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.
Doesn’t Section 5 of the 14th Amendment restate that Congress has to legislate the enforcement of the provisions of this amendment? My conclusion is that the POTUS cannot act unilaterally but only with approval. The CBC is willfully stupid!
Doesn’t he have to declare martial law first?
Well, they sure ain’t et the whiteyhut.
Stupid voters
CBC = racists with power attempting to violate the constitution.
What a miserable country we will have as more of these morons get into positions of power and figure they can get even.
Doubt that statement? Look at any city being run my this minority.
His lawyers - not his media people. That's because the 14th DEFINES the "public debt" it is referring to as ONLY: "including debts incurred for payment of pensions and bounties for services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion."
See that word, "including"? It's law-speak for ONLY THIS. No other form of "public debt." So this "public debt is only for "pensions and bounties" - but even then, only pensions and bounties that were derived from "services in suppressing insurrection or rebellion."
That's an incredibly narrow definition - it only deals with a tiny part of the entirety of the "public debt."
And when you also consider that the 14th was adopted in 1868, and the Federal Reserve Act wasn't passed until 45 years late in 1913, there is no possible way that the "public debt" referred to in the 14th is the "public debt" being addressed by the "debt ceiling" today.
Turn on the television and you’ll have a pretty good idea.
I would estimate the majority of black Americans are Communist or worse. This minority is probably the least likely group to survive a fragmentation as the Government shuts down. Remember this group cowering and mewing for help when Katrina took away the Gov Teat?
The quote in my post is section 5, and by my reading, that is exactly what it says.
In a bad way, this proves that we really are all equal.
Even for the CBC, a little power is never enough. More, and ever more. For its own self.
“There will merely be a gov shutdown.”
That merely includes payments for military personnel, military contractors, national defense generally, veteran’s benefits, along with social security, medicare and all government employees. It wouldn’t be pretty.
Guess they can’t read.
Stupidity is free.
"The best laws, though sanctioned by every citizen of the state, will be of no avail unless the young are trained by habit and education in the spirit of the constitution."
I know a guy who has been on unemployment a good 2 years now (and keeps getting extensions).
And told me he is “getting comfortable” being on unemployment.
What is happening is that unemployment has become welfare payments. And he is now comfortable being a Govt dependent. I would not be surprised if he stops being a moderate conservative and becomes a Democrat.
The Congress shall have power to enforce, by appropriate legislation, the provisions of this article.
Any action by the President will be unconstitutional, according to the 14th amendment of the Constitution, which the CBC apparently has never actually read.
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.