Asked Where Constitution Authorizes Americans Buy Health Insurance, Pelosi : 'Are You Serious?'

CNS News ^ | 10/23/2009 | Matt Cover

[IbJensen]

We've got to clean out Washington or perish.

[refermech]

That was a legit question. She should be run out of town.

[M203M4]

argues that Congress derives the authority to mandate that people purchase health insurance from its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce.

The commerce clause and the necessary and proper clause - twin evils at the root of America's decay.

[TLI]

Third in line to the Presidency of the United States of America.

Third...

[M203M4]

argues that Congress derives the authority to mandate that people purchase health insurance from its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce.

The commerce clause and the necessary and proper clause - twin evils at the root of America's decay.

[The_Victor]

Pelosi then shook her head before taking a question from another reporter. Her press spokesman, Nadeam Elshami, then told CNSNews.com that asking the speaker of the House where the Constiution authorized Congress to mandated that individual Americans buy health insurance as not a "serious question."

In order to answer the question, the Speaker would have to actually know the contents of the document in question.

[MrB]

“The Constitution means whatever we want it to mean at this particular moment.”

That may sound like I’m being a bomb thrower, but that is seriously what they believe. It is inherent in their worldview that their intellect, by virtue of being alive now, is superior to that of those who wrote the Constitution, so it should be no barrier to what they are able to do.

Anyone hear the guy on Hannity yesterday toward the end of his show? That is the mentality of these people.

[freebilly]

Is she serious? Is she serious...?

[webschooner]

They didn’t print the rest of Nancee’s response, which was, “ ... My constitution is fine, thanks for axing, but what the hell does that have to do with this conversation?”

[MrB]

They seriously don’t care what’s in the Constitution.
Their wisdom and discretion is superior to it.

[rellimpank]

---if she had the slightest knowledge of the Constitution , she could have quoted the "general welfare" clause, as some other Demotraitor did recently.

--the rebuttal to that line of thought is in the Federalist Papers--

[AD from SpringBay]

Amen - under Pelosi’s logic, the Federal Government has the power to force every citizen to buy (or no longer buy) anything. This is beyond Fascism. It is totalitarian. They are overplaying their hand with these statements. But let us pray (and I mean really pray) that they are stopped.

[tdscpa]

Suppose they will use the same argument to force the Amish to buy insurance?

[Jet Jaguar]

BTTT

[Dan(9698)]

which operates like auto insurance in most states,

The comparison would go further. If you don't have car insurance, don't drive a car. If you don't have health insurance, don't breath the air.

[Comanche]

Constitution, what Constitution, we don’t need no stinkin Cosntitution. We’ll make it up on the fly. God help us!

[depressed in 06]

“If it is the Speaker’s belief that there is a provision in the Constitution that does give Congress this power, does she believe the Constitution in any way limits the goods and services Congress can force an individual to purchase?" CNSNews.com asked. "If so, what is that limit?”

I am sure Pelagosi would draw the line at making every American buy a gun to support the Second Amendment.

[NoDRodee]

Should have followed up with “ Will Fed Govt provide all citizens with Guns”, We all have the right to bare arms does that mean if a Govt that does not provide guns for those who can't afford guns is failing it people.

[savedbygrace]

Pelosi's press secretary later responded to written follow-up questions from CNSNews.com by emailing CNSNews.com a press release on the “Constitutionality of Health Insurance Reform,” that argues that Congress derives the authority to mandate that people purchase health insurance from its constitutional power to regulate interstate commerce.

First, because health insurance companies cannot offer policies across State lines, there is no interstate commerce occurring.

Second, even if you accept that Congress has the power to regular interstate commerce that isn't interstate, the interstate commerce clause does not give Congress the power to regulate non-commerce. In this case, individuals are NOT participating in interstate commerce because they are not purchasing anything. Therefore, Congress has no power to regulate their non-activities.

Third, Pelosi is an idiot.

[Jack Wilson]

If regulation of interstate commerce allows her to force people to buy insurance, the next question could be ‘why don’t you require everyone to buy a new car next year?’