Video: Obama on signing statements, then and now
posted at 7:45 pm on July 10, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Barack Obama during the campaign:
“What George Bush has been trying to do as part of his effort to accumulate more power in the presidency is he’s been saying ‘well I can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter saying I don’t agree with this part or I don’t agree with that part,” Obama said last year during a campaign stop. “I’m gonna’ choose to interpret it this way or that way.’ That’s not part of his power. But this is part of the whole theory of George Bush that he can make laws as he’s going along. I disagree with that. I taught the constitution for 10 years. I believe in the constitution, and I will obey the Constitution of the United States.
“We’re not going to use signing statements as a way of doing an end-run around Congress.”
And … expiration date:
The House rebuked President Obama for trying to ignore restrictions to international aid payments, voting overwhelmingly for an amendment forcing the administration to abide by its constraints.
House members approved an amendment by a 429-2 vote to have the Obama administration pressure the World Bank to strengthen labor and environmental standards and require a Treasury Department report on World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) activities. The amendment to a 2010 funding bill for the State Department and foreign operations was proposed by Rep. Kay Granger (R-Texas), but it received broad bipartisan support.
The conditions on World Bank and IMF funding were part of the $106 billion war supplemental bill that was passed last month. Obama, in a statement made as he signed the bill, said that he would ignore the conditions.
They would “interfere with my constitutional authority to conduct foreign relations by directing the Executive to take certain positions in negotiations or discussions with international organizations and foreign governments, or by requiring consultation with the Congress prior to such negotiations or discussions,” Obama said in the signing statement.
Funny how power changes all those lessons Obama taught on constitutional law …
Blowback
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Words…just words.
jukin on July 10, 2009 at 7:47 PM
Funny how power changes all those lessons Obama taught on constitutional law …
Ed, if you disappear mysteriously, I will blame the Obamacons. You nail him and I love it. Truth to Power.
portlandon on July 10, 2009 at 7:49 PM
“I will obey the Constitution”… Barrack Obama.
Be sure to take notice he didn’t eleborate which Constitution he was talking about.
Hog Wild on July 10, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Funny how people actually voted this d-bag into office.
PBoilermaker on July 10, 2009 at 7:49 PM
Ed, stop bugging Obama over this. The man wants to enjoy his waffles in peace.
+1 to the Cap’n.
darii on July 10, 2009 at 7:52 PM
and the MSM will just look the other way…..
I was against signing statements before I was for them…..
*sigh*
cmsinaz on July 10, 2009 at 7:52 PM
The filthy liar will just tell another story in the way that his bio changed so that he wasn’t an intern banging the skank he eventually married after being introduced to her by a domestic terrorist at a leftist law firm. Instead they met “in school” even though they were never in school together.
highhopes on July 10, 2009 at 7:53 PM
DOPE and CHANGE…………….
StimulateTHIS on July 10, 2009 at 7:53 PM
Hog- actually he did:
“I believe in the constitution, and I will obey the Constitution of the United States.”
O is just a liar
CWforFreedom on July 10, 2009 at 7:54 PM
I thought there was a movie called “Billy Liar”, but I must be wrong. The actual movie coming to your town is called “Barry Liar”.
westerncanadian on July 10, 2009 at 7:56 PM
I guess I didn’t listen that far… there’s only so much a man can take don’t cha know?
Hog Wild on July 10, 2009 at 8:01 PM
and I thought it was only the weatherman that could be wrong all the time and keep his job! I have no respect for him. Let’s get some ice cream!
Conservican on July 10, 2009 at 8:01 PM
Exactly which article or amendment authorizes the creation of “czars” with no accountability, Mr. Constitutional Scholar?
psrch on July 10, 2009 at 8:02 PM
‘I won’
cmsinaz on July 10, 2009 at 8:03 PM
pointing out the truth about Teh ONE is RACIST!!!!
people like this just need a bit of re-education…
right4life on July 10, 2009 at 8:04 PM
So true.
ladyingray on July 10, 2009 at 8:06 PM
Obambi = The Scam-Wow President
gsherin on July 10, 2009 at 8:10 PM
The Zero knows so much more than you do. Peon.
Cicero43 on July 10, 2009 at 8:10 PM
If anyone has any notes or old tests to share – let’s see ‘em.
ericdijon on July 10, 2009 at 8:16 PM
Please tell us Mr. Prez, which constitution do you believe in and which constitution do you obey? What a crock!!!!
mobydutch on July 10, 2009 at 8:17 PM
The Constitution doesn’t mention signing statements.
There. See how easy that was?
I’m practicing up to be President. This isn’t so hard.
IndieDogg on July 10, 2009 at 8:18 PM
Power indeed.
He’s the most powerful human being evah.
jgapinoy on July 10, 2009 at 8:18 PM
So does this mean that Uhbama will apologize to Bush?
