As you may have read, President Obama is considering extending his executive action bacchanal to what is a fundamental right of Congress, the power to raise taxes.
It’s quite clearly spelled out in the Constitution. There’s no ambiguity. Nothing is left to the imagination:
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes . . .
I’ve got it. Maybe Obama thinks we’re still operating under the Articles of Confederation! The Articles of Confederation did not grant Congress the power to tax.
SOMEONE NEEDS TO LET OBAMA KNOW RIGHT AWAY THAT A CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN ADOPTED.
Obama, in response to a letter from Sen. Bernie Sanders (Socialist-Vt.), which I’m sure the White House had nothing to do with, is considering curbing tax breaks that could net the government $100 billion over ten years.
Can he do this? I dunno. Maybe. According to the Wall Street Journal, tax legislation grants the executive branch wide leeway for interpretation, meaning that the way it writes the rules can have a large effect on the impact of the law.
The point, though, is not whether this is technically possible. The point is something I’ve mentioned to you many times. It bears, in the context of this presidency, repeating.
The Founders understood that the preservation of a Republic would require leadership by virtuous men. That there would alway be powerful people weaseling around the edges and finding ways to steal liberty and adopt it for themselves – giving them the freedom to rule unfettered.
Said John Adams:
Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.
James Madison:
I go on this great republican principle, that the people will have virtue and intelligence to select men of virtue and wisdom. Is there no virtue among us? If there be not, we are in a wretched situation. No theoretical checks — no form of government can render us secure.
When those entrusted with power by the people put their own desires above all else, that’s when the republic begins to fall apart.
This is exactly what Obama plans to do, as described by his own press secretary, Josh Earnest, who said this in justifying Obama’s consideration of raising his own taxes:
This is related to the President’s ability to use his executive authority to do what he thinks is the right thing for the country. That, after all, is what the American people elected him to do. And the fact is we haven’t seen a lot of efficient production out of Congress over the last couple of months.
Note the argument here. By saying that Obama will act because Congress has not, Earnest is implicitly acknowledging that the best and most proper way is for Congress to do this. So the rationale, as stated by the White House, involves violating the traditional roles of the branches of government.
Because Obama believes he was elected “to do what he thinks is the right thing for the country,” according to Earnest.
Actually, not. Here is the oath of office, in case the president has forgotten it. It doesn’t say much about doing what you think is right:
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.
Fealty is to the Constitution, not to one’s policy agenda.
The Constitution Obama was elected to uphold in fact presupposes two principles – major points that Obama ignores with his executive orders.
One is that there will be disagreement about what is “the right thing” to do. So leaders must submit to a system of checks and balances that ensures no one can unilaterally decide this.
Secondly, the Constitution is a document that specifically seeks to restrain government. The argument that Congress has not been “efficient” shows utter contempt for the principle Obama was elected to defend.
Tyranny is efficient. A republic, by design, is not.
But Obama, unconstrained by the need to be reelected and irrevocably convinced of the rightness of his “thinking,” has no more need for the Constitution. And so he plans to violate it, even if he is “technically” within the law when he does it.
And that’s really scary.
65 thoughts on “Obama to Adopt the Power for Taxation for Himself”
I’m not a Constitutuional Scholar. And, apparently, neither is Barack Obama!
We took an oath to defend the Constitution, and so did he.
I still stand by my oath, he doesn’t.
You, he and I all swore to God. You and I meant it!
Damn right !
Can’t the Congress “censor” him or something for being a total a**hole ?
If they had a spine they would.
You are sadly correct AFVet, it’s beyond sad that we can no longer count on those we elected. My great fear is Obama deciding that he alone, can decide what is good for us and become Preezy for life. No one has the courage to stop him. Obama and Boehner are not men of vertue or honor.
I’m afraid you are correct. Like any dictator of a small African state he may be very hard to remove from the WH, both administratively and physically. Can you imagine MooMoo just walking away from the free vacations and luxury travel, etc? I have feared since 2008 that he is the “last American President”.
Key word(s); Virtuous ‘men’. -now including women. 0bama is not virtuous, nothing in his ba$tardly make up is in any way virtuous….adjective-“having and showing high moral standards.”
Sigh, no one will defy his demands, their life is placed in a very hazardous dilemma if they do.
Unlawful and immoral.
(And honestly, we really don’t need to see one more picture of this dastardly dude.)
Excellent summation, Keith. Obama is a rogue President, exactly the kind of Chief Executive the Constitution was written to protect us from.
