Pennsylvania state and socialist Chris Rabb, the Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District, has joined the growing chorus of Democrats denouncing the founding documents and core institutions in the country on our 250th anniversary. The Democratic socialist is running unopposed for Congress and will almost certainly be a member of Congress after November.
Rabb spoke at an event billed as “America at 250 — Trump Fascism, Historical Erasure, and the Battle Over Truth” at People’s Plaza on Independence Mall in Philadelphia.
He denounced the country as based on “stolen land and stolen labor.” He lashed out at the Declaration of Independence:
“Those screeds that were very lofty but were notoriously catering to a performative aspect of collective genius that purposely erased indigenous and black peoples…It created distance from an empire to help very privileged people continue that privilege and ultimately institutionalize that through the U.S. Constitution many years later. But it certainly did not provide independence to indigenous and black peoples. And we cannot talk about anything today without acknowledging that this is a nation born on stolen land & stolen labor.”
In Rage and the Republic, I discuss the inherent hypocrisy of our Declaration in declaring natural rights without denouncing the enslaving of so many in the country:
“The Founders understood that inescapable truth of natural law when they signed a Declaration that ‘all men are created equal.’ Despite this defining line, even some who opposed slavery saw little hope for a revolution that would seek to overthrow both the monarchy and slavery. Jefferson would have to make the concession in striking critical language from his draft. While Jefferson’s legacy would be forever stained by his own maintenance of slaves, he did attempt to condemn the institution of slavery. He was rebuffed by his fellow delegates who were willing to acknowledge the existence of a natural law while ignoring its implications for the enslaved people in the new nation.”
Rabb ignores how the Declaration laid the foundation for a more perfect union. Ours was the first major Enlightenment Revolution based on the belief that our rights came not from the government but from God. It embraced the principles that would ultimately prevail in ending this shameful stain on our nation.
“Fascism is not new. These systems of harm are built into the very fabric of this nation,..You cannot kill the beast until you name it. And that is difficult for many people who want to embrace certain tropes, certain narratives, whether it’s the American dream or American exceptionalism or the Protestant work ethic or so many other myths that do us no — they are a disservice.”
Rabb is not the first figure on the far left to denounce the “American dream” and “the Protestant work ethic” as harmful “myths.”
He pledged that he would be “one of the few unapologetic reparationists going to Congress,” joining a growing number of Democrats demanding billions in reparations for black Americans.
Many on the left are using the anniversary to condemn our founding principles or to decline to celebrate our Independence Day. This includes such demonstrations in states such as Massachusetts, which declined to join the celebration on the Mall for the 250th anniversary.
Recently, we discussed how a Massachusetts church ended the long-standing celebration of the Fourth of July to focus on the “on-going process within the congregation to better understand our own whiteness.”
John Adams once wrote his wife Abigail to predict that Independence Day would be:
“celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival. It ought to be commemorated as the Day of Deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade, with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from end of this continent to the other from this time forward forever more.”
Adams was virulently opposed to slavery as were many of the Founders. Many openly discussed their hope that the new nation would address slavery after it succeeded in establishing its independence. Those lofty values were ultimately realized at the cost of hundreds of thousands of lives in the Civil War.
The claim that fascism is a system “built into the very fabric of this nation” is absurd and demagogic. This nation defeated fascism and remains the oldest and most successful republic in history. Indeed, the left is claiming to be fighting fascism while seeking to take over the Supreme Court in a court-packing scheme while limiting such core human rights as free speech.
In “killing the beast,” the far left is threatening to unleash the very forces that destroyed the contemporary revolution in France at the time of our founding. These voices are not new. They have been part of this republic — and other republics — throughout history. They are the voices of mobocracy that we rejected 250 years ago. That is precisely why Benjamin Franklin was right that this is, and will remain, our Republic to keep.
Jonathan Turley is a law professor and the New York Times best-selling author of “Rage and the Republic: The Unfinished Story of the American Revolution.”