Cicero43 on July 10, 2009 at 8:19 PM
there is so much ammo for the republicans come mid terms and 2012, this filthy liar has to go! i know this is your saying high hopes(filthy liar) hope you don’t mind i borrowed it.. it fits perfectly.
SHARPTOOTH on July 10, 2009 at 8:19 PM
That’s because most Americans are fundamentally ignorant on economics. If they were smart, they would all support homeschooling, privatization, spending cuts, and the etc. the only place the majority have it right is in taxes. Even staunch liberals love tax cuts… as long as the rich aren’t getting it, of course
Libertarian Joseph on July 10, 2009 at 8:21 PM
Hope and Change in 2010!
Yes we can!
Loxodonta on July 10, 2009 at 8:22 PM
Poor Barry. This just hasn’t been his week. Caught checking out some 16 yr old ass. Crap and Tax on hold, ObamaCare on hold, India and China telling him to bend over on GW, Russians giving him the great stone face. What happened to “The Most Popular Guy in the World”?
GarandFan on July 10, 2009 at 8:24 PM
Change that works for
youthe Chicago mob!landlines on July 10, 2009 at 8:26 PM
From hope and change to bait and switch.
the_nile on July 10, 2009 at 8:28 PM
Power corrupts. Absolutely incompetent power corrupts absolutely.
Star20 on July 10, 2009 at 8:28 PM
You got a Chicago hood muscling in…you get a New York hood to change his mind.
Jeff from WI on July 10, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Obama is incapable of the truth. The world leaders know this. The disdain the Russians showed him was embarrassing. It was almost like they resented that he would even think he is on their level. China and India were amused too. They dismissed him as a serf. Obama’s playground mentality is going to make it hard to provide this country the security it deserves.
volsense on July 10, 2009 at 8:33 PM
How did this man become President of our great nation?
Did hussein lose a bet w/the devil or win?
christene on July 10, 2009 at 8:35 PM
Oh! It’s common property. Enjoy.
First couple of weeks it was “filthy bastard” but that didn’t quite fit. He is corrupt but wasn’t a bastard in the biological sense of the word. From then, I’ve been using “filthy liar.” The funny thing is that when I started using the term, I got all sorts of indignant posts that I wasn’t giving Obama a chance and I should be changing the tone. These days- I see more people getting the fact that Obama is a liar and utterly corrupted.
highhopes on July 10, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Where’s the proof that he taught US constitutional law? Have any of his former students come forward? Where are the records?
txag92 on July 10, 2009 at 8:37 PM
Here’s what he said during the campaign, much to the chagrin of many of his supporters:
“The problem with this administration is that it has attached signing statements to legislation in an effort to change the meaning of the legislation, to avoid enforcing certain provisions of the legislation that the President does not like, and to raise implausible or dubious constitutional objections to the legislation,” Obama answered. But, he added: “No one doubts that it is appropriate to use signing statements to protect a president’s constitutional prerogatives.”
He doesn’t really seem to have changed his position on this…
Yoosaion on July 10, 2009 at 8:40 PM
Ed’s not always so tough on Obama. Often times, he wants “to be fair.” To each his own, but I don’t want to be fair to my enemy. How long are we gonna live in this semi-state of war with the other side? How about we win? This is getting as ridiculous as the Israelis and Palis, or Hatfields and McCoys–generational.
JiangxiDad on July 10, 2009 at 8:41 PM
BHO is not an enemy, he’s an opponent. And we ought to be accurate & credible in our criticisms, or no one will listen.
itsnotaboutme on July 10, 2009 at 8:43 PM
Popularity and leadership rarely go hand-in-hand. The goal is to be respected and even supported by those with different views. Ronald Reagan had that ability.
Obama was an affirmative action hire. He’s never had to lead, just be the cool black guy. He’s the Northern version of Ray Nagin. Unfortunately for America, the filthy liar is now in a position that calls for leadership and all we getting is knee-jerk reactions from an administration that is clearly foundering in all aspects except for spending money, rewarding liberal special interests, and handing off the automotive industry for the UAW to run.
highhopes on July 10, 2009 at 8:46 PM
As far as I’m concerned, the filthy liar in the White House is one of those domestic enemies the President swears to defend the Constitution from. He isn’t an opponent you jackass- he wants to push through ideas that will fundamentally change America without a single moment of discussion or inclusion of alternative views from his own.
highhopes on July 10, 2009 at 8:48 PM
I fought for 8 solid weeks to get Politifact to acknowledge this *broken promise*. They finally did, but, would only give it a *compromise* status, until they see how he uses this in the future.
So yes, he is breaking that promise as well, and no, the alleged neutral Politifact will have to see him sign one in blood before it is admitted as a broken promise.
