A “Living” Declaration?

Anna Leutheuser / September 21, 2010

President Obama has finally stopped ignoring the Declaration of Independence altogether, but he still seems averse to certain elements of the founding document. In his remarks to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute annual awards gala, President Obama stressed the importance of Hispanics in American history, and declared that what “made us all Americans” was “faith and fidelity to the shared values that we all hold so dear.”

He continued: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, endowed…with certain inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness”. These are indeed unifying truths, but President Obama has taken artistic license with the Declaration. He conspicuously omits “endowed by their Creator”—and instead pauses, scowls, and seems to wait a moment (perhaps until the teleprompter rolls onto the next phrase?). (more…)