If there are not sufficient sane voters, from both parties plus independents and libertarians, who cannot outvote these communists/progressive ideologues in this next set of elections, then this nation is toast. These cretins are demographically ahead of us now and if this is not stopped we can forget about the greatest government yet devised and resign ourselves to a dwindling concept of freedom and free enterprise as we watch the nation become california with a tinge of chicago cesspool.
You forget to factor in the fact that those socialists etc. have taken office based on very low voter turnout. Also, make voting mandatory for all citizens, which the forces all voters to ID themselves at the polls.
Yeah Baby! That is what makes America GREAT! The ability of slack jawed troglodyte voters from Filthadelphia to raise up the new leader of their low IQ tribe to represent their dead-end values and desires if FABULOUS! Only in America can you rise from being a full time grifter on the public dollar as a Union rep, teacher, legislative aide, and a state representative to the Federal level where you can clean up with legal Insider Trading and then a lobbying career after you fail. FAKE IT TILL YOU MAKE IT!!!!!
Manifest the soft bigotry of low expectations for the intelligence of the low information voters. Seize on the message that works and run with it. The name of the game is power. Reparations take the hind post. They who willingly suffer fools will cut their own throats and the rest of ours as well.
Who had enigmainblack being in the 1st 20 comments on their bingo card?
Wishing Everyone a Happy 250th Fourth of July,
As our nation approaches its 250th birthday, I find myself reflecting on the extraordinary privilege of living in the United States. We are blessed to call this remarkable country home.
Our Founding Fathers possessed extraordinary vision and courage. Yet they could never have imagined the technological advances, cultural changes, and global challenges that would unfold over the next two and a half centuries. What they did provide, however, was a timeless framework that would allow each generation to build upon their vision.
Those guiding principles are found in the Preamble to the Constitution:
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The phrase, “to form a more perfect Union,” acknowledges that our nation would never be perfect, but that each generation has both the opportunity and the responsibility to strive toward that ideal.
I am also reminded of the words of President Ronald Reagan in his farewell address:
“You can go to live in France, but you cannot become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany, or Turkey, or Japan, but you cannot become a German, a Turk, or a Japanese. But anyone, from any corner of the Earth, can come to live in America and become an American.”
Those words beautifully capture what has always made America unique. We are a nation united not by ancestry or birthplace, but by a shared belief in freedom, opportunity, and the enduring ideals upon which our Republic was founded.
As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, may we remember that the strength of our nation has always rested in its people—their character, their willingness to serve one another, and their commitment to preserving the blessings of liberty for generations yet to come. May we continue the work of forming that “more perfect Union.”
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.”
Amen
Have a Happy 250th 4th,
Thomas O
Kiawah Island, SC
Contrarian (just say ‘in):
Rabb could say that The Founders and Those that came before them (mainly Europeans) are “Squatters” and the Declaration of Independence is merely a Squatter’s ‘Fake Lease’.
of which laid the foundation of the Fraud. The original fraud was the theft from the Native North Americans, and later the lives of those whom were put under Servitude under the color of the fraudulent lease (K).
(Rabb argues, as here We are today, Servitude under the color of the Constitution)
There is a fundamental problem here. How can a Party (Founders) say that: Nobody Owns this (Lands, Resources, …), Then claim ownership to it, with a self-manufactured Title.
That doesn’t jibe. It’s a fake Foundation. (in Rabb’s book)
Rephrase: simplify Rabb
The Founders were Squatters with a fake lease (US 1776), totally confiscating the property and rightful occupants.
“Adams was virulently opposed to slavery as were many of the Founders.”
Adams was far more forgiving of slavery than Turley acknowledges. When he moved into the Presidents House (White House) still under construction. Slaves worked on the outside finishing construction and landscaping. When the kitchen staff he initially hired proved unreliable and drunkards, many of their replacements were slaves, leased through a third party because Adams didn’t own any (unlike Jefferson who brought his own from Monticello to accommodate a quick turnaround after a contested election). When Jefferson sent for his daughter, Polly, to come to Paris, along with 14-year-old Sally Hemings. They stopped off in London for a week and stayed with Abigail Adams (John was at The Hague. Abigail wrote Jefferson saying how immature Sally was and unqualified to be a governess. Jefferson found another use for her. Slaves owned by others often accompanied guests in the Presidents House and the Adams home. That doesn’t sound like virulently opposed to me.
