Loudon native Joe LaBonte, 58, wants the country to learn about the U.S. Constitution. LaBonte, a truck driver from Provo, Utah, is in the early stages of a walking campaign - he calls it the Constitutional Restoration Tour - that he hopes will take him to all state capitals in the continental United States by next fall.
His journey began Sept. 17, the 220th anniversary of the Constitution's birth, in Augusta, Maine, and has taken him south to Concord, a total of 280 miles. If all goes according to plan, he'll have walked 14,000 miles when he's finished, ending Sept. 17, 2008, in Washington, D.C.
Why do this? I realized that in the Navy I took an oath to preserve and protect the Constitution against all enemies. . . . I began reading it, and I took a look at what was going on, especially after 2000 when the Supreme Court selected the president rather than the voters electing the president. It really fell apart for me there.
What are some of the worst governmental offenses? I'm looking at Abu Ghraib, I'm looking at Guantanamo Bay. Then I'm looking at Jose Padilla, who's in prison for three years before ever being charged, and that is so off the charts for me. The Constitution is there to protect our rights, to protect us from government. It's not there to give government control over our lives.
What's your opinion on the Browns and their refusal to pay federal income taxes? It's kind of like a sidebar issue. It's important constitutionally and needs to be addressed, but my focus right now is getting everyone picking up a copy (of the Constitution) . . . and at least read it.
Which presidential candidate do you support? The only ones you'll find who are constitutional are Dennis Kucinich and Mike Gravel. I have Republican friends, and they are terrified with what's going on because they don't have a Republican Party. You don't promote terror, you don't promote fear.
Are you confident you'll get your message out? All I can do is go out and do the best I know how through these kinds of conversations. If nobody wants to listen, I can't do anything about that.
