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The Elephant in the Room: Obama vs. United States
Philadelphia Inquirer ^ | April 9, 2009 | Rick Santorum

Posted on 04/09/2009 7:12:18 AM PDT by greyfoxx39

Watching President Obama apologize last week for America's arrogance - before a French audience that owes its freedom to the sacrifices of Americans - helped convince me that he has a deep-seated antipathy toward American values and traditions. His nomination of former Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh to be the State Department's top lawyer constitutes further evidence of his disdain for American values.

This seemingly obscure position in Foggy Bottom's bureaucratic maze is one of the most important in any administration, shaping foreign policy in the courts and playing a critical role in international negotiations and treaties.

Let's set aside Koh's disputed comments about the possible application of Sharia law in American jurisprudence. The pick is alarming for more fundamental reasons having to do with national sovereignty and constitutional self-governance.

What is indisputable is that Koh calls himself a "transnationalist." He believes U.S. courts "must look beyond national interest to the mutual interests of all nations in a smoothly functioning international legal regime. ..." He thinks the courts have "a central role to play in domesticating international law into U.S. law" and should "use their interpretive powers to promote the development of a global legal system."

Koh's "transnationalism" stands in contrast to good, old-fashioned notions of national sovereignty, in which our Constitution is the highest law of the land. In the traditional view, controversial matters, whatever they may be, are subject to democratic debate here. They should be resolved by the American people and their representatives, not "internationalized." What Holland or Belgium or Kenya or any other nation or coalition of nations thinks has no bearing on our exercise of executive, legislative, or judicial power.

Koh disagrees. He would decide such matters based on the views of other countries or transnational organizations - or, rather, those entities' elites.

Unsurprisingly, Koh is a strong supporter of the International Criminal Court, which could subject U.S. soldiers and officials to foreign criminal trials for their actions while fighting for our security. He has recommended that American lawyers work to "undermine" official American opposition to the court.

If only Koh's transnationalism ended there. Our Eighth Amendment's prohibition on cruel and unusual punishment? Koh believes it should be reinterpreted in light of foreign and international law to pay "decent respect to the opinions of humankind."

Old fogies like me believe we ought to pay more attention to the opinions of the Founders who wrote the Constitution and the people who have lived under it. If Americans want to end the death penalty, they can do so through their elected state representatives.

If foreign opinions trump those of Pennsylvanians on capital punishment, why not on other issues? Why not, indeed: Koh thinks "international comity" trumps American sovereignty. He believes that, since certain nations recognize a right to same-sex marriage, our courts should, too. He wrote that "the principles of human dignity and autonomy that are the essence of the modern right-protecting democracy demand that civil marriage be available to all couples and that the equality of all citizens triumph over historical attitudes."

What's beneath this legal jargon? Simply this: Even if marriage in Pennsylvania has always been understood as involving one man and one woman - even if Pennsylvanians, through referendum or constitutional amendment, decide it should remain so - none of that should count. What should count are the views of courts in other nations or international bodies.

"I'd rather have [Supreme Court Justice Harry] Blackmun, who used the wrong reasoning in Roe to get the right results," Koh wrote of the landmark abortion case, "and let other people figure out the right reasoning."

Stunning and revealing: Koh tells us it doesn't matter if the right to abortion can be found in the Constitution. In fact, he concedes that Blackmun's reasoning was wrong. But it is up to others to get it right. How? By finding out what the United Nations, European Union, or particular European nations think.

Koh tops the list of Obama's potential Supreme Court nominees. Is this what Sen. John Kerry meant when he once suggested that American policy must pass a "global test"? Or what Barack Obama meant when he said last week that we have failed to "appreciate Europe's leading role in the world"? Or when he spoke of "change we can believe in"? And just who are "we"?


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: bho2009; bho44; crime; democrats; first100days; haroldkoh; obama; pl; transnationalism; worldcourt
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To: greyfoxx39

Sometimes I despair for our country.

_______________
Our founding fathers gave us everything we need to keep or save the Republic. We sit and watch it disappearing and do nothing. Only we, the people, can keep it.


61 posted on 04/09/2009 10:15:57 AM PDT by mojitojoe ( Idiots elected a Marxist ideologue with narcissistic personality disorder & America is dying.)
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To: MrB

And, if 2010 fails to halt the globalization and destruction of America?
___________________
2010 isn’t going to make a difference.


62 posted on 04/09/2009 10:16:59 AM PDT by mojitojoe ( Idiots elected a Marxist ideologue with narcissistic personality disorder & America is dying.)
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To: MrB
And, if 2010 fails to halt the globalization and destruction of America?

NIV Revelation 6:15-17
15. Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains.
16. They called to the mountains and the rocks, "Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!
17. For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?"

