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A President Who Won't Uphold the Constitution? Never.
Townhall.com ^ | October 29, 2008 | Laura Hollis

Posted on 10/30/2008 6:01:26 AM PDT by Kaslin

Well, now we know why Barack Obama’s been so reluctant to have symbols of this country associated with his campaign.  No flags on his airplane.  Nix to pins on his lapel.  Not inclined to put his hand over his heart during the national anthem.

After all, it turns out he has a problem with that other slightly more significant representation of our nation, the United States Constitution.

Just as he tried to prove to everyone that his patriotism was demonstrated by the lack of symbols of the United States, so he is now arguing that his passion for the Constitution is demonstrated by his commitment to shredding it.

The Drudge Report and other legitimate investigative sources like the National Review, have exposed the most damning evidence yet of Barack Obama’s utter disregard for the core principles of the United States government.  In a radio interview given in 2001, Obama reveals yet again about what he means by ‘equality,’ when he says, “…the Supreme Court never entered into the issues of redistribution of wealth, and sort of more basic issues of political and economic justice in this society.”

Bad?  Sure.  Because now it’s not just “spread the wealth” a little bit (antithetical as that already is to American notions of hard work and prosperity).  It’s that “redistribution of wealth” is part and parcel of Obama’s vision of what is “political and economic justice” in this society.

But it is much worse.  Because this Harvard-educated lawyer then announces that the United States Supreme Court when headed by Chief Justice Earl Warren, was “not radical enough,” in its pursuit of civil liberties, because “[i]t didn’t break free from the essential constraints that were placed by the Founding Fathers in the Constitution.”

If this has not stopped you dead in your tracks, either you don’t understand, or you’re already dead.  What Obama is doing here is expressing his opinion that the Court would have better effectuated his definition of “political and economic justice” if it had been willing to ignore the limits placed upon it by the Constitution.

I have written elsewhere of Obama’s potential designs on the country, and his inclinations should he obtain the power he seeks.  Many of the hypotheticals I posited then were pooh-poohed by readers, who said, in essence, “He’d never do that; the Constitution prevents it.”

At this point, any belief in Obama’s respect for constitutional limits is delusional.  If he is so cavalier about the Constitution’s limits upon the power of the judiciary, why on earth would he respect the limits on the power of the Presidency?  Or on Congress?  Clamor for the reinstatement of the insidiously named “Fairness Doctrine” has already put the First Amendment in Obama’s sights.  What would be sacrosanct about the Second?  Or the Fourth?  Or Fifth?  Or Eighth?  Why would Obama let any constitutional limit stand in the way of what he views as “political and economic justice”?

These views are why Obama’s acquaintances, associates and allies matter.  Why his Alinskyite “by any means necessary” philosophy matters.  Why we should care that he funds and takes money from people who say they hate or wish to undermine America.  Why we should be concerned when he took spiritual sustenance from a man who spends much of his time condemning white people.  This is what drives Barack Obama.  And this is why he wants the Presidency.

The rest of Obama’s observations during this interview are just as asinine, and just as threatening.  He says, “generally the Constitution is a charter of negative liberties: [It] says what the states can’t do to you, says what the federal government can’t do to you, but it doesn’t say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf.”

This is deception.  As an initial matter, few listening to him would understand the gobbledygook, “negative liberties.”  But more importantly, he never explains that the United States Constitution is the oldest constitution in effect in the world.  And that is no accident.  It is the oldest, because it is the only constitution I am aware of that is drafted the way it is.  Specifically, other constitutions list certain rights that the government conveys upon the people.   Or, to put it as Obama did, the things “government must do on your behalf.”

Our Constitution, by contrast, has precisely the opposite construction.  We, the people, are presumed to have all the rights, not just those written down in the Constitution.  (And the Declaration of Independence states that these rights are “endowed by our Creator;” not by any government.)

Lest this be unclear, the drafters of the Constitution put it in writing.  The Ninth Amendment says, “The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.”

And the Tenth Amendment goes further, stating explicitly that “The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States, respectively, or to the people.”

