Bennett is not a victim of anti-incumbent fever

Sen. Bob Bennett did not receive the delegate votes necessary to appear on the ballot.  Instead delegates supported two new senatorial candidates, Mike Lee and Tim Bridgewater, who are now campaigning to win the upcoming Republican primary.  Since the Republican State Convention, May 8^th, there have been numerous reports stating Sen. Bennett was a victim or a casualty of the anti-incumbent fever sweeping the nation.

Sometimes the reports blame Bennett’s loss on anti-government tea partiers.  Still other reports have linked delegates voting Bennett out to anti-establishment groups who simply want change.  No matter what the reason given the claims are focused on Bennett being the victim.

According to the Princeton WordNet a victim is defined as an unfortunate person who suffers from some adverse circumstance or a person who is tricked or swindled.  Neither are accurate definitions for what occurred on May 8^th.  During his 18 years as a Utah senator Bennett would not have been voted out of office if he had been true to the Oath of Office.  Delegates voting him out want elected officials who stand by the established form of government outlined under the U.S. Constitution.  As a reminder the oath for a U.S. Senator is;

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; that I take this obligation freely, without any mental reservation or purpose of evasion; and that I will well and faithfully discharge the duties of the office on which I am about to enter: So help me God. (www.senate.gov)

After all the years Utah citizens supported Sen. Bennett had he stood as an example of someone defending the Constitution he would have been entrusted to represent the state once again.   After carefully considering all his years in office he was not perceived as a representative who upheld his oath.  The problem for the news reporters is clear; they are not use to those taking the oath in a perfunctory manner being rejected.

People involved in the tea party or campaign for liberty are not anti-government or anti-establishment as long as the government or establishment is committed to a federalist republic.  News reports often fail to articulate this simple fact.  Our prosperity grows when our society is governed under principles established by the Constitution.  Our prosperity is lost when our society is governed under centralized planning by two major factions and a few powerful people outside their oath.

We are entering a time in our state when more citizens are learning our heritage.  As citizens study the fundamental principles our federalist republic was established with it is becoming obvious there are many answers for today’s challenges when there are elected officials at all levels who embrace our heritage.  Those who have been use to political careers are not prepared to be held accountable to their oath.  This does not make them a victim.  Moving forward those taking the oath will be expected to honor their oath or be voted out.  Sen. Bennett was voted out due to his failure in establishing himself as an oath keeper.  If any current elected official wants to remain a representative of Utah citizens they need only stay true to their Oath of Office.  It really is this simple moving forward.

Gary Wood is the Educational Advisor for the Utah Tenth Amendment Center. Co-founder of the Heritage Training Center, focused on helping end constitutional illiteracy. With 35 years of devoted study of our Constitution his desire is to help others rediscover the inspiring heritage of the United States. Radio show host, training officer, lifetime member of the VFW and most importantly Grandpa.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, May 20th, 2010 at 2:54 pm. It is filed under Constitution, education, Election 2010, Utah News and tagged with elections, freedom, government, Tenth Amendment, Utah. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.