Rogue President, well said….
H
And not a stretch by any means. If you remember Mark Levin’s speech at CPAC, he used the format of the Declaration of Independence (the King has done this and that against the people, and therefore…..etc). Very powerful.
Add to that the congressional leaders.
For sure!
Hmm…….ARE THERE Congressional leaders? Oh, that’s right, pelosi.
Hope he is going after corporations. They have huge staffs of tax accountants and attorneys who get credit/bonuses when they save on taxes. The companies may pay the tax and sue for a refund. Large firms are better able to fight than individuals.
Of course, the refunds will be paid when someone else is president, so why should Obama care?
I’m feeling sick! This man will not stop unless Washington wakes up and does the right thing.
The senate is to vote to override Obama’s veto on the pipeline at 2:20 ET.
If you want to, you can watch it here,…
http://www.c-span.org
Let’s see if they can find that spine you mentioned earlier!!
Update: Nope!
The saddest part of this is that the EA’s are woven into un-related laws and administrative fiats, so they really NEVER go away. He has no love for the Constitutions, so he figures “why not burn it up”…
To Keith’s post, the question of the morality of political leaders is a very, very old discussion. A lot of what Plato, Socrates, Marcus Aurelius and many other philosophers (Aurelius was not only Emperor but was also a trained philosopher) wrote about it all the time.
Probably virtue would be a better word than morality. Take your pick. ;+}
Well the senate needed 2/3rds to override the veto of the Keystone Pipeline and they couldn’t muster it.
The veto stands and Barry wins again.
This congress is impotent and a disgrace to the people that had the audacity to believe them when the trough feeders tell them that they were going to stop Obama.
LIARS !
PISSANTS !
CHARLATANS !
THIEVES !
FOOLS !
CRETANS !
Bastards that are taking this Country to her knees by bowing down to a president that is only concerned with demeaning my precious Country in the eyes of the world.
This disgusting display is unfolding before our eyes and we have virtually no recourse but to grit our teeth and bear it.
They will tell you to call your rep or senator,…..yeah, right.
How has that worked before fellow Patriots ?
They laugh at US, and continue to defy US.
Boehner and McConnell and Obama will tear this Country down to a level that She has not seen in years.
The desecration of the military is reminiscent of the Carter administration.
Reagan fixed that.
Reagan fixed a lot of things that the liberals had destroyed.
I am ranting,
I reserve the right to do so under the First Amendment.
Embrace your freedoms and admire the Founders for their insight on what this Country could become.
The Constitution was indeed inspired by God.
RANT OFF.
AFVet I appreciate your comments, unlike the people we elected in office.
I will mention again, The children. Netanyahu mentioned them as well.
No one standing behind The Mess, The List are not thinking about the future of this Country. Who wants their children growing up in Third World Country. The BS of the Gimme routine is getting old. I was taught to be satified & grateful for what you have. If you want more study. My loved ones did not tell me lay back the G. will provide it all for you.
I can remember listening to my Grandfather, and great uncles. All politicians are crooks. FREE PHONE! I still cannot get over that move. We have bridges falling apart and or need repair, and our tax dollar paid for phones. I as well had to rant.
I only disagree with one point AFVet,it’s not a rant but a pretty good summation of the state of our country.
sorry, but I have to issue a grammar cop ticket: “Cretan” is someone who lives in Crete. “Cretin” is the word you’re looking for, I believe.
I will note that rulierose.
Although there could be some Cretins in Crete. :)
We’ll know when things are turning around when pitchfork sales increase.
citizens need to grow a set (Not just republicans) and put a stop to this nonsense!
“And so he plans to violate it, even if he is “technically” within the law when he does it. And that’s really scary.”
I’ll tell you what’s even scarier:
-an electorate so clueless that most people won’t even read this whole article because it’s too complicated.
-an electorate that apparently think Boehner works for Obama. look at how many people were outraged that Boehner didn’t get Obama’s permission before he invited Netanyahu to Congress. at first I thought it was just anti-Semites hating anything Jewish, but then I realized that some of these people TRULY BELIEVE Congress reports to the president.
I’m sorry to go Gruber on you, but he was right: Americans are stupid.
Americans aren’t stupid, they are lazy.
And so are the representatives that allow laws and regulations to go into effect without reading them.
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Also, it should be kept in mind that, at the time the constitution was ratified, not EVERY citizen had voting rights. Today it is much easier to pander to the masses…
Didn’t we fight a war with Britain over that same issue back around 1776?
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