The Gathering Threat to Freedom

by Ken Blackwell - July 17th, 2008 - Townhall.com

The First Amendment freedom of conscience naturally divides into two parts. The clauses on free speech, a free press, freedom to assemble, and freedom to petition the government to allow us to express ourselves personally or through the press to speak about any issue. The clauses on the establishment of religion and free religious exercise protect our right to believe according to the dictates of our own conscience. These are the twin pillars of a society where hearts and heads are free.

So true. And yet the Republican Party has nominated a man who, no matter how patriotic, does not understand freedom at all. John McCain is only marginally better than Barack Obama with regard to the reason patriotism in America is stronger than most other nations. Individual freedom starts with the two freedoms defended by Ken Blackwell, and yet few (even Republicans) seem to understand what that means.