Alexander Snitker has urged fellow Senate candidates to sign the pledge.
SPRING HILL, FLORIDA – Libertarian Alexander Snitker is urging his political rivals for Florida's U.S. Senate seat to join him in signing the 10th Amendment Pledge. But, so far, Snitker is the only active candidate to sign the pledge.
The pledge, created by the Tenth Amendment Center, includes affirmations like “I do, and will continue to, oppose any and all efforts by the federal government to act beyond its Constitutional authority,” and “I will only vote in favor of a bill that I have thoroughly read, considered and understood.”
According to Andrew Nappi, the Florida state coordinator for the Tenth Amendment Center, all of the major U.S. Senate candidates have been invited to sign the pledge, but so far, only Snitker has done so. Candidates Charlie Crist and Kendrick Meek have not responded to the center's requests.
Nappi says he contacted the Marco Rubio campaign three times about the pledge before getting any response. In December 2009, a Rubio staffer told Nappi that he would “consider”
“I'm surprised that any candidate would refuse to sign this pledge. But I'm most disappointed with Marco Rubio's failure to sign it,” said Snitker. “How can you call yourself a Constitutional conservative, and then refuse to sign a pledge to uphold the Constitution?”
Snitker acknowledges that his rivals could benefit politically by signing the pledge. When asked why he would offer advice to his opponents, Snitker replied, “Some of my closest advisors warned me against it. Let's be clear. I'm in this race to win. However, what is far more important than me winning this election is ensuring that we have representatives who will defend our Constitutional rights against an unlimited – potentially tyrannical – federal government.”
The 10th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution is an additional limit on the power of the federal government, which reserves all powers not enumerated in the Constitution to the individual states, and to the people. Many Constitutional scholars view the 10th Amendment as the strongest defense citizens have against an authoritarian federal government.
It is the basis for the legal challenge to the new Health Care Reform Act by 13 states, including Florida. Other states have passed, or are debating legislation to block the federal insurance mandates based on state sovereignty under the 10th Amendment.
It is also a cornerstone of the tea party and conservative movements, who support a limited federal government.
A recent Gallup poll suggests conservatives are the single largest ideological group in America. One would think this would benefit the GOP, however the fastest-growing, and perhaps largest block of voters in this country are registered as independents. Snitker believes this is because the political discussion is too focused on Democrat vs. Republican, who have “both failed the to uphold the Constitution.”
“Conservatives will agree that this is the best way to reverse the federal government's takeover of the free market. Liberals will agree that this is the best way to guarantee equality and privacy for people of all races, genders, and lifestyles,”
According to Snitker, the 10th Amendment Pledge is a guarantee that the next class of politicians will do what is right for the people of all states, not just those who live inside the Washington beltway.
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