Obama is engaging in dangerous demagoguery when he suggests that we the people of the United States need him – or the government he wants in place – to give us rights we don’t already have.

This deceitful view was echoed when he was introduced by Democratic Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur in Ohio earlier this week, who said that Americans “needed a Second Bill of Rights guaranteeing all Americans a job, health care, homes, an education, and a fair playing field for business and farmers.” This is no “bill of rights,” it is a bill of attainder (look it up).  Those found “guilty” would be anyone wealthier, more successful, or more prosperous than any other.  And the punishment?  The very things Obama and the Democrats are already pushing for: high taxes, and even seizure and redistribution of all American’s private property.

I am stunned beyond belief that these blunt admissions do not give otherwise patriotic Obama supporters (and this describes the vast majority of them) serious pause.  But those voting for him seem to fall into two groups.  The first group says, “Oh well, Bush has trashed the Constitution, too.”  Even assuming that this were true, it is hardly a ringing endorsement for your candidate.  Worse, it displays a surprising ignorance that the procedural protections Obama is determined to dismantle won’t be there to protect you against the next right-wing fascist you guys are always running in terror from.  What – you think Obama will give those rights back right before (if) he leaves office?

The second group consists of disgruntled so-called “conservatives” like Kathleen Parker, Colin Powell, Peggy Noonan, and Christopher Buckley, who hear what Obama is saying, but choose not to believe him.  I’m not sure what to say to these people, except that their refusal to learn from history suggests that there may be something to those claims that there’s no such thing as evolution.

Those who drafted the Constitution knew that persuasive orators who promised beneficence in exchange for liberty would come along.  This is why George Washington admonished that “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence, it is force; like fire, a troublesome servant and a fearful master.”  And it is why Thomas Jefferson said, "In questions of power then, let no more be heard of confidence in man, but bind him down from mischief by the chains of the Constitution."

Every President, upon taking office, takes an oath to "preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."   A President should be willing to die to defend our Constitution.  Obama is dying to destroy it.


TOPICS: Editorial; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS:

1 posted on 10/30/2008 6:01:26 AM PDT by Kaslin
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To: Kaslin
NOTE TO LAURA HOLLIS, AUTHOR OF THIS PIECE: Laura, Obamessiah's actions are simply a natural progression of our national ignorance of and disinterest in our founding document, to wit:

Photobucket

2 posted on 10/30/2008 6:05:31 AM PDT by Dick Bachert
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To: Kaslin
"I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

If Obama is elected perhaps he will add "rewrite"
3 posted on 10/30/2008 6:06:05 AM PDT by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: Kaslin
“...No flags on his airplane. Nix to pins on his lapel. Not inclined to put his hand over his heart during the national anthem...”

This clown is full of disdain and rebellion toward this country. He's trying VERY hard to suppress it now; to remain calm, cool and collected.
If he happens to win this election, the stops will be removed and we will see an angry gangland-type punk emerge.

4 posted on 10/30/2008 6:06:30 AM PDT by J40000
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To: Kaslin
The Roadblock to Change
5 posted on 10/30/2008 6:07:16 AM PDT by feedback doctor (The first female president will be a Conservative Republican)
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To: Kaslin; informavoracious; larose; RJR_fan; Prospero; Conservative Vermont Vet; ...
+

Freep-mail me to get on or off my pro-life and Catholic List:

Add me / Remove me

Please ping me to note-worthy Pro-Life or Catholic threads, or other threads of interest.

Obama Says A Baby Is A Punishment

Obama: “If they make a mistake, I don’t want them punished with a baby.”

6 posted on 10/30/2008 6:07:17 AM PDT by narses (http://www.theobamadisaster.com/)
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To: Kaslin

Obama Lies; The Constitution Dies.