63 posted on 04/09/2009 10:17:00 AM PDT by Elsie (Heck is where people, who don't believe in Gosh, think they are not going...)
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To: F15Eagle

OMG! is that photoshopped? lol


64 posted on 04/09/2009 10:17:03 AM PDT by brwnsuga (Proud, BLACK, Sexy Conservative!!!)
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Comment #65 Removed by Moderator

To: Eric in the Ozarks
2010. It cannot come soon enough

The $64,000 question is, will enough voters be fed up with Zero's attempts to destroy this country to vote against him?

Remember, 53% of Americans voted for this asshole.
66 posted on 04/09/2009 10:19:32 AM PDT by reagan_fanatic (FOBO)
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Comment #67 Removed by Moderator

To: Wil H
Why is any of this a surprise to anyone?
_____________
I'm not surprised at all. I knew what he was and what his plans were. I was surprised that he made no attempt to hide it and the increedible speed at which he is doing. I think he and *they* decided that too many people were onto him and he needed to move fast before he lost the chance.
68 posted on 04/09/2009 10:22:27 AM PDT by mojitojoe ( Idiots elected a Marxist ideologue with narcissistic personality disorder & America is dying.)
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To: greyfoxx39
The comments on The Philadelphia Inquirer were a clear indication as to why that city is in the mess it is in.

"My people perish for lack of Knowledge." Hosea 4:6

69 posted on 04/09/2009 10:29:50 AM PDT by happygrl (It's time to Party like it's 1773.)
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To: greyfoxx39; All

.

Join Allan Keyes at the Million Man March Sept.12-13

Anti-Obama organizations are being united at Freedoms First
http://www.freedomsfirst.org/
for a ‘million man’ march on Washington.
The permit is secured- AND ALREADY OVER HALF A MILLION AMERICANS HAVE SIGNED UP!

This is the only way we will ever get the attention of our elected officials the MSM and the masses- protest!

From the FreedomsFirst website:

We are moving forward on our rally in Washington D C.
We are working non stop in preparations for this historical event to be held Sept 12-13 2009 at the Lincoln Memorial Reflections pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial.
As for the time, The million man march that took place a few years age took over 2 years to organize, we are trying to push this through as fast as we can.
To protest in DC you have to have a permit and have approval to use a certain piece of land.

We called ahead of filing for these things. September 12 &13 were the next available days they had.
The other organization, resistnet.com, which was putting together a march for May 30, didn’t do this so they were refused their permit. Now they are joining with our group. So, we are doing this absolutely as soon we can.
To have a successful march takes time and organization.

Why are we protesting ?
1. To get the attention of the mainstream media.
2. To demand That Obama Provide proof that he is eligible to be president.
3. To demand that Congress and the Supreme court uphold our constitution.
4. To inform the public on the issue of Obama’s ineligibility to be president of the USA.
5. To demand that they can not take our constitutional rights away.

PRESIDENT OBAMA, WE DEMAND THAT YOU BE TRANSPARENT NOW
We will come together in a peaceful rally.
We are proud Americans who fear that we are losing the America we all know and love.
The America where millions have served in our military sacrificing their lives so that we remain free.
A people who honor their flag and understand what it means to fly it and are so proud to do so.
It is time for our voices to be heard loud and clear. Our government is for the people and by the people.
We are Americans who see our rights slipping away as we speak.
It is time our voices are heard.
It is time for us to shout loudly and strongly that we refuse to live under a socialist regime, where our voices are silenced.
Lets take this action now before we awaken one morning and our freedoms are nothing more than a memory.

WE WILL BE UNITED- CHRISTIAN, JEW, BUDDHIST, HINDU, ATHEIST, BLACK AND WHITE.
WE WILL BE ONE- ONE OF MANY WHO STAND AS PATRIOTIC AMERICANS DEMANDING OUR VOICES BE HEARD.
We will be DEMANDING THAT BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA ABIDE BY THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
WE DEMAND THE TRANSPARENCY HE PROMISED !!!!!!!!
GOD BLESS US ON THIS RALLY.
WITH YOUR PRAYERS, YOUR DEDICATION AND YOUR HELP, IT WILL BE
AN HISTORICAL, MAGICAL, WONDERFUL SHOW OF THE REAL AMERICA.

We ask you to wear RED, WHITE AND BLUE CLOTHING.
BRING YOUR FLAGS WAVE THEM HIGH.
SIGNS WILL BE PROVIDED- WE WANT TO GIVE THE GREATEST IMPRESSION OF WHO WE ARE AS WE WILL BE SEEN ALL OVER THE WORLD.
UNITED AND PEACEFUL AND WITH CONTROL
WE WILL LEAVE THE GROUNDS AS CLEAN AS THEY WERE GIVEN TO US.

Entertainment will be provided.
We are setting up a wonderful assortment of guest speakers, political and non political, prominent people and many surprises.
Major news networks, including CNN, MSNBC and Fox News. Resistnet.com will also attend.

.We will have live speakers and other entertainment for you.
Alan Keyes and Rev. Manning have already signed. We are close to securing Chuck Norris.

MUCH more to come.

Please make your reservations early as hotels and motels will fill quickly.

