The great sin of the originalists is not to harbor a political agenda but to claim they do not, and to base that claim on a level of historical understanding they demonstrably do not possess.
In "American Dialogue: The Founders and Us," Joseph J. Ellis critiques originalist interpretations of the Constitution. He argues that originalists often deny having a political agenda, which he considers a significant flaw. This denial misrepresents their approach to historical analysis, suggesting they possess a deeper understanding of historical context than they actually do.
Ellis highlights the discrepancy between the originalists' claims and their actual grasp of history. He asserts that such a lack of comprehension undermines their credibility and the validity of their interpretations, calling into question the foundation of their arguments regarding constitutional issues.