Congress, Obama ignore Constitution

Sunday, June 21, 2009

By Carroll Cawyer

Why do we need laws? It is obvious that our elected leaders of the majority party conveniently forget the law, even the Constitution, when it gets in their way.

You disagree. Article I, Section 2 (1) of the Constitution says that "The House of Representatives shall be composed of members chosen ... by the people of the several states ..." The District of Columbia is not a state and although the 23rd Amendment provides for residents of the district to vote for presidential elections, it does not permit a vote for a member of Congress. Yet this Congress pushed the Constitution aside and authorized the election of a congressman for the district.

The First Amendment provides for the freedom of religion, speech and the press. These freedoms were specifically provided for freedom of religious and political expression. Yet we see this Congress moving toward "Hate Speech" legislation to prevent religious teachings if it condemns aberrant and distasteful behavior as sin. We have also seen the curtailment of our rights to discussing political elections within a specific time frame of an election. And that is the time frame when most Americans actually begin to pay attention to upcoming elections. It was free religious teaching and political discussion which the Founding Fathers were most concerned about.

The White House has just fired an Independent Inspector General investigating AmeriCorps. Congress gave them special protection, a law passed last year with the support of then Senator Obama, requiring a 30-day notice before firing one of these Inspectors General for cause. This was to remove political pressure from the position and keep them truly independent. However, Inspector General Gerald Walpin conducted an investigation on the misuse of federal funds, by Sacramento Mayor and friend of President Obama, Kevin Johnson when he was the president of the nonprofit Saint Hope using AmeriCorps funds. His investigation found the allegations to be true and upon filing his report he received a phone call from the White House telling him to resign within one hour or he would be fired. He refused to resign and the action is still ongoing.

These are just three examples of those in power believing they are above the law. They must be careful. When leaders ignore the law designed to protect residents from the overbearing tyranny of government, the people will remember that they are the true law and power in this country. Those who shred the Constitution will be swept from power by Constitutional means, including the Second Amendment which was included in the Constitution if ever needed "again" for this specific purpose.

Carroll Cawyer is a retired Marine from Stephenville.

http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/j ... stitution/