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| https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdLIerfXuZ4 |
Joanna Scutari, a self-proclaimed “logician” and self-trained
constitutional "expert", has been running around the South
for a few years giving presentations to small conservative groups on
the U.S. Constitution. She operates under the pseudonym "Publius
Huldah".
Her
conclusions on many topics are not only controversial, they are
considered by real constitutional experts to be flat wrong,
particularly regarding the Article V state convention method of
proposing amendments and her support for nullification.
The
question has arisen as to whether her choice to hide behind a
pseudonym matters or not. The question behind the question: who is
Ms. Scutari and should I listen to her?
Lest
you think the use of a pseudonym and knowing the true identity of a
speaker is not a question for serious discussion, be aware that some
of the issues Ms. Scutari discusses in her presentations are very
serious indeed. When it comes to how the states should address
federal overreach, the very future of our constitutional republic
hangs in the balance. This is about what lawful, moral and civil
methods all citizens should and could use to prevent our country from
falling off a political cliff or a financial cliff -- an event that
most people believe is not too far in our country’s future unless
there is a quick and thorough course correction.
When
having serious presentations on such a serious topic, does hiding
behind a pseudonym matter? Does hiding your background matter? Does
knowing your speaker matter? Yes to all three questions.
First,
just think about Ms. Scutari’s choice to use a pseudonym. If you
decided you wanted to learn about the constitution and then start
making public presentations about what you have learned, would you
have chosen to use a pseudonym? Have any of you heard any speakers
who make serious, live presentations on how to save our country, or
on any constitutional law topic, using a pseudonym? Of course not.
Most people who want to be taken seriously on serious topics in live
presentations use their real names. Why use a pseudonym? To hide
your lack of training or recognized expertise? To hide something in
your past? To provide entertainment value to your presentations?
Why? At best, the choice to use any pseudonym is just bizarre. At
worst, it could be used to hide sinister motives and objectives.
