Senate Judiciary Chairman Unable to Explain Where Congress Gets Authority to Mandate Insurance

CNSNews.com ^ | October 22, 2009 | Matt Cover

[Man50D]

I'm not asking you Senator. I'm telling you! Article 1 Section 8 of the Constitution does not expressly grant Congress the power to regulate health care. Therefore any version of federal health care is unconstitutional! This is the most important point people need to be making with their politicians. Contact them to tell them they are violating the Constitution!

[GeronL]

Leahy answered by saying that “nobody questions” Congress’ authority for such an action

I question that, but I guess I'm nobody.

Any other nobodies out there?

[gwilhelm56]

Never stopped the B******S BEFORE...

Who brought up this question... Michele Bachmann?? she’s the only Republican that DEFinitely NOT A RINO!.. one of the FEW!!

[kittymyrib]

If the citizens of the USA roll over for this, we deserve our chains.

[meadsjn]

I’m “nobody” too, and I vote.

[GeronL]

Leahy obviously never heard of this thing called a Constitution and doesn’t understand what its for.

[Daisyjane69]

Somebody better tell this asshat to pick up Liberty and Tyranny and READ IT.

The Supreme Court has already ruled on a mandate to buy “insurance” during the adoption of Social Security. The Justice Department had to present it to the court as a tax, same as the income tax, while FDR was out there selling it as an insurance program.

Even then, with FDR packing the court, they knew it would be an unconstitutional mandate.

meh

[wny]

during the townhall here, the local demhole Eric Massa was asked this question. he made a big show about it, pulled out a copy of the Constitution and read the "general welfare clause" and said that gave Congress the authority to do so.

Now he's either ignorant, or a liar (probably an ignorant liar). In the Federalist papers, Madison (or Monroe, can never remember which) specifically and explicitly said this clause does NOT give Congress the authority to do whatever it wants to make life comfy for all.

besides, if these gangsters can make me buy health insurance under the threat of the IRS and jailtime, what's to stop theses criminals from forcing me to buy a car from the UAW or face a fine or jailtime?

[cajungirl]

Maybe they will “offer” it as privilege and then drive every other insurer out of business.

I am not a lawyer but wonder if lawyers, constitutional ones, would weigh in.

They force us to pay taxes, to abide by federal rules about employment, etc.

[EmilyGeiger]

bttt

[GeronL]

I am nobody!

We are legion!

[Renegade]

You also CAN buy gasoline without ethanol.Stations are not required to sell the 10% ethanol/gasoline mixture . The problem is trying to find stations that can get it from a distributor .

[DH]

Many years ago I posted this on my FR profile page....

The only amendment required to return control of our government back to the people.

Amendment XXVIII (28th.)

The government of the people, and by the people, shall not write or allow any law, directive, or regulation that shall cause, or require , any citizen or entity to purchase or utilize the products, methods, or services of any entity or individual.

D.C.H 1998

[rlmorel]

I love that concept. Gee. Our Founding Fathers would have understood that very well.

Being forced to buy tea, for example...

Great. I am going to refer to the 28th Amendment from now on. I can just see the blank stares now. Hell, once you get Americans past the Second Amendment, the only other one they can even cite is the Fifth.

Funny, that.

[PubliusMM]

“Sen. Leahy: Why would you say there is no authority? I mean, there’s no question there’s authority, nobody questions that.”

The arrogance is beyond words! Senator, I QUESTION THAT! That and many other anti-Constitutional actions taken by the Congress, the Judiciary, and the Executive staff over the past 60 years and more.

Like all the others, the Tenth Amendment has the force of law, and the Constitution is still the foundational law of this great republic. Awareness of that fact seem to be missing inside the beltway.

It’s time to take back the country.

[Hattie]

The problem with “general welfare” business is that bankrupting the country and making most of the population poor does not promote the “general welfare” of the people or the country. These people are so bogus.

[johniegrad]

"nobody questions that" = "everyone knows that" = "it is common knowledge that"

In other words, "I don't know".

[MrBambaLaMamba]

Nobody: Senator, when will Congress mandate a “public” option for automobile insurance? Home insurance? Mortgage insurance? Unemployment insurance? Liability insurance?

Senator: As soon as we shut you down.

[Caribou]

GM has a commercial where people in t-shirts with “THEY” on it are questioning about GM cars.

Need T-Shirts at the next rallies that has “NOBODY” on it.

Mark Levin covered this well yesterday on his show (the part about the Constitution not leaky leahy).

[GeronL]

We need a 2 million nobody march on Leahy’s house.