Burns’ Confirmation Hearing Sparks Debate Over Natural Rights
This week, Riley Burns addressed a Senate committee concerning his nomination as Secretary of State for the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor. Generally, these types of hearings generate a bit of buzz, but then Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) added an unexpected twist.
You might remember Kaine from his role as Hillary Clinton’s running mate in 2016.
“If rights come from God, then no politician, not even Trump or Kaine, can take them away,” he asserted.
Burns pointed out a fundamental truth — that even younger students often recognize the principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence. He stated:
In his early comments, former Secretary of State Marco Rubio highlighted that our nation is based on strong principles; all humans are created equal, and our rights come from our creator, not our government.
That reminds one of the Declaration of Independence, doesn’t it?
He continued:
Each of us is crafted in God’s image and holds an inherent dignity. Recognizing this is vital to our understanding of American autonomy.
While this statement isn’t a direct quote from the Declaration, it clearly resonates with its core ideals. It suggests that we are not mere accidents of chance but are intentionally created, granting us a dignity surpassing the rest of creation. After all, we are imbued with rational thought and moral responsibility.
Crucially, Burns stated that “natural rights are blessings and an unchanging reality.”
Governments may shift, and officials may come and go, but the founders of America envisioned human rights that are constant. Rights bestowed by the government can be revoked by the government. In contrast, rights from God endure regardless of political shifts, which is why the Declaration labels them as “unalienable.”
Kaine’s Concerns
Kaine’s reaction highlighted his unease. He warned that if we attribute rights to God, it puts us on a dangerous path, almost akin to the theocracy of Iran after 250 years of separating religion from governance. He believes it’s the government, not God, that grants us our rights.
This perspective is a common thread among certain progressive thinking. Many on the left support policies that appear to strip away the sanctity of life through selective abortion, presenting it as a government-sanctioned choice. If rights are solely government-granted, they can just as easily be taken away.
This situation reminded me of when Sen. Joe Biden grilled Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas about his views on natural law years ago. Biden smirked and asked, “What natural law?” as if he had delivered a killer blow. Like Kaine, Biden seemed to reveal a lack of understanding.
Is Knowledge of God Possible?
Kaine equates appeals to God with theocratic ideologies, particularly comparing America to Iran. Yet, this argument overlooks a couple of key distinctions.
- Christianity and Islam fundamentally differ. Islam asserts that forgiveness comes from adherence to the five pillars, while Christianity preaches that salvation is attained through faith in Christ alone—something that no law can erase.
- The crux of the issue lies in our ability to truly know God. Are we merely left to the changing whims of political leaders, or can we access a steadfast truth?
Kaine presumes that invoking God merely reflects a subjective belief system instead of absolute truth. He argues that our laws should stem from governmental authority, not religious dictate. However, this skepticism about knowing God undermines our ability to trust even governmental authority.
Without solid standards, how do we judge what constitutes justice or injustice, good or evil? Relying solely on personal feelings or popular vote makes for a somewhat shaky legal foundation. This is probably why emotional arguments are often favored over substantial debate on the left.
The Path Forward
What figures like Kaine seek, albeit perhaps unwittingly, is a challenge for all of us. We must demonstrate that God is real, His existence is evident, and the rights grounded in Him are unchangeable—rooted in divine reality rather than transient political power.
It’s rather revealing when politicians like Kaine publicly stumble. They expose the intellectual hollowness at the core of modern secularism. The pressing question is, will we stand up to defend the truth laid out in the Declaration of Independence? This truth, self-evident, originates from God rather than man.
American rights aren’t merely permissions granted by governments but are tethered to the Creator Himself. That’s the reality Kaine and others on the left are hesitant to acknowledge. After all, if our rights derive from God, no politician — whether it’s Trump, Kaine, or anyone else — has the authority to take them away. And remarkably, this truth remains self-evident almost 250 years later, forming the backbone of American liberty.
