Earlier in the year there was a piece of political satire floating around the bloggernacle, that the White House had plans to rewrite the oath enlistees into the military take and have them swear allegiance to the office of the president instead of the constitution…it went something like this.
“Secretary of Defense Robert Gates is extremely frustrated with orders that the White House is contemplating. According to sources at the Pentagon, including all branches of the armed forces, the Obama Administration may break with a centuries-old tradition.
A spokesman for General James Cartwright, the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, states that the Obama Administration wants to have soldiers and officers pledge a loyalty oath directly to the office of the President, and no longer to the Constitution.”
Of course the “news report” was a spoof as was clearly stated on the blog that ran it Jumping in Pools but I must admit that the idea that something like this could happen in the USA has crossed my mind more than once. This passing thought becomes more intense for me every four years when I am reminded that the ”cult” of the presidency is larger than life and much more influential than our founders intended.
An article in Reason magazine back in June of 2008 put it best that “…the Founding Fathers designed a presidency of modest authority and limited responsibilities. The Constitution’s architects never conceived of the president as the man in charge of national destiny. They worked amid the living memory of monarchy, and for them the very notion of “national leadership” raised the possibility of authoritarian rule by a demagogue ready to create an atmosphere of crisis in order to enhance his power.”
But are we anywhere near an actual leader-worship style of government as some on the right fear? Is Obama any more influential in a cultic sort of way than other previous presidents or candidates (think JFK, RFK and Regan)? Might that day come when we would actually be swearing allegiance to the Prez, instead of our founding document? Executive power was expanded greatly under George Bush and contrary to his campaign rhetoric it’s still expanding under Barack Obama – Although I don’t think we’re exactly at that point as a nation I do get chills when I see the kind of devotion “Obama-ites” show their hero, so let us as a people recognize the dangers of following any leader no matter how charismatic and no matter from which party lest we end up seeing our children recite and oath not unlike one heard before in another land rather than the pledge in school…
“I swear: I will be faithful and obedient to Adolf Hitler Barack Obama,leader of the German American state and people, to observe the law, and to conscientiously fulfil my official duties, so help me God”