As to Jeffersons early draft containing “critical language” about slavery. He remained silent the rest of his political career. How long should he get credit for words that weren’t used or for words he didn’t mean?
So, just because all Founders were hypocrites vis-a-vis slavery doesn’t make them slavers. Fact is, they couldn’t stop slavery with the swipe of a pen. More like, they couldn’t. You forget, or ignore, democracy requires compromise. In order to create that perfect union, comprises had to be made.
Don’t forget 900,000 Whiteys were killed and wounded to free the black race. BTW, I have a bill for services rendered by my ancestors who died. Where do I send it?
That bill, deduct it from those reparations.
He’s got valid points.
Can we go back to saying the Pledge of Allegiance in schools now?
After the decision in Trump v. Barbara, it remains to be seen whether Ben Franklin’s Republic can, in any event, be kept. The “fundamentally transform America” Democrats and their malignant offspring, the communistic Democratic Socialists of America, seem intent on destroying the nation rather than observing, let alone celebrating, its 250th birthday.
Get out and vote unless you all want to go back to hardcore leftist censorship and having trans garbage pushed onto your children. Oh, and if you complain about it, their leftist FBI will call you a domestic terrorist!
VOTE! Get off your lazy bums and vote!
The truth is usually found somewhere in the middle, not by the extreme wings of either party.
Most Republicans are probably non-racist Americans of the Judeo-Christian faith.
In the summer of 1776, Rabb’s ancestors likely were slaves with no rights at all. Why would Rabb celebrate Independence Day when his ancestors were excluded?
Although the Founding Fathers were highly hypocritical in 1776, Christian minister Martin Luther King, Jr realized the U.S. Constitution was designed to be amended with changing times.
The genius of MLK was that he realized that the U.S. Constitution and its subordinate laws were the greatest tool for advancing the rights of everyone, including African-Americans.
Why would anyone celebrate a document and holiday that excluded them?
“He pledged that he would be “one of the few unapologetic reparationists going to Congress,” joining a growing number of Democrats demanding billions in reparations for black Americans..”
He should make it clear that only Democrates will be assesed a special tax for this. In addition, Families of Union soldgers that were killed should get 10 times more.
Then before payment democrates need to learn history.
If fact, since Johnson’s Great Society policies, all monies paid to blacks should be credited against eventual reparations payments. Bottom line – blacks owe the USA. Black owe whites everything.
Also thinking, congress should address the geocidal actions (murder, rape, drugs, terrorism etc.) of blacks against whites in the USA.
Cool, cool – but when was the last time a sitting President repeated denounced and tried to change the Constitution because it said something he didn’t like? THAT’S RIGHT KIDS – PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP! Just remember – nobody hates the Constitution like Republicans do.
Give us specific examples? I have not seen President Trump denounce of try to change the Constitution.
President Trump support and loves the Constitution like no other modern day president. President Trump supports the Bill of Rights too. It’s the Democrats who violated the 1st Amendment under Biden with his working with Big Tech to shut people up and his ‘Disinformation Governance Board’ (communist Ministry of Truth). It’s the Democrats continually working to end the 2nd amendment.
President Trump has consistently worked within the framework of the Constitution, and Executive power. The fact radical leftist judges are insurrectionist doesn’t negate that and the fact their stays are continually overturned by the Supreme Court is absolute proof of their judicial insurrection.
I’ll second that.
President Trump has consistently worked within the framework of the Constitution, and Executive power. Correct.
These repackaged communists have no actual convictions. They brand a democratic republic a fascist state and yet they continue to support the “fascist” state and it’s apparatus through taxes and levies which they pay willingly. They spend large sums to garner “votes” which they believe are a sham in order to rule the plebs they denounce! Will any of them actually live their convictions by not paying taxes and not supporting the fascism they descry and take the consequences of righteous action? Are they not at least tacitly supporting the genocide they claim to oppose by funding the “beast”?