Ed, I have all of the back and forth emails, if you are interested. Otherwise, I suggest shaving your head with a cheese grater for comic relief. It’s easier, trust me.
sybilll on July 10, 2009 at 8:52 PM
Disagree. he’s my enemy. And the average voter goes where he’s led by the strongest voice–usually the media.
JiangxiDad on July 10, 2009 at 8:54 PM
Why Geppetto, methinks Pinocchio’s nose is growing as long as the “bridge to nowhere”.
yoda on July 10, 2009 at 9:03 PM
When bammers thinks constitution he thinks about how to get around it. If the “wise latina” gets confirmed he will have the SCOTUS in his back pocket as well as the legislative branch. How do we take our country back from these socialist/marxist? Ready to fight!
farright on July 10, 2009 at 9:54 PM
It’s only words, and words are all I have, to take your rights away.
~ The Bee Ooo’s
Patrick S on July 10, 2009 at 10:26 PM
I am liking our chances in 2010 and beyond more and more every day.
So much for the 1000 Year Majority, eh, Democrats?
Techie on July 10, 2009 at 10:52 PM
Well…..50% of the country sat on their @sses and said “What? Me worry?”.
And the 25% of the country that voted for that despicable Marxist went to the polls saying “Yeah! Hope and Change…F**K Boooooossssshhhhhhh!”.
csdeven on July 10, 2009 at 10:53 PM
He IS the enemy. Just look at the foreign dictators he is chumming up with.
csdeven on July 10, 2009 at 10:54 PM
By the way, Obama did not teach the Constitution for 10 years. So he was already a liar before he even opened his mouth about the signing statements.
rockmom on July 10, 2009 at 11:02 PM
Chicago Thug mantra: If you repeat a lie often enough it becomes perceived as the truth.
maryo on July 10, 2009 at 11:03 PM
You get what you vote for, idiots
Ugly on July 10, 2009 at 11:46 PM
Ed takes a rational approach to the story he is on. Going rabid on every topic leaves a person irrational, and you become like Michael Savage (Savage has good points some times, but is ignored because he is so rabid in his response to every issue). Ed takes Obama to the woodshed, and like it when he does.
portlandon on July 10, 2009 at 11:52 PM
El Presidente answers to NO man…
MarkT on July 11, 2009 at 12:16 AM
TN Mom on July 11, 2009 at 1:03 AM
“Great occasions do not make heroes or cowards; they simply unveil them to the eyes of men. Silently and imperceptibly, as we wake or sleep, we grow strong or weak; and at last some crisis shows what we have become.” – Brooke Foss Westcott
- Brooke Foss Westcott
luvstotango on July 11, 2009 at 1:28 AM
Perhaps that stoning practice has some applicability here.
mr1216 on July 11, 2009 at 1:43 AM
For another prospective on the messiah, GOOGLE: The Obama Deception. It has had over 2,500,000 hits and is still taking more.
volsense on July 11, 2009 at 8:38 AM
…and I am fully aware that creating Czars and firing Inspector Generals, oversteps my executive power. Oh, and, I just had the great idea of moving the 2010 Census from the Commerece Dept to the control of my administration, so Rahm can keep a keen eye on the count…
TN Mom on July 11, 2009 at 9:42 AM
What do you expect from the Godless? Obama is caught in a bald faced lie, but since he generally turns around and accuses others similarly, many people get confused and don’t know who to believe.
Life lesson:
Many Liberals make their pitches from an agnostic point of view so lying is a natural and necessary part of politics for them. With no God there is no penalty for lying and the reward for them is often election so why stop?
scotash on July 11, 2009 at 1:03 PM
Hang on…
I posted a quote earlier that I thought invalidated many of the other commenters’ concerns, along with the central argument of the post itself (that Obama is a brazen hypocrite on this issue). Apparently nobody noticed. I’ll post it again, if only because I remember Obama taking some significant heat for this during the campaign from the left–especially when his statements were compared with McCain’s straightforward pledge to issue no signing statements whatsoever. Throughout the campaign, Obama criticized Bush’s overuse of the practice while simultaneously maintaining its legitimacy. It’s true that in the one video clip posted here he ignores the latter point, but it’s not true that he did so consistently.
“The problem with this administration is that it has attached signing statements to legislation in an effort to change the meaning of the legislation, to avoid enforcing certain provisions of the legislation that the President does not like, and to raise implausible or dubious constitutional objections to the legislation,” Obama answered. But, he added: “No one doubts that it is appropriate to use signing statements to protect a president’s constitutional prerogatives.”
You may disagree with Obama’s decision to use a signing statement in this situation, but it’s unfair to argue that he was 100% against signing statements during the campaign while using a single minute-and-a-half video clip as your sole piece of evidence.
Yoosaion on July 11, 2009 at 7:57 PM