Posted on 04/22/2009 4:38:42 AM PDT by Scanian
During the presidential campaign, I alternately ground my teeth and laughed uproariously every time I heard Barack Obama described as a "former professor of constitutional law" on the basis of several years of part-time lecturing at the University of Chicago Law School. Obama supporters assured us that never had any presidential candidate before Obama been so wise, so learned, so scholarly in his knowledge of the U.S. Constitution (no, not even James Madison, Abraham Lincoln, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson . . .). Why, he wouldn't even need any help vetting Supreme Court nominations, but could do the work all by his lonesome. He could even appoint himself! And he probably should, except that we need him so much as president!! Or wait, couldn't he do both jobs at once? Is that permitted under the Constitution? Why, ask Obama—he'll know if anyone will!
So it was a truly delicious moment to read the lead from William McGurn's Wall Street Journal column today, in which he reproduces an exchange from one of last week's White House press briefings:
Helen Thomas: Why is the president blocking habeas corpus from prisoners at Bagram? I thought he taught constitutional law. And these prisoners have been there . . .
Robert Gibbs: You're incorrect that he taught on constitutional law.
(Excerpt) Read more at bench.nationalreview.com ...
Helen Thomas: Why is the president blocking habeas corpus from prisoners at Bagram? I thought he taught constitutional law. And these prisoners have been there . . .
Robert Gibbs: You’re incorrect that he taught on constitutional law.
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