This past week, Lamar Smith wrote an op-ed about our need to return to American Exceptionalism, which he feels we have lost. He wrote, "By returning to the ideas that underlie American exceptionalism, we can again lead the world. Ultimately, it is the American people who must live up to the principles of the Founders and demand that their representatives return the government to those core principles. It is in the people's hands to renew our national compact of liberty and equality and exceptionalism."

Lamar Smith misunderstands the meaning of American Exceptionalism from the start. It isn't that we talk about being unique and special, it is that each of us take the actions necessary to live up to that ideal. In my definition of American Exceptionalism, the American people work to uphold these principles daily. The reason that we do hold a special place in the world is that we offer opportunity and hope for humanity which is derived from our commitment to uphold our Constitutional ideals that are focused on equality, justice and freedoms in a Country which was built by immigrants. Taking this concept to an extreme to imply moral superiority to others, or that we are above international law, loses the entire basis of the ideal. It is the fact that we are a government for the people, by the people, that humbles us, and balances power and special interest.

Lamar Smith only talks about upholding the rule of law while his history of actions and legislation overstep Constitutional powers, and ignore rulings of the Judicial branch, which he admits have been established to "ensure that the other branches acted only in accordance with the Constitution." As a recent example, he has sponsored legislation to deny birthright citizenship to babies born in the US to illegal immigrant parents. Changing this fundamentally American policy, which in itself defines American Exceptionalism, would require changing the 14th Amendment to the Constitution according to many legal scholars. But Lamar Smith, exhibiting his fundamental misunderstanding of our founding ideals, uses his own political beliefs and ideology to restrict the rights of citizens rather than to expand them.  He imposes his ideology over advice of legal scholars, “We do not need to amend the Constitution to end birthright citizenship.”

To go even further, this past week, Lamar Smith has announced that he intends to introduce federal legislation this fall to define marriage as being between one man and one woman. He said, “I think it’s important for Congress to go on record saying that we need to respect the traditional definition of marriage — to recognize a standard that has served all civilizations for thousands of years.” Either he doesn't remember that Congress already went on record with this exact law, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), or he didn't hear that in July 2010, a federal court ruled that the section of DOMA that defined marriage as between a man and a woman violates the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the Due Process Clause of the 5th Amendment to the US Constitution, and also violates the 10th Amendment and falls outside Congress' authority under the Spending Clause of the Constitution. Of course, the other option is that he does know this, but hopes that the voters don't.

I have faith in the intelligence and clear thinking of our constituents, and believe that we can move beyond ideology and wedge issues. Take action in November to elect a Representative who truly understands our American and Texan Exceptionalism, and respects the wisdom of our founding ideals.