South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

South St. Louis County News

St. Louis Call Newspapers

President Bush simply following oath of office

President Bush simply following oath of office

To the editor:

There was an interesting subtlety in the cartoon you ran in the March 13 edition.

In this cartoon we see Charlton Heston, rifle in hand, sporting an NRA button, standing on President Bush’s desk, apparently giving the president orders. The subtlety, unnoticed by most I expect, was the papers on the desk on which Mr. Heston was standing.

What could they be? None other than the Constitution of the United States, of course.

For it is that very Constitution and the Bill of Rights contained within it on which the NRA, and Mr. Heston, stand.

While the cartoon wants to give the im-pression the President is “taking orders” from the NRA, he is in reality simply following the oath of office he took upon becoming president. He swore to “… Pre-serve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States …” That oath includes the entire Constitution, amendments and all.

The founders of our great nation understood all too well the value of basic liberties and enshrined them in our Constitution.

While there are many special interests that lobby government for money or privilege, or even to take money and privilege from others, those who lobby to preserve our freedoms are no “special” interest, they speak for the interests of us all, even if some still don’t seem to understand that.

Russell W. Dahmer

Green Park

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