Posted on 01/02/2017 6:47:15 AM PST by Sean_Anthony
Emoluments Clause is a big deal, and it was written to protect our country from foreign meddling and influence. But, most of Trump's personal economic benefits are not from foreign dignitaries or governments, but from private sources
The 1828 Webster’s Dictionary is our best source for defining the words used in the earliest articles of the United States Constitution. If we are going to pursue the original intent of the document written in 1787, it is only logical to pursue the original definitions of the words used in that document. Emolument is a term that appears in the U.S. Constitution’s first seven articles a total of three times. The word “Compensation” also only appears three times in the original Constitution.
The 2017 liberal dictionary says words mean whatever liberals want them to mean, don’t ‘cha know?
If a foreign entity or person pays the market rate for use of purchase of real estate, how does that influence a president?
An excellent article, but more importantly, a good thought process when “discussing” with the enemy about the USA, the Constitution and our rights.
George Washington had a working mega farm. He sold products all over the world.
The man was filthy rich.
And ceded none of it to be President.
1928 Webster’s Dictionary:
EMOL’UMENT, noun [Latin emolumentum, from emolo, molo, to grind. Originally, toll taken for grinding. See Mill.]
1. The profit arising from office or employment; that which is received as a compensation for services, or which is annexed to the possession of office, as salary, feels and perquisites.
2. Profit; advantage; gains in general.
King James Bible Dictionary
So it’s OK to come into office and make yourself rich by influence peddling but not ok to continue having a business when you enter office?
So it’s OK to come into office and make yourself rich by influence peddling but not ok to continue having a business when you enter office?
I have argued the same point in countless discussions about the NBC clause of the Constitution.
The flowery 18th century prose of the Framers has nearly become a foreign language to Americans of this age. That makes it all too easy for leftists and other domestic enemies of our freedoms to interpret the Constitution in any way they like.
Fortunately, there is no mystery as to the Framers' original intent, because we have ready access to dictionaries of their day.
It’s a bit rich to talk about Trump having a conflict of interest, when the Clintons have been positively wallowing in conflict of interest ever since . . . well, even Whitewater probably wasn’t their first rodeo.The Wall Street Journal had an editorial about Trump and the applicability of the Emoluments Clause. But even at that, they pointed out that it was unfair to hold a profit-making international businessman (one who, to be frank, had his candidacy laughed to scorn from its announcement date until, in many quarters, after 9PM on Election Night) to the same standard as a career politician WRT foreign financial dealings.
It is the duty of Congress to authorize Trump’s legitimate existing foreign financial arrangements. Democrat Congressmen who voted for Hillary! have no standing to argue - or vote - against it.
Face it, the Emoluments Clause is not self-enforcing; if a fuss is made over it Trump will say, “so sue me.” And any Republican who says, “OK” will have a serious primary opponent in the next election. Obama and Clinton both have set precedents - and Congress will do the least harm by just shutting up about Trump and Emoluments.
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