Flouting the rule of law

NY Post ^ | February 25, 2011 | Editorial

[Scanian]

Just what is it about the rule of law that President Obama doesn't get?

The Justice Department announced Wednesday that it now believes the federal Defense of Marriage Act -- which defines marriage as being a legal union between one man and one woman -- is unconstitutional, and said it will no longer defend the law in court.

So, just like that, Obama & Co. effectively declare null a law duly passed by Congress, signed by a previous president -- and presumptively binding on the government until either the courts or Congress declare otherwise.

It's a breathtaking act of arrogance, a precedent so fraught that it threatens one of the nation's bedrock founding principles: That America was to be ruled by law, not by individuals.

Presidents have found particular laws vexatious for as long as there have been presidents.

Still, when Franklin Roosevelt decided he didn't like legislation forced on him by Congress, he had sufficient respect for the law itself to attempt to pack the Supreme Court with friendly justices.

He lost.

He should have.

And it's not as if Obama, et al., don't understand the basic issue: Last October, the administration got it right in similar circumstances.

While disagreeing with the "Don't ask, don't tell" law blocking gays from serving openly in the military -- and despite objections from his left-wing base -- the president declared that he was obliged to follow and defend the law.

He added that he wanted DADT repealed by Congress rather than by the courts -- which is exactly what happened two months later.

But now this.

[bert]

-——What did he produce?——

World chaos

[canuck_conservative]

But common-sense judges can still say the law is in effect, and must be obeyed, ruling against homosexual-marriage plaintiffs.

Wouldn’t that tick off Obama & Holder.

[livius]

Jackson definitely had similar ideas, and a similarly autocratic approach (to everything).

[Venturer]

What did he produce?

Chaos.

[stayathomemom]

In his “vetting” before the election by the tragically sycophantic press, Obama was marketed to the masses as a Constitutional scholar. A label which the left has used with glee. He is using whatever expertise he has to dismantle the Constitution as an explosives expert renders a bomb useless. "I hope he fails."

[sergeantdave]

States need to ignore king obuma. They can start by refusing to implement obuma deathcare and any other illegal decree.

[driftless2]

With this latest atrocity of a decision, Obama proves once and for all that he is a hypocritical, totally politically motivated, power-seeking Hugo Chavez wannabe.

[Old Student]

I think I’ve figured out who Obama thinks he is. Andrew Jackson.

[Scanian]

And that was without reading my comment #11!

And reply #23