Posted on 07/31/2011 10:03:40 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
The Democratic members of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) urged President Obama on Saturday to sidestep Congress and hike the nation's $14.3 trillion debt limit on his own.
In a letter to the president, the lawmakers argue that he has "both the authority and a moral obligation" to invoke the Constitution's 14th Amendment "to avoid an economic catastrophe of historic proportions."
"We must not allow a political deadlock to cause the United States to default for the first time in our history," the CBC members wrote. "Now that Congress has borrowed money and incurred debt, we cannot – as a nation and under our Constitution – walk away."
The lawmakers join a growing chorus of Democrats – including Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (Md.) and Caucus Chairman John Larson (Conn.) – who have called on Obama to invoke the Constitution as a last resort to prevent a government default.
Supporters argue that the 14th Amendment – which says "the validity of the public debt … shall not be questioned" – empowers the president to act unilaterally.
Obama has all but ruled out that option.
"I have talked to my lawyers," he said at a town hall meeting last week. "They are not persuaded that that is a winning argument."
The CBC members disagree, arguing that it's his obligation "to do that which is necessary for the good of the country."
"Just as President Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation at a time of emergency in our nation's history to free those who were enslaved during the Civil War, today you face a looming calamity that in some respects is just as grave," they wrote.
Only one CBC member – Rep. Allen West (R-Fla.) – did not endorse the letter.
Actually I think I read the other day that the ‘leader’ of this group is John Conyers.
He put us here.
Conyers has been reelected 22 times, never facing serious opposition.
They write a quotation with an ellipsis (...) to leave out the portions they don't like, such as the part that says the debt is authorized by law, which MUST include congressional participation. Priceless. If the CBC ran the US, we'd be the new Zimbabwe.
They so much want the magic mulatto to become communist dictator.
That black caucus should be disbanded as anti-American.
I doubt that the Black Caucus knows anything about the Emancipation Proclamation. Has the White Caucus chimed in?
Sorry, I was wrong. Conyers is part of this group but apparently Clyburn is the ‘leader’. What the heck is wrong with the voters that they keep electing these people?
1974-92; United States Representative, South Carolina Sixth District, 1992-; led massive get-out-the-vote drive in congressional elections, 1998; elected chair, Congressional Black Caucus, 1998.
Wrong! But you should not expect the Commie misfits to know that, or admit it.
"Fearing (Another) U.S. Debt Default"
http://economix.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/fearing-another-u-s-debt-default/
The Black Caucus is Anti-White nothing more!
Let the Karma police drag the dust out of those old slave holder’s graves and put it in jail. As for me, never had a slave.
sarc/
You cite the NYT to substantiate that the US previously “defaulted” on its debt? Incredible, because -it is the NYT.
The event they reference occurred in 1933. Contrary to the NYT’s assertion the government did not “default” rather it made bond payments in USD vs. Gold as the bonds were written.
No, I don’t expect commie misfits to know or admit it.
Btw, there will be no default. There will merely be a gov shutdown. A default means not making payments on the national debt and there’s more than enough in monthly revenue to cover that. The 14th amendment says payments on that debt cannot be ignored. They have to make the payments or face the wrath of the courts and the markets.
“The government will default” is pure liberal “SPEND-SPEND-SPEND” hype.
No they won't. When they stop getting their 'free sh!t'., they're gonna start looking to just TAKE "your sh!t"
Public Education!
When the welfare hos don’t get the gubment check for a couple of months, they will find a job.
No they won’t. When they stop getting their ‘free sh!t’., they’re gonna start looking to just TAKE “your sh!t”
______________________________________________________________________________________________
So true. They are taking my sh!t now. CBC want to ensure the “sh!t redistribution” continues.
Public education and the teachers union.
My Gawd. A extra-small bag of hammers contains more brains than these fools!
My people were mostly poor Irish and darn sure didn’t own any slaves. It matters not, collectively, because we are Americans and it is America that is and will suffer because of that dark history.
I’m all for a one way ticket to the Mother Land and a million bucks to each and all, give up any future claim and no return. Would be cheap by comparison.
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