How can these newly elected people take an oath, which they are required to do, to support the very constitution they claim to hate? The House should refuse to seat anyone who has openly oppposed our government. Even if they lose in court it would take years and illustrate to the American people how awful these people are.
And yet not one socialist/DSA can name a country that’s better at freedom, anywhere, anytime.
Where does that hate come from? Education system, most likely.
They also never want to leave the ‘vile, racismus, phoobic’ US of A for one of these better countries
True that. Guessing no other country would put up with their childish temper tantrums.
Their hate and rage rationalize their greed and lust for power. We can vote away our rights, security, freedom and prosperity by failing to vote. That is how these socialists are gaining power. Rabb is running unopposed because no one in her district cared enough to stand against her, Democrat or Republican.
I have said that the Declaration of Independence is the ring‑bolt to the chain of your nation’s destiny; so, indeed, I regard it. The principles contained in that instrument are saving principles. Stand by those principles, be true to them on all occasions, in all places, against all foes, and at whatever cost. Frederick Douglass 1852
Douglass isn’t giving the Founders a pass. He is calling them out. But he is crystal clear that the Declaration’s natural‑rights creed is the very ammo you use to blow apart slavery and every other system built on denying human equality.
Olly, you declaring war on unbelievers? BTW, the USA Constitution is not a system that guarantees personal freedoms. Only in theory.
OLLY,
That is the part I dont get or should I say, they (Rabb and the like) dont get.
At the time was it perfect?
Of course not.
But the tools and the means were there.
The 19thA and Civil Rights Acts as examples.
What would this country look like if we adopted a different form of government 250 years ago?
Upstate, here is what Rabb and his crowd never square up with. The founding was dirty on the ground. Slavery, no vote for women, all of it. But the Declaration and the Constitution gave us the tools to tear that junk out over time.
That is where the Reconstruction Amendments, the 19th Amendment, and the Civil Rights Acts got their teeth. If we had built some other system 250 years ago, with no written natural‑rights creed and no limits on power, you might never get a Douglass using the Declaration as ammo or a civil rights movement able to drag America back to its own promises instead of begging for new ones.
The problem was the people betraying the framework, not the framework itself.
What other forms of government were around in the 1770’s?
I further challenge them to name a better country.
Chris Rabb and her political allies are quite subhuman literally “Beasts”. Any justified consequences of verifiable identification with that term should be literally visited on their heads.
Oh come on, subhuman? Why resort to such terms? Lack of vocabulary? They’re deluded, at best.
In 2020-2021 politicians decided that radical left was the way to go and they opined on every issue with that perspective. Sadly, for them, the nation went back to center-right and these Democrats were stuck with all of these videos, texts and Tweets being out there for Republican commercials and it crushed them. Ask Harris how much her trans insanity harmed her in 2024.
Even just today we have Governor Newsome doubling down on his support for trans kids in sports as his way to try to win the nomination. However the nomination is NOT the prize, the general election is and this will come back to bite him in a huge way.
Let the leftists take over House seats in blue cities, let them screech about all of their far left insanity in order to win their little districts, the nation writ large is not for hating the Declaration or the Constitution, not for open borders, not for no police, not for no prisons, not for boys in girls sports and not for Hamas and Gays for Palestine.
Stupid comment. As usual.
HullBobby,
The establishment Democrats thought they could ride the far leftist DSA tiger and tame it.
It appears they thought wrong and the tiger turned on them.
It is being reported Rep. Jeffries is seeking to re-draw the NY maps to include NYC to undermine two DSA wins, Brad Lander and Claire Valdez.
Then there was the win in CO over a 15 term “progressive” Democrat to a DSA member.
Moderate and traditional Democrats seem to be waking up they have a problem. And part of that problem is establishment Democrats who enabled the far leftists.
perhaps we did not truly avoid the terror of the french revolution, we merely succeeded in pausing it.