So the latest brouhaha in the otherwise fairly silent and respectable Attorney General’s race has been this little tete-a-tete in the Bearing Drift comments section, namely over Del. Rob Bell’s desire to have a constitutional convention. Yes, if you’re not familiar with the con-con movement, here is your introduction:
So what’s the beef?
Specifically, Delegate Rob Bell stands accused of co-patroning two bills: HJ 542 (2010) and HJ 100 (2012). You can read them for yourselves and tell see that Bell did indeed co-patron the bill, while HJ 100 — which was referred to Bearing Drift off the record as being filed in 2011 — has only Delegate Jim LeMunyon as a patron.
So what’s the big deal? Does this mean Rob Bell is… evil?!
Well, two small problems with HJ 542. First, it was co-patroned by such liberal squishes as Delegates Hugo, Lingamfelter, Garrett, Greason, Loupassi, Peace, Villanueva, and R. Lee Ware (my own delegate).
Second problem? Senate Joint Resolution 131 back in 2008:
Be it resolved that, the Commonwealth of Virginia petition the United States Congress under the provisions of Article V of the United States Constitution to call a constitutional convention to amend the Section 1 Fourteenth Amendment to the following:
Section 1. All persons born to at least one parent who is already a US Citizen or who are naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws. (emphasis original)
…and who joined in unholy league with these nefarious RINOs?
State Senator Ken Cuccinelli.
That’s who.
So let’s be fair here. The merits and demerits of a constitutional convention can be debated at length. But as a litmus test for conservatism?
Nah… pass on this one folks.