. Buses and shuttles will be provided to transport you from your hotels to the on site
rally.

.Tents will be provided as shelter for our entertainers and guest speakers.

.We will provide a First Aid Station
with a Registered nurse on duty along with an ambulance to be standing by for emergencies should
they arise.

. We are planning to have at least ONE THOUSAND porta potties.

.A tent to store emergency water and other supplies should they be needed will be provided.

. A welcome tent for you to pick up flyers with information of scheduled times for our speakers and
entertainment events and other important information including restaurants and areas of
interest, etc will be provided.

Please take the time to sign up so we have an idea of how many people we have attending and to get update emails so you know what to do, where to meet, where to park and what is happening, etc.

TO SIGN UP AND/OR VOLUNTEER YOUR HELP FOR THE RALLY, PLEASE EMAIL STEVE AT freedomsfirst@inbox.com
THANK YOU WITH OUR HEARTS FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR COMMITMENT FOR THIS GREAT
EVENT!!!!!!!!
__________________________________________________

Please help Texans watch their border with Mexico. The drug war is spilling over into Texas, and in the event of a collapse of the Mexican government milliions of illegals might try to flee over the border:
http://www.blueservo.net/camload.php?camid=11&frameid=10

.


70 posted on 04/09/2009 10:36:17 AM PDT by patriot08
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To: happygrl

Most of the comments there are made by smug morons. So sure in their stupidity it’s scary.


71 posted on 04/09/2009 10:39:22 AM PDT by ReneeLynn (Socialism, it's the new black.)
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To: reagan_fanatic
Remember, 53% of Americans for voted for 53% of the votes that were claimed to be from Americans were counted for this asshole.

There, fixed!

72 posted on 04/09/2009 11:26:36 AM PDT by greyfoxx39 (Obama....never saw a Bush molehill he couldn't make a mountain out of.......)
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To: BenLurkin

Look, the east coast elites will reject Santorum’s good common sense. The Inquirer is a lib paper and Pa. will simply reject that Obama is dissing the USA, except some Reagan Dems and the few Pubs left in the state. When the Ras. poll has only 53$ of Americans believing that cap. is better than socialism, we are on a very slippery slope and are losing the intellectual battle since libs win on emotional levels, not reason.


73 posted on 04/09/2009 11:40:00 AM PDT by phillyfanatic ( iT)
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To: greyfoxx39

Obama lives in a zoo. The elephant is right next to the giant gorilla wondering about his citizenship status.


74 posted on 04/09/2009 11:57:11 AM PDT by Red Steel
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To: SkipW

“I am thinking about the idiots who voted for this man. I wonder if they have any idea of what they have done to this country.”
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I suspect that only a small percentage will ever admit it. If they habitually dwelled in the real world they never would have been taken in this way and if they admit to themselves what fools they have been then they will want to commit suicide.


75 posted on 04/09/2009 3:30:29 PM PDT by RipSawyer (Change has come to America and all hope is gone.)
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To: astounded

“law school who could find his as* with both hands.”
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

I think they can do that...but when they find it they cannot distinguish between it and a posthole.


76 posted on 04/09/2009 3:43:34 PM PDT by RipSawyer (Change has come to America and all hope is gone.)
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To: RummyChick

I said during the campaign that he has deep seated issues. Essentially from a broken home, rejected by two “fathers”, rejected by his own mother so she could return to Indonesia without him....raise by his white grandparents. To come out of that kind of background whole would be a miracle.

I came from a grossly dysfunctional family and there is no way I could ever function on a managerial level...let alone one like 0bama has now.

Watch him, look at who he is gravitating towards. Not the known friends of the United States, but to the dictators of islam. There is a deep seated psychological reason for this besides being political.

As much as I dislike this man, I pray for his soul and that God may grant him wisdom.


77 posted on 04/09/2009 3:43:57 PM PDT by EBH (The world is a balance between good & evil, your next choice will tip the scale.)
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To: Little Ray

I’m afraid you may be right. I pray for better, but I’m not optimistic that this can be reversed without a patriot revolution.


78 posted on 04/09/2009 7:16:35 PM PDT by DesertDreamer ("I don't believe in a government that protects us from ourselves." - Ronald Reagan)
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To: greyfoxx39; 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.”

79 posted on 04/09/2009 7:42:22 PM PDT by narses (http://www.theobamadisaster.com/)
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To: AdmSmith; Berosus; Convert from ECUSA; dervish; Ernest_at_the_Beach; Fred Nerks; george76; ...
Watching President Obama apologize last week for America's arrogance - before a French audience that owes its freedom to the sacrifices of Americans - helped convince me that he has a deep-seated antipathy toward American values and traditions. His nomination of former Yale Law School Dean Harold Koh to be the State Department's top lawyer constitutes further evidence of his disdain for American values.

80 posted on 04/10/2009 3:12:58 AM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/____________________ Profile updated Monday, January 12, 2009)
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