In the nation’s history, there is simply no precedent for an American president so wantonly ignoring federal law.
Ted Cruz
The Wall Street Journal
1/28/2014
Of all the troubling aspects of the Obama presidency, none is more dangerous than the president’s persistent pattern of lawlessness, his willingness to disregard the written law and instead enforce his own policies via executive fiat. On Monday, Mr. Obama acted unilaterally to raise the minimum wage paid by federal contracts, the first of many executive actions the White House promised would be a theme of his State of the Union address Tuesday night. The president’s taste for unilateral action to circumvent Congress should concern every citizen, regardless of party or ideology. The great 18th-century political philosopher Montesquieu observed: “There can be no liberty where the legislative and executive powers are united in the same person, or body of magistrates.” America’s Founding Fathers took this warning to heart, and we should too…
…In the past, when Republican presidents abused their power, many Republicans—and the press—rightly called them to account. Today many in Congress—and the press—have chosen to give President Obama a pass on his pattern of lawlessness, perhaps letting partisan loyalty to the man supersede their fidelity to the law. But this should not be a partisan issue. In time, the country will have another president from another party. For all those who are silent now: What would they think of a Republican president who announced that he was going to ignore the law, or unilaterally change the law? Imagine a future president setting aside environmental laws, or tax laws, or labor laws, or tort laws with which he or she disagreed. That would be wrong—and it is the Obama precedent that is opening the door for future lawlessness. As Montesquieu knew, an imperial presidency threatens the liberty of every citizen. Because when a president can pick and choose which laws to follow and which to ignore, he is no longer a president.
The complete editorial is at The Wall Street Journal.
Related: Two excellent videos from Bill Whittle, Scott Ott, and Stephen Green:
Executive Lawlessness: Obama Skirts Constitution in Pursuit of Power In part one, Trifecta looks at Obama’s abuse of power. Hear how Obama ignores the U.S. Constitution and passes law without congressional authority. Is Obama the first American dictator? Hear the answer.
And
Executive Lawlessness: Obama’s Weapons of Political Intimidation In part two, Trifecta looks at Obama’s conversion of the federal government into a weapon of political intimidation. Hear how Obama ignores the U.S. Constitution and passes laws without congressional authority. Is tyranny alive and well in America? Hear the answer.
Victor Davis Hanson, Governing by Pen and Phone
Obama used to sigh that he was not a dictator who could act unilaterally. No more.
Update: Watch Sen. Ted Cruz Lock Horns With Attorney General Over IRS Targeting at Senate Hearing
…Cruz also made a suggestion that should go without saying. He advised Holder to appoint a special prosecutor who isn’t a major donor to President Barack Obama.
Holder said there isn’t a basis for the DOJ to appoint an independent counsel. He said he has “faith in the career people who are handling this matter.”…
