Political Claim, Research Paper Example

Republican Presidential Candidate Rick Santorum claimed in February, 2012 that separation of church and state was not the founders’ vision. Mr. Santorum could not have been more wrong because the 1^st amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” (Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School) The amendment makes it clear that religion doesn’t belong in the government but in the private arena. Mr. Santorum could not have known the founders’ vision better than Thomas Jefferson who wrote that the 1^st amendment erected a “wall of separation” between the church and the state or James Madison who said it “drew a line” (usconstitution.net).

Santorum’s claim reminds me that politicians are also like marketers when it comes to political contests. They try to predict what their audience would prefer to hear and attempt to appeal to the targeted audience emotionally. Santorum’s primary supporters are all conservatives and one way Santorum has tried to differentiate himself from his rivals including Romney is by touting his conservative credentials and ideals. In addition, politicians also know they can always claim to be merely exercising their right to free speech even if they make factually incorrect statements. Constitutional amendments always leave room for interpretation, thus, politicians can exploit them in order to increase their political appeal.

References

Legal Information Institute, Cornell University Law School. Bill of Rights. 8 April 2012 <http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/billofrights#amendmenti>.

usconstitution.net. Things That Are Not In the U.S. Constitution. 8 April 2012 <http://www.usconstitution.net/constnot.html#church>.