By: Michael Wells Jr.June 20, 2012
The Daily Caller posted a link to Republican pundit Charles
Krauthammer’s Monday night appearance on “Special Report” on the FOX
News Channel. During the appearance, Krauthammer argued Romney made the
correct move in not commenting on or taking a “punt” on President
Obama’s immigration policy articulated Friday.
Krauthammer parroted the legally incorrect argument that the
President acted beyond his Constitutional authority. In reality,
President Obama acted squarely within his authority under Article II of
the Constitution.
The Daily Caller’s posting Krauthammer’s television appearance is
interesting because it is the same publication that sent a reporter to
the White House Rose Garden to interrupt the President during his
historic Friday speech. Virtually all serious journalists agree the
reporter behaved deplorably.
Now the Republicans, buoyed by support from online sites such as The
Daily Caller, are extolling the virtue of Romney taking no stance on a
key issue while celebrating the reporter’s taking cheap shots at the
President. Republicans do so by misstating the law while exemplifying a
Palinesque understanding of the power of the Executive and the
separation of powers in general.
It is no surprise the Republicans continue to misstate the law in
order to torpedo the President’s principled stance, which is also a
brilliant political stance. Basic civics teaches the federal government
has three branches of government. Congress makes laws; the Executive
branch, headed by the President, enforces them; and the Judicial branch,
headed by the Supreme Court, interprets them.
Article I does give the Congress the power to pass laws relating to
immigration, but Article II gives the President the power to enforce the
laws. This means the President has the power to enforce the laws
within the meaning of the law or to not enforce the law. Reasonable
minds can disagree on what the meaning of the law is.
This country needs meaningful immigration reform, and this reform is
stymied at every turn by the Republicans who have repeatedly blocked
the DREAM ACT.
Likewise, Congress does not adequately fund Homeland Security, which oversees immigration. This slows the process.
The President decided to pave the way to citizenship for undocumented
individuals under the age of 30 who came to the U.S. before age 16.
These individuals cannot be criminals or a threat to national security.
It makes sense to bring individuals in compliance with the law, but
the Republicans (when they actually take a stance) do not see it this
way.
A friend of mine (a staunch Republican) likened the President’s
decision to “prosecutorial discretion” because it is the President’s
discretion as to whether or not to enforce the laws and how to enforce
the laws. What is different here, however, is the President’s
principled stance gives freedom to people where as the Republicans want
to take freedom away.
Mitt Romney decided to make no comment on the immigration issue,
which is one of the most significant issues of our time. Not very
Presidential. Instead Romney let an amateur reporter with a bad tie
interrupt the President during a speech in the White House Rose Garden.
It is not surprising Krauthammer would praise Romney for taking no
stance as well as incorrectly stating it is a “congressional issue”.
Krauthammer, Bill Kristol and now Tucker Carlson, who started the Daily
Caller, are Neocons, and Neocons have never been known for their
understanding of the law or grasp of the facts. The Neocons misstate the
law and show stunning inconsistency in praising the reporter heckler
while also praising Romney for retreating into spineless oblivion.
Democrats should stand up proud. President Obama takes stances. He
believes in something unlike Mitt Romney who has changed his position
more times than I change ties in a year. It is important to be
flexible. No question about that, but in the end it is important to
stand for something. It is hard to see what Mitt Romney stands for
other than “vulture capitalism,” which Bain Capital practiced so
skillfully.
Tucker Carlson’s previous show, Crossfire, failed to get the ratings
necessary to keep it on the air; perhaps Tucker’s little bow ties had
something to do with this. Too bad he did not discovery his lack of
dancing talent then because it may have saved the show. Of course it is
no worse than Mitt Romney’s singing.
Tucker Carlson is trying to do well with his website even if it
means sending cub reporters to heckle the President in the White House
Rose Garden. That is okay if the Republicans want to play this way, but
come election time they better hope Mitt Romney stands for something.
Otherwise they will be as out of step as Tucker Carlson and his Neocon
ilk.
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