Government

Blaze Magazine Interview With David Barton: ‘Saving History’

Editor’s note: Every issue of The Blaze Magazine includes an exclusive “In the Hot Seat” interview with movers, shakers and celebrities we believe Blaze readers would like to get to know a little better. For the latest issue, Mike Opelka talked with David Barton, founder and president of WallBuilders, a national pro-family organization that presents America’s forgotten history and heroes, and a man whose knowledge of American history is so complete that Glenn Beck refers to him as “the Library of Congress in shoes.” David’s latest book, “The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You’ve Always Believed About Thomas Jefferson,” was released in April and remains among the top sellers of political biographies.

Here is a taste of the newest “In the Hot Seat” feature. The full interview is available only in The Blaze Magazine.

———-

Blaze Magazine Interview With David Barton: Saving HistoryBLAZE: Your personal collection of American history contains thousands of original documents from the founding of our country. Is there one document you would most like to have as part of your private collection?

BARTON: Not long ago, I was offered the opportunity to purchase the deed to the Mayflower—the ship on which the Pilgrims traveled to America. I would have dearly loved to have had that deed, but it was beyond my budget. That document, representing that historic ship, was the epitome of the Pilgrims; and the Pilgrims produced the Mayflower Compact—the first government document written in America—a republican form of government; private property ownership, with land being purchased from the Indians; the birth of the civil rights movement through their opposition to slavery; the start of common school education; protection for the rights of religious conscience; and so many other American attributes. The Pilgrims are truly national heroes, and the deed was a document I would have loved to have.

BLAZE: Which Founding Father would you most like to have dinner with?

BARTON: I would have to say that two rank equally high, but for different reasons. One is George Washington, but I’d probably just sit there and stare in dumbfounded silence. The other is Thomas Jefferson, but in his case, I would definitely not be silent. I just finished the book “The Jefferson Lies,” drawing from his 19,000 letters to help set the record straight about him, for 20th century secular progressive liberal historians have very effectively tarnished his life and character. I would specifically ask him about all of the modern lies about him, and I would record all of his answers on camera and then broadcast that tape on every network across the nation to restore Jefferson to a place of honor and veneration.

BLAZE: We’ve just marked 50 years without prayer in public schools. As a man of great faith, how would you go about returning prayer to our public schools and not offend different religions?

BARTON: The 1962 decision that struck down school prayer openly acknowledged that school prayer at that time was both voluntary and non-denominational, yet the court decided it was time for prayer at schools to stop. Period. I believe the voluntary approach is still the best approach.

By the way, recent polling shows that some 82 percent of the nation supports daily, voluntary, spoken prayer at public schools, and 86 percent support prayers to begin government meetings, whether Congress, state legislatures or city councils.

***

Read the rest of the full interview only in the pages of The Blaze Magazine and get answers to these questions:

  • What is the most misunderstood document among the founding documents?
  • If you were to line up the American presidents in order of their “greatness,” who would you put in the top three spots; and who would be in the bottom three?
  • In your opinion, who is the greatest American never elected president? (In other words, someone who ran for the office, but lost.)
  • Did any of your children ever come home from school with a failing grade in history?
  • And more . . .

Subscribe to The Blaze Magazine today.

Comments (33)

  • ScarletRose
    Posted on July 7, 2012 at 7:42pm

    Split the blanket. There is no benefit to the human race of any Marxist – having Dims/Marxists in the Federal Government should be classified as an act of Treason.
    Who would ever miss them? Oh, yeah, the RINO Enablers who are also guilty of Treason, like John McCain. Wash them out.

    Report Post » ScarletRose  
  • grownup
    Posted on July 7, 2012 at 2:28am

    I’m with the others, Glenn, hire Mr. Barton, have him do his own history show each week.

    Report Post »  
    • RayOne
      Posted on August 5, 2012 at 2:15pm

      I would ask Mr. Barton, what of the NEA should be saved, then ‘pink slip’ the rest.

      Report Post » RayOne  
  • blair152
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:39pm

    Sounds like a good book.

    Report Post »  
  • MAX0O1
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:23pm

    Blaze wrote a comment still looking for it!

    Report Post »  
  • 65Mustang
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 5:08pm

    I thought Jon Stewart, Maher and other so-called-comedians could not be held accountable for anything they said regarding social matters because, after all “they are comedians…why would anyone put any stock in Stewart’s interview with the constitutional historian, Richard Beeman? Come on ENCINOM, put up or shut up.

    Report Post »  
  • RockLakeGuy
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 4:33pm

    Encinom, what I find interesting is your biased comments without substantiated proof on your position. You claim Barton retracts, because he is caught in a lie. Barton, in the piece you offered, retracts to establish a higher standard of literary proof than others normally use.

    If your commentary is against Christianity, say so. If it is against a statement read from the original source, as Barton does, consider realigning yourself with reality. Your running statements of Barton lying without proof on your part does more than suggest your position is one that refuses to be swayed by fact. It reflects an unreal bias.

