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.
I love how the journalist had to clarify the DEMOCRAT members of the CBC did this--noting at the end that the only CONSTITUTIONALIST among the group, Allen West of Florida, did NOT endorse the action.
The Plan.
How did this country end up with so many stupid people?
When the welfare hos don’t get the gubment check for a couple of months, they will find a job.
CBC is just desperate to protect them. And the masses of its “peoples” working for the Federal beast.
We are being shoved in that exact same direction, And not a Damn one of them realizes it. We are living in the Most Frightening times for the Union in a 150 years, and the ruling class is just like "sucks"
G-D Help us.
Lincoln issued the Proclamation under his authority as "Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy" under Article II, section 2 of the United States Constitution.[3] As such, he had the martial power to suspend civil law in those states which were in rebellion. He did not have Commander-in-Chief authority over the four slave-holding states that had not seceded: Missouri, Kentucky, Maryland and Delaware. The Emancipation Proclamation was never challenged in court. To ensure the abolition of slavery everywhere in the U.S., Lincoln pushed for passage of the Thirteenth Amendment. Congress passed it by the necessary 2/3 vote in February 1865 and it was ratified by the states by December 1865.[4]
Note that the Emancipation Proclamation was a war-time effort, and only applied to states that were in rebellion against the Union, and thus did not apply to all the slaveholding states.
As far as I know, there are currently no US states in open armed rebellion against the United States, and thus the President has no CIC justification to invoke.
Yes, and the next thing he should do is disband the legislature, for the good of the country.
Somebody said something like: Any form of government given sufficient time will revert to tyranny.
The constitution has been shredded, the character and morals of the country have been debased, and the basic order of civilization is under attack. We are becoming farm animals.
The Black Caucus. Broadcasting their stupidity individually and as a group.
“Now that Congress has borrowed money and incurred debt, we cannot – as a nation and under our Constitution – walk away.”
They write in the third person. They should say:
“Now that WE, THE MEMBERS of Congress HAVE borrowed money and incurred debt, we cannot – as a nation and under our Constitution – walk away.”
Their actions put us here, not some unknown ‘congress’.
Yet
if we continue down this path.
They talk about, and misinterpret, Section 4 of the 14th Amendment, but they never mention Section 5: “The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.” http://www.14thamendment.us/amendment/14th_amendment.html
Correction: This will establish a BLACK dictatorship, which is why the racist black caucus, headed by Clyburn is for it. These guys are very shortsighted about redistribution... they want mo' money from whitey now, and are willing to kill the golden goose to get it.
We have a Black Caucus because?
No, will begin R2.
Holders people are only interested in how much of nobama’s stash taken from the crackers they can get TODAY with no thinking about tomarrow. It jes bees dare culcha, you know mofo. Same mentality in Africa.
Well don, someone imported them a long time ago. If anything destroys America it will be the long lingering effects of slavery. Maybe Karma police?!
Do these people think that only a Democrat will be President from now on? Are they really pushing for a President to overstep his constitutional authority just to do what they want him to do?
I guess once a Republican got into office, all this extra power will be “taken back” and will be hearing terms like dictator again hurled at the executive office.
They need to be reminded that the President is nothing more than the chief executive officer of the Executive Branch of government, not King, not Dictator.
The President does not have the authority to raise taxes, nor to spend any money NOT authorized by Congress.
We are getting real close to impeachable offenses here and I think Obama knows it (or at least his handlers know it).
Raising the debt limit does not solve our financial problem, it kicks the can closer to the edge of the cliff (if not over the cliff).
You would think these men in office would know this, do they really think they can keep kicking the can forever?
When we began heading down this road (think Roosevelt) we were a long way from the edge, so countless politicians have been able to ride the gravy train to wealth and power, but we are close to the edge now.
We may have one or two more years before this house of cards collapses but not much more.
The only thing that can save them is if the economy turns around, but it seems they are doing everything in their power to keep that from happening (think more regulations, more laws, more taxes). These are all job killing items, but the Democrats can not turn the page in their playbook. Maybe they only have one page.
Step one demonize their opponents
Step two scare the voters
Step three spend money
Step four increase taxes
start over
In an essay entitled, "Do We Have a Living Constitution?" which appeared in "Our Ageless Constitution"(1987), Dr. Walter Berns quoted Alexander Hamilton, as follows:
"Until the people have, by some solemn and authoritative act, annulled or changed the established form, it is binding upon them collectively, as well as individually; and no presumption or even knowledge of their sentiments, can warrant their representatives [the executive, judiciary, or legislature]; in a departure from it prior to such an act." - Alexander Hamilton
The next time there are large scale riots in the inner cities (and there will be), the President should follow his moral duty and sidestep Congress and repeal the 13th Amendment.
Not that good an idea, but I bet you could get the Black caucus to say it if you told them that the 13th Amendment limited tax rates on the wealthy.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.