Obama Making Friends in Congress

Published on July 21, 2009 By Island Dog In Politics

Well Mr. Hope and Change is making more friends in Congress, this time on his own side.

President Obama has irked close allies in Congress by declaring he has the right to ignore legislation on constitutional grounds after having criticized George W. Bush for doing the same.

Four senior House Democrats on Tuesday said they were "surprised" and "chagrined" by Obama's declaration in June that he doesn't have to comply with provisions in a war spending bill that puts conditions on aid provided to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund.

In a signing statement accompanying the $106 billion bill, Obama said he wouldn't allow the legislation to interfere with his authority as president to conduct foreign policy and negotiate with other governments.

It looks like another case of Obama imitating Bush, but is he really starting to irritate his democrat friends? It’s hard to tell as they are such hypocrites when it comes to Obama.

Comments

Leauki

on Jul 22, 2009

In a signing statement accompanying the $106 billion bill, Obama said he wouldn't allow the legislation to interfere with his authority as president to conduct foreign policy and negotiate with other governments.

I thought the constitutional role of the President was to enforce laws, not to avoid legislation's interference with whatever the President wants to do?

Congress is elected, the President is (technically*) not. It wouldn't make sense if an ultimately un-elected office could outrank an elected parliament.

*The President is elected by an assembly whose members are practically elected but technically sent there by state authorities based on whatever the state wants, in theory.

Daiwa

on Jul 22, 2009

He he he. So much for occupying the high ground.

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