    Report Post »  
  • ScarletRose
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:25pm

    The Dims are so foolish – they think they can sell it that they, the DIMS are Authentic and foundational. Yet this generation can see the utter DESTRUCTION the DIMS are wrecking on this nation. AND THE FACT IS, the Founding Fathers that the DIMS HATE SO DESPERATELY did create something so strong and HEALTHY, that it has still withstood so many decades of Dim Marxist Destruction. The Dim Marxists are NOT CAPABLE and NEVER have built anything near remotely like what Our Founding Fathers built. IF the Founding Fathers did it by AGREEING with Modern DIMS, then the Modern Dims wouldn’t have so many Solid Social Structures to DISMANTLE as they have been working on all these decades. This modern rabid deconstruction of ANTIQUES proves the Founding Fathers were OPPOSITE Modern Dim Marxists and obviously are everything and more that David Barton and Old Manuscripts say and prove the Founders to be.
    Otherwise, Josef Stalin would not see their structures as something he needed to see taken down in order to be able to defeat America for Marxism.
    Marxists haven’t got the train of logic needed for simple survival.

    I.E. – Reckon anyone in the East coast has been screaming more for their electricity than the DIMS – who are celebrating OBAMA shutting down Electric Power Plants?

    Report Post » ScarletRose  
  • ScarletRose
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:14pm

    Too bad, the revisionists have already well-established their lack of credibility, based on their Marxist philosophies – and too many folks still live who have seen the older textbooks that were filled with Founding Fathers’ FACTS.

    Report Post » ScarletRose  
  • ScarletRose
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:06pm

    I would vote for David Barton for President of the United States of America.

    Report Post » ScarletRose  
  • VA firebrand
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:06pm

    We need a REAL History Channel, not a Re-written one.

    Report Post »  
  • BurntHills
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:05pm

    Mr Barton sure sets off the rabid little mindless obamatrolls, doesn’t he. we love it, he hits them with THE TRUTH and they sure cannot handle it, so blinded and mindless because of their filthy god obama are they..

    Report Post » BurntHills  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 1:42pm

      Barton’s lies are not truths, they only serve to cloud the minds of weak minded tea baggers.

      Report Post »  
    • ScarletRose
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:09pm

      David Barton is AUTHENTIC – the Dim Marxists cannot begin to comprehend what that is.

      Report Post » ScarletRose  
    • Pounding_hammer
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:17pm

      Hey ENCINOM, care to back your your accusations with some evidence?

      What lies did he tell, and what is the truth to those lies?

      Please, speak now, or forever hold your peace.

      Report Post » Pounding_hammer  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 6:01pm

      @Hammer Time, already did in a earlier post. The problemis that dim witted beckerheads are easily fooled, just show them a cross and their ability to think goes out the window.

      Report Post »  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on July 7, 2012 at 6:36pm

      Encinom – Since when have you Marxists ever been able to think?

      Report Post »  
  • shagphil
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 12:31pm

    It’s very interesting. I get more “chuckles” with the debating of the “commenters” than with the actual article or the theme of the article. Commenters are fascinating…sometimes good (whether I agree or not) and sometimes idiots (whether I agree or not) …just saying…my personal opinion….not necessarily fact!

    Report Post » shagphil  
  • bigdaddyt46
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:11am

    i like this guy alot. he is one smart cookie, and a strong Christian to boot.

    seen on a bumper sticker on a car at Krogers while on a visit to Lake Charles, LA:

    Dear God,
    why is there so much violence and hated in school today.
    singed a concerned Christian

    Dear concerned Christian,
    because i’m not allowed in
    singed GOD

    Report Post » bigdaddyt46  
  • majasdad
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 9:24am

    “Saving history”??
    “Making up history” would be a better description of David Barton’s agenda.

    Report Post »  
  • mike_trivisonno
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:09am

    David Barton should do a weekly American history show on The Blaze video feed.

    Report Post » mike_trivisonno  
    • tess q
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 8:57am

      i agree.

      Report Post » tess q  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:51am

      More like a weekly comedy show, the “history” he teaches is nothing more than bad christian fiction.

      Report Post »  
    • Git-R-Done
      Posted on July 7, 2012 at 6:37pm

      Encinom – Don’t get mad that you Marxists have been exposed as liars and frauds.

      Report Post »  
  • historyguy48
    Posted on July 6, 2012 at 6:40am

    This man is fascinating and his attempts to correct revisionist history are valiant.

    Report Post » historyguy48  
    • encinom
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 10:52am

      How does Barton correct history, when he preaches lies about the founders?

      Report Post »  
    • Pounding_hammer
      Posted on July 6, 2012 at 3:19pm

      What lies?!

      You need to back up your complaints, man

      Report Post » Pounding_hammer  

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