Speech #1040235783

That was the primary thrust of sections 1 and 2 of the 14th amendment. What you have is the Supreme Court. the majority on the Supreme Court. the Sandra Day OConnor majority. the Clarence Thomas and Sandra Day OConnor majority insisting that only one section. in fact. one sentence is relevant. And that is section 1 of the 14th amendment. which talks about all persons born and naturalized in the United States and subject to the jurisdiction thereof are citizens of the United States and of the State wherein they reside. Why did the 14th amendment have to say that? It said it already in the Constitution before. Who were they talking about? What were they clarifying? When they say all persons born or naturalized. they mean a new group of people now that must be recognized. those people who had before been considered only threefifths of a man. They now must be recognized as full citizens of the United States. No States shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of the citizens of the United States. nor shall any State deprive any person of life. liberty. or property without due process of law. nor deny to any person within its Jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.