The Democrats’ Latest Religious Test

No sooner did President Trump air at the Republican convention Secretary of State Pompeo s endorsement video recorded in Jerusalem than the Biden camp is unleashing a new objection that the secretary is too religious to represent all of the American people. We kid you not. This has got to be the most desperate, offensive, and unconstitutional claim against a state secretary that the Democrats have ever aired.

It comes from one of Mr. Biden s closest consiglieres, Susan Rice. She was President Obama s National Security Adviser and, before that, envoy at the United Nations. Vice President Biden had her on his short list for his running mate. She just gave an interview to MSNBC s Rachel Maddow in which she asserted that Mike Pompeo has been an overtly religious secretary or state, which in and of itself is problematic.

The reason it is problematic, Ms. Rice adds, is that he s supposed to represent all of America. Her implication is that because Mr. Pompeo is overtly religious he is unable to represent all of America. What a shockingly ignorant jibe. Never mind that Mr. Pompeo has been sworn to the Constitution, as the Constitution itself requires of all federal and state legislators, officers, and judges.

That requirement is in Article 6 of the Constitution. It is followed immediately by the word but. It says: but no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States. Feature the famous phrasing no . . . ever . . . any . . . It makes the religious test clause the most emphatic statement in the entire Constitution.

via www.nysun.com