Written by Walter Hecht   

Nullification is the doctrine that a state can declare a federal law null and void and not obey it. The American Civil War was fought over states' rights, nullification and slavery. The South lost and slavery died. States' rights and nullification advocates are still with us.

During the Civil War, the Union was defended by the Republicans and states' rights, nullification and slavery were defended by the Democrats. After the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the two parties switched sides. Now the Union is defended by the Democrats and states' rights, nullification and the former slave-states of the South are represented by the Republican Party.

The Republican Party at this time has embraced nullification. They are attempting to nullify the results of the 2008 and 2012 elections in which the voters elected and then re-elected President Obama. The doctrine of nullification was on the losing side in the Civil War. We must not let it be victorious now. The election in November, 2014, is all about nullification.