MSNBC Contributor Blames Republicans for Obama's Unconstitutional Recess Appointment

NewsBusters.org ^ | January 25, 2013 | Ken Shepherd

[Kaslin]

In a segment this morning discussing the breaking news that a panel of judges on the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia unanimously ruled that some of President Obama's recess appointments had been made in an unconstitutional manner, MSNBC's Thomas Roberts turned to network contributor and former Democratic Senate staffer Jimmy Williams for his reaction.

Williams conceded the the court had ruled correctly, but rather than chiding the president for violating his oath of office with unconstitutional appointments, he blamed Senate Republicans for driving Mr. Obama to do so. For his part, Roberts agreed, mumbling "mm hmm" in reply to the ex-lobbyist's partisan swipe:

THOMAS ROBERTS, anchor: All right, so Jimmy, this is a victory for Republicans. What are the implications because this is not a good way to start for the president's second administration, to get this handed down.

JIMMY WILLIAMS, MSNBC contributor: Well, Pete's right. This is -- the court ruled correctly. The Senate was not in technical recess. And since the Senate was not in recess, it was not constitutional. 

What does it mean? It means that everything -- those appointees, plus the appointment of Richard Cordray at the CFPB: the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, anything that those two agencies had sent out as rulings now can be deemed invalid or null and void. That can affect all kinds of things from credit cards, interest rates, anything that those two agencies had done now is gone. It's over. It didn't count.

And so for the Republicans and for the chamber of commerce and other business groups, this is a big victory.

But there's -- that's a short-term victory. The problem with it is this never would have happened had the Republican senators not been filibustering these Republican nominees to begin with.

ROBERTS, in agreement: Mm hmm.

Roberts then turned back to NBC justice correspondent Pete Williams (no relation) to discuss what would happen next. Pete Williams noted that the Obama administration would lik

[cripplecreek]

Trumpka is already screaming about the republican panel of judges.

[FroggyTheGremlim]

"anything that those two agencies had done now is gone. It's over. It didn't count."

Just wait until Obama's entire Presidency is ruled null and void because of his ineligibility.

Well, I can hope, can't I?

[Kaslin]

Let him

[MissMagnolia]

Exactly what I was thinking. Wouldn’t that set some hair (and a few other things) on fire!

[cripplecreek]

I just wish a couple more states would make a move on right to work now and divide the democrat forces.

[Vigilanteman]

Well, its true. If Der Furhrer's congressprivy council would just rubber stamp what Der Furhrer demands, then he wouldn't have to do recess appointments. < / sarcasm >

[Eagle of Liberty]

OMG!!!! Is there nothing that the Democrat Media will not blame on a “republican”? Now “The Republicans made me do it” line is gonna be played by DEAR LEADER? Guess we’re still on the elementary school playground.

[Sacajaweau]

The Republican devils made Obama do it?? Good grief. I just know this was deliberate on Obama’s part...so watch what the other hand is doing.

[Iron Munro]

[Eagle of Liberty]

Bucking Senate, Obama Appoints Consumer Chief

President Obama touched off a fierce election-year confrontation with Congressional Republicans on Wednesday, defying their deep opposition to appoint Richard Cordray as director of a new consumer protection agency and fill three labor board vacancies.

The decision to install the four nominees without Senate approval under the constitutional provision for making appointments when lawmakers are in recess was a provocative opening salvo in Mr. Obama’s re-election strategy of demonizing Congress. It threatened to ignite a legal challenge and left Republicans fuming that the president was abusing the recess privilege.

THE SENATE WASN'T IN RECESS BECAUSE REID DECIDED NOT TO ADJOURN THE FIRST DAY OF CONGRESS!!!

[treetopsandroofs]

Uh oh. Now you’ve ticked off the “Discuss anything BUT the birth certificate” alleged freepers.

[G Larry]

I was unaware of any “obligation” to support Tyranny?

They are CO-EQUAL branches of government!

[CityCenter]

The Reps are worng because they exercised their constitutional authority and forced Obammie act unconstitutionally. ROFL! It almost makes my brain hurt.

[Revolting cat!]

MEMO to those who said that now it’ll all be blame on Obammy:

70 years after the October Revolution the Soviets blamed it on the evil imperialists. As does Don Rather’s pal Fidel to this day. The Left has to have somebody to blame for their failures. Can you blame them?

Get ready! The next recession, and we’ll be lucky if it’s only a recession, will be blamed on... (I’ll let you guess.)

[CityCenter]

Will be our fault for not being economic patriots.

[G Larry]

Some FReeper must have that Far Side Cartoon.

Guys fishing on a lake, Mushroom cloud in the background...

[Mr. K]