Rep. Steve Cohen Calls Tea Party Republicans “Domestic Enemies” on MSNBC

The following is a really shocking two minute clip that I am surprised hasn’t gotten more traction, but I suppose after Harry Reid called other members of Congress anarchists, nothing really surprises people anymore. Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) starts off by lecturing the Republican Party for its “tea party” members. In no uncertain terms, he proclaims that they have “damaged the GOP brand,” and that if their antics continue, it will surely hand back Congress to the Democrats.

If he is really so sure in his beliefs, why is he so concerned about the movement? Furthermore, why is he offering the opposing party such sage free advice? You’d think he’d just sit back quietly and let the tea party dig its own grave. I find this quite peculiar.

However, far more important is his extremely provocative and ignorant comment at the very end. He claims that he took an oath to protect “the country against enemies foreign and domestic,” and then he claims that “these are the domestic enemies.”

First of all this is incorrect. The oath of office for members of Congress 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.]

Did you catch that? The oath quite intentionally states to defend the “Constitution” not the “country.” This phasing was no accident.  The difference is what separates a nation governed by the rule of law (the Constitution), as opposed to the rule of men (a nation state run by dictators). It is what separates a free and civilized nation from a barbaric fascist one. Rep. Cohen paraphrased the oath of office incorrectly for a reason. Whether consciously or unconsciously, he believes in the rule of men, not the rule of law. He thinks his “brand” should rule and those who share different beliefs are “domestic enemies.” That’s one small step away from calling them “terrorists,” and we all know the gigantic gulag grid that has been put in place to deal with “terrorists.” This man is very dangerous.

In Liberty,
Michael Krieger

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