Posted on 09/16/2008 7:36:45 AM PDT by GoingBacktoCali
Yesterday, the New York Post reported:
While campaigning in public for a speedy withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Sen. Barack Obama has tried in private to persuade Iraqi leaders to delay an agreement on a draw-down of the American military presence.
If true, Obama's behavior constitutes a clear violation of U.S. law. In particular, the Logan Act, 18 U.S.C. § 953, provides in relevant part:
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, with intent to influence the measures or conduct of any foreign government or of any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Thus, as a technical matter, Obama may be prosecuted -- and potentially imprisoned -- for his violation of U.S. law. As a practical matter, however, any such prosecution by the Bush administration would be seen as politically motivated and would almost certainly backfire. So while I'll be interested to learn more about these allegations, the possibility of Obama being "frogmarched" is essentially zero.
You may be thinking: but if Obama's actions are truly in violation of U.S. law, why shouldn't he be prosecuted? It's a fair question, but given that there have been no prosecutions in the history of this country for violation of the Logan Act, it's hard to imagine that such aggressive action by the Bush administration would fly legally, or more importantly, in the court of public opinion. So while the Republicans would do well to press this issue further, the attack should focus on Obama's judgment and leadership, rather than legal niceties.
What do you think?
It would require a government capable and willing to enforce laws ... can’t see that happening with “affirmative action” types.
Jon f’n Cary should’ve got 30 years.
Prison would be too good for this disgraceful excuse for a human being!
Teddy Kennedy didn’t go to jail for giving info to the soviets when he was fighting for the nomination against Carter.
Knock yourself out Señor Quixote
“Teddy Kennedy didn’t go to jail for giving info to the soviets when he was fighting for the nomination against Carter.”
He also skated on a DUI vehicular manslaughter
Cuff him.
I think at the least he should be imprisoned.
But then again I think Hanoi Jane should have been imprisoned, or executed....along with Kerry, Jimmy Carter, Pelosi, etc. etc. just to name a few we SHOULD have charged with violating the Logan Act at the minimum, treason at the most. Why Republicans don’t have the balls to charge these scumbags and take them to court I have no idea. Its maddening.
Any citizen of the United States, wherever he may be, who, without authority of the United States, directly or indirectly commences or carries on any correspondence or intercourse with any foreign government or any officer or agent thereof, in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than three years, or both.
Laws only apply to Republicans.
The Final Judgment is not that far off for Teddy Kennedy.
You would think he ought to show more alarm at that reality.
Obama and Kerry could share a cell!
The Logan Act doesn’t apply to celebrity entertainers like Obama. ;)
You say that jokingly but it is true.
Look at how many celebrities and politicians have visited Cuba with out the proper permits and have never been prosecuted.
To be imprisoned under the Logan Act would require the offender to be a Republican.
Dems break laws all the time. Obama is more dangerous than Charlie Rangel. As with Charlie, he might get a slap on the wrist and be told not to do it again. Don’t hold your breath. The MSM won’t hold any libs accountable for crimes especially treason as that is supported by the MSM who jumped on the Obama bandwagon as he did his summer tour of the world.
Jimma Carter is just an ordinary citizen operating without authoriy. Why hasn't he been prosecuted under this statute?
“”Hanoi Jane should have been imprisoned, or executed”” ——We ought to hang them by the neck till dead.
There is no difference between the accustory statement and the BHO Camp’s feeble rebuttal. His campaign spokesperson had to rephrase the denial in that redundant fashion because of the likihood of the fact that this conversation was recorded. Otherwise, his campaign would have eagerly issued a flat-out denial. Since they suspect, as do many others, that the offer to postpone troop withdrawal and undermine the administration was recorded by the Iraqis, this dumb@ss community organizer is stuck.
Zero deserves to be hammered relentlessly on this throughout the campaign. It should be the topic of campaign fodder ads featuring his blatent violation of policy & the Logan Act. coupled with his avoidance of visiting the troops.
This one issue should send his David Ploufter’s campaign strategy into a wicked tailspin. There is no defending the dingo’s lame attempt to manipulate his personal PR at the detriment of the troops & our mission.
What other countries (in addition to Canada-trade and Kenya-Odinga) has he cut deals with? What has he promised the EU? or Chavez? or Putin? This guy is so dangerous and full of unlimited gaul.
What an egomaniacal bufoon! He’s Over, and his leftist pacifist moonbat idolators should start burning their metrosexual bras in shame and flock elsewhere.
There needs to be a grassroots effort to bring formal charges against him. I’m assuming the GWB DOJ sits helpless and sucks their collective soothing thumbs.
.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.