The Wisdom Behind Protocol
The Denver Post
April 18, 1999

Let's review an important civics lesson. Our founding fathers charged the President of the United States with control of foreign policy. Not the Congress. Not state legislatures. Not governors. Congress plays a role through the appropriations process. Only Congress can officially declare war. But, according to our Constitution, the states have nothing whatsoever to say about foreign policy. Not anything. Zero.

All this is for good reason. Can you imagine what chaos we would have as a nation if our states tried to implement 50 different foreign policy positions on everything from sending bombers to Kosovo to negotiating free trade agreements? The states have many rights and that is beneficial to all of us. But, we, the United States, as a nation, present a united front on foreign policy issues, even when we don't all agree.

Now, human rights is a very important issue here and around the world. We Americans care deeply about human rights. We act on our beliefs as individuals, in organizations, in demonstrations, by contributing our money to help people and by hundreds of other acts. But, when a foreign leader comes to call, our state elected representatives have no official capacity in which to deliver foreign policy messages to him or her. State Senates are not Congress. Governors are not heads of state; they are heads of a state.

To overstep the bounds of protocol when welcoming a foreign leader is stunningly arrogant. It's especially silly when those who are posturing on human rights are opposed to granting equal opportunity to all groups in our own state, including gays and lesbians. Were any of these state officials part of the group protesting China's human rights and Tibetan policies when Premier Zhu Rongji was in Denver a week ago? If you really care about these issues, why not make a very personal and public statement by showing up in person, in the appropriate place, even if the weather is a little chilly, rather than doing what is inappropriate in the Capitol or at a formal dinner honoring our guest?

I wonder how many of those who voted for a resolution asking the Governor to chastise Premier Zhu are members of Amnesty International or any other human rights group? How many belong to organizations such as the Red Cross or Doctors Without Borders that feed starving refugees in Somalia, brave mud and drizzle and misery in Macedonia or protect little girls from being sold our of their villages to the brothels of Bangkok?

Yes, America needs to take strong stands on human rights. We must pressure nations-and there are many-that ignore their citizens' basic rights. We must grant political asylum to those who are refugees from terror, torture and imprisonment because of their political or religious views. This is truly the responsibility of a country that was founded on the principles of free speech, individual freedom and equal opportunity.

Of course, this also means that we need to keep the pressure on here at home. And there is plenty for our state leaders to do right here in Colorado. We can deal with our two Ute tribes as the sovereign nations they are, with respect for their traditions and laws. We can make sure that none of our citizens suffers discrimination in housing, hiring or access to higher education-not one! We can guarantee every child, no matter what her or his circumstances or place of residence, the opportunity to get an excellent and well-rounded education. We can make sure that all our children have basic health care. We can even listen respectfully to the points of view of those who differ with us, no matter what the issue may be. These, and many others, are areas in need of strong and caring state leadership.

Our Constitution gives each one of us the right to speak out on human rights, even in our elected capacities. But it is unseemly for elected officials to try to take on the role of the President or Congress and publicly chastise a foreign leader who happens to be a guest in our state. Our Constitution gives that responsibility to the President. We expect him to exercise that responsibility with discretion and care, in the best interests of all of us.