Speech
Statement to FreeRepublic.com's "Rally on the Capitol Steps" in Iowa
Alan KeyesDecember 5, 1998
(Dr. Keyes was unable to attend the Free Republic "Rally on the Capitol Steps" on Saturday, because he was on a previously scheduled Keyes 2000 visit to Iowa. He sent the following statement to the rally, which was read to the crowd on his behalf.)
In the life of a nation, as in that of an individual, there are moments of decision that, for better or worse, determine once and for all their fate. In the days ahead, through our representatives in Congress, we will come to such a moment. In and of themselves, Bill Clinton's perjuries and his sordid disregard for public conscience and decency constitute an assault on the Constitution and the moral foundations of decent family life. The lawless arguments of his defenders, in and outside of the Congress, however, add to his offenses an additional assault on the concepts of equal justice and the rule of law that are vital to our liberty. Given the gravity of the issues involved, we have the right to expect that our representatives will treat the issue of Clinton's felonies and misconduct with the utmost gravity. Instead, most Democrats and even some unprincipled Republicans act as if it can be decided by opinion polls and cowardly calculations of political expediency.
If we care for our nation, if we mean to preserve our Constitution and our institutions of self-government, we must do all we can to prevent the victory of these corrupt politicos. It may be that we cannot affect the callused consciences of the Clinton Democrats, but we can applaud the steely integrity of the Democrats willing to stand against them. We can especially influence the unprincipled calculus of the Republicans. They lament their losses in the last election. The truth is they remain, however tenuously, in control of the Congress despite their record of moral retreat and fiscal debauchery, only because some Americans saw them as the only hope for action with integrity on the impeachment issue. We must make it unmistakably clear to them that if they fail now to take such action, we will not forget their cowardice or forgive them for allowing the destruction of the principles of law and decent conscience on which our liberty depends.
It is therefore vitally important that Americans of conscience and integrity bring maximum pressure to bear upon their Congressional representatives as the impeachment process lurches toward its final act. We must communicate by all available means our insistence that the rule of law be respected, along with the oath each of our representatives has sworn to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution. Clinton has forsworn his oath. Will they also perjure themselves? We must make it clear that no one who does will ever again win our support, and that we will do all we can to defeat them in the next election and drive them, every one of them, from office.
I am sorry that long-standing commitments here in Iowa prevent me from standing with you today as I did some weeks ago, to speak these words in person. I am especially sorry that I cannot stand by the side of Congressman Bob Barr, who is one of those in Congress who has acted with rare courage and integrity on behalf of our Constitution and the rule of law. You can be sure though, that here and everywhere I go in the days ahead I will do my utmost to rally Americans to the cause of this Republic's survival in freedom, as you are doing today. Oppose lawlessness. Impeach Clinton. Save our conscience and our Constitution. If we are faithful to our true principles and the will of our Creator, we will prevail.
In the life of a nation, as in that of an individual, there are moments of decision that, for better or worse, determine once and for all their fate. In the days ahead, through our representatives in Congress, we will come to such a moment. In and of themselves, Bill Clinton's perjuries and his sordid disregard for public conscience and decency constitute an assault on the Constitution and the moral foundations of decent family life. The lawless arguments of his defenders, in and outside of the Congress, however, add to his offenses an additional assault on the concepts of equal justice and the rule of law that are vital to our liberty. Given the gravity of the issues involved, we have the right to expect that our representatives will treat the issue of Clinton's felonies and misconduct with the utmost gravity. Instead, most Democrats and even some unprincipled Republicans act as if it can be decided by opinion polls and cowardly calculations of political expediency.
If we care for our nation, if we mean to preserve our Constitution and our institutions of self-government, we must do all we can to prevent the victory of these corrupt politicos. It may be that we cannot affect the callused consciences of the Clinton Democrats, but we can applaud the steely integrity of the Democrats willing to stand against them. We can especially influence the unprincipled calculus of the Republicans. They lament their losses in the last election. The truth is they remain, however tenuously, in control of the Congress despite their record of moral retreat and fiscal debauchery, only because some Americans saw them as the only hope for action with integrity on the impeachment issue. We must make it unmistakably clear to them that if they fail now to take such action, we will not forget their cowardice or forgive them for allowing the destruction of the principles of law and decent conscience on which our liberty depends.
It is therefore vitally important that Americans of conscience and integrity bring maximum pressure to bear upon their Congressional representatives as the impeachment process lurches toward its final act. We must communicate by all available means our insistence that the rule of law be respected, along with the oath each of our representatives has sworn to uphold, protect and defend the Constitution. Clinton has forsworn his oath. Will they also perjure themselves? We must make it clear that no one who does will ever again win our support, and that we will do all we can to defeat them in the next election and drive them, every one of them, from office.
I am sorry that long-standing commitments here in Iowa prevent me from standing with you today as I did some weeks ago, to speak these words in person. I am especially sorry that I cannot stand by the side of Congressman Bob Barr, who is one of those in Congress who has acted with rare courage and integrity on behalf of our Constitution and the rule of law. You can be sure though, that here and everywhere I go in the days ahead I will do my utmost to rally Americans to the cause of this Republic's survival in freedom, as you are doing today. Oppose lawlessness. Impeach Clinton. Save our conscience and our Constitution. If we are faithful to our true principles and the will of our Creator, we will prevail.