I'm thankful that the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exercise it in working with the Senate."
What "bit more authority" is Palin referring? According to the Constitution, the vice president breaks the tie in the Senate--that's it.
This was the worst constitutional faux pas by an elected official or cabinet member since former Secretary of State, Alexander Haig declared that he was the de facto president immediately following the assassination attempt on President Reagan.
"Constitutionally, gentlemen, you have the President, the Vice President and the Secretary of State in that order, and should the President decide he wants to transfer the helm to the Vice President, he will do so. He has not done that. As of now, I am in control here," Haig said.
But the Constitution was clear, Vice President George H.W. Bush was in charge.
Palin's insensitive musings of desperation do carry racial overtones whether intentional or not. I had hoped that such practices had gone the way of the late Lee Atwater, Karl Rove, and the spotted owl.
The problem for Palin, and ultimately for McCain, who must give his blessings for that type of shameful campaigning, the economy is so tenuous that most Americans may not have the luxury of being as divisive as Palin gleefully seeks to make us.