United Liberty
Reid - Make A Choice - Politics or the Constitution?
Mon, 01/05/2009 - 6:53am | posted by Austin Wilkes
No matter how you philosophically interpret it, one thing almost all of us can agree on is that the highest law governing this nation is the Constitution. Then why are Harry Reid and other Democrats pushing for a decision that is as unconstitutional as almost anything the Bush administration had done over the last 8 years? It’s simply politics.
While most wanted Gov. Blagojevich to refrain from making an appointment for US Senate to replace Senator Obama, everyone agreed that he does have the right under the US Constitution and Illionis law to do so, as he has yet to be impeached. And, so he did. His choice? Roland Burris, who will become the only African American in the US Senate. But too bad for Burris — Reid and fellow Democrats do not want him seated.
The seating of Burris, who meets all Constitutional qualifications for serving as a US Senator, is being blocked by Harry Reid and other Democrats who claim they have a right to do so inspite of clear written law from the Constitution and case law from the Supreme court that ruled on this very issue some 40 years ago. The Warren Court of the late 60’s (whose policies are revered by the modern Democratic Party) ruled 8-to-1 that Adam Powell, an elected US House Represenative, could not be prevented from being seated in Congress. The majority opinion stated that the House could expell Rep. Powell by a vote of two-thirds, but it could not prevent his seating in the first place.
Now, forty years later a nearly identical case has arisen: Burris vs. his own party. Does Reid know about Powell v. McCormack? Of course he does. But at the moment, politics is more important than the Constitution.
For now, I can only dream of a day when obeying the Constitution is good politics, and not doing so is political suicide. Unfortunately, today is not that day.
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Absolutely. This is what infuriates me about the Dems who preach to high heaven when there is a Republican scandal.
For further background, NPR had on the former Gov. of Illinois (one who has not been implicated or convicted of a crime), and he spelled things out quite clearly in terms of why Burris must be seated:
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98845915
Burris, should not have accepted Blag’s offer. With the dark cloud of being tainted, hanging over him. This is a no brainer. Burris, is power hungry. He would not have been chosen, otherwise, as he is old and there are plenty of Black, White, qualified people. Since the Governor isn’t convicted or impeached, I guess, he does have the right to choose. That doesn’t, however mean someone, should help him, make a mockery of their own State. IL has more trouble than a little bit. Now this is just adding to the circus, that ran last year. Will it ever be over?
I am a Democrat, too, but I say, that Blagojevich was still governing Illinois and he chose Burris to fill Obama’s seat…Burris should be seated. Harry Reid is playing politics. Blagojevich may be under a cloud, as Governor but is not yet impeached. Harry, old bud…you’re not that powerful that you can deny Burris his seat…..Stop politicing, and give the man his seat!
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