SocraticGadfly: Beto batting 0-2 on recent constitutional issues

October 14, 2019

Beto batting 0-2 on recent constitutional issues

Just a month after proposing an almost certainly unconstitutional mandatory buyback for guns, Robert Francis O'Rourke is at it again. And on the wrong side of the constitution again. (My take on the gunz issue was NOT based on the Second Amendment; click the link to see why I stand where I do.)

Removing tax-exempt status from churches that oppose gay marriage is surely a First Amendment violation. Now, there IS a good argument to be made that the First Amendment and tax law are being interpreted incorrectly and NO CHURCH should have any tax exemption, or other tax favors beyond what other nonprofits do, but that's an entirely different issue. (It's an argument that, as a secularist, I totally support.)

Give props to Beto for supporting Colin Kaepernick's #TakeAKnee in the middle of his Senate campaign against Booger Ted Cruz. That was a great First Amendment defense. But Bob on a Knob is on the wrong side here.

I find the mix of ardent idealism and blatant pandering to be fascinating, I'll admit.

On the mandatory gun buybacks, I'll put it at 75 percent idealism 25 percent pandering.

Especially given that the churches issue was at an LGBTQ town hall, I'll generously put Beto at only 75 percent pandering, 25 percent idealism, on that one. Generously.

The split the other way around on the gunz may be a bit generous, too. Especially since Eric Levitz has now called out Bob on these two issues and more.

Update: Bob on a Knob has now moved from pandering to lying on gunz when he claims he hasn't promoted confiscation. Yes you have, dude; a MANDATORY buyback is just that.

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