7 posted on 10/30/2008 6:09:56 AM PDT by ozark hilljilly ("The gloves are off, the heels are on."- Sarah Palin)
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To: Kaslin

ping for later


8 posted on 10/30/2008 6:13:13 AM PDT by Red Boots
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To: silverleaf
A President who does not uphold the Constitution MUST be removed.
9 posted on 10/30/2008 6:19:41 AM PDT by The Sons of Liberty (I hate the socialist candidate, his policies, & his associates, therefore I'm a racist. Who cares?)
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To: Kaslin
What is the difference between patriot and nationalist?

He is a globalist. Globalists believe that the nation state is an obsolete concept. They believe that nationalism is the root cause of war. Nationalist symbols are considered obtrusive and therefore offensive elements toward the global “communisty”. Spelling intended.

10 posted on 10/30/2008 6:19:48 AM PDT by SQUID
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To: The Sons of Liberty

By who? The great supporters of the Constitution Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid?


11 posted on 10/30/2008 6:21:44 AM PDT by silverleaf (Fasten your seat belts- it's going to be a BUMPY ride.)
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To: Kaslin

A very good article. You might want to keep this one for future reference. If Obama is elected, our constitution may suffer a death by a thousand cuts.


12 posted on 10/30/2008 6:25:10 AM PDT by GVnana ("I once dressed as Tina Fey for Halloween." - Sarah Palin)
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To: Kaslin
The conservatives who won't vote for McCain and thereby put 0bama into the presidency are putting their so-called conservatism ahead of country to the detriment of all. We don't know what 0bama or McCain will do, but we can look at their records, what they've said and done, to see who is the greater threat.

One candidate threatens to remake the Constitution, the other promises to uphold it and in both cases, their individual histories indicate that is exactly what they will do. As such, 0bama is in the "enemies, foreign and domestic" category and voting in such a way to make him president is giving aid and comfort to the enemy.

What would Reagan do? He'd vote for McCain.

13 posted on 10/30/2008 6:41:49 AM PDT by GBA
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To: The Sons of Liberty

It’s better that 0bama not be made president in the first place.


14 posted on 10/30/2008 6:43:07 AM PDT by GBA
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To: Kaslin

How will a president whose occupation of the office is a _violation_ of that Constitution, uphold it?

- John


15 posted on 10/30/2008 6:59:53 AM PDT by Fishrrman
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To: The Sons of Liberty

“A President who does not uphold the Constitution MUST be removed.”

What a joke. The constitution is whatever the supreme court SAYS it is. And the Obamaster will likely appoint at least 3 members. The lower courts are already infested with leftist party hacks. The ones Obama will appoint will be even worse, especially with no Repub party to oppose it. Look at the supreme court of NJ who allowed the Lout ot replace Toricelli even though the law clearly stated they couldn’t. The Sup court in Fl that allowed vote counts to be extended indefinately despite clear staute to the contrary. These days the judgements are based on party affiliaton, not the law.


16 posted on 10/30/2008 7:31:31 AM PDT by Hacklehead (Crush the liberals, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the hippies.)
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To: Kaslin
Geez, we've had a SERIES of them. Bush point blank said that the McCain-Feingold bill was unconstitutional - to the cheering of this website - and signed it anyway. The Supreme Court was supposed to fix it. How about the trillion dollar expansion of Medicare / drugs for seniors? Where is THAT in the constitution? That only cleared the HOUSE after about 3-4 hours of arm twisting by REPUBLICAN leadership.

Clinton trashed it 24/7. Bush 1 was no respector of the Constitution. Reagan? Not bad at all... Carter - ugh.

... and so on.........

17 posted on 10/30/2008 8:05:17 AM PDT by willgolfforfood
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To: Hacklehead

I’ve been told that there is more than one way to skin a cat.


18 posted on 10/30/2008 10:46:35 AM PDT by The Sons of Liberty (I hate the socialist candidate, his policies, & his associates, therefore I'm a racist. Who cares?)
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To: The Sons of Liberty

“I’ve been told that there is more than one way to skin a cat.”

Thank god for the reset button on the constitution. Too bad it will never be used.


19 posted on 10/30/2008 11:35:45 AM PDT by Hacklehead (Crush the liberals, see them driven before you, and hear the lamentations of the hippies.)
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