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.

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?

I taught the constitution for 10 years

…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…

- Brooke Foss Westcott

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.</blockquote>

Any word yet if the congress will allow Obama to ratify a treaty with Russia?

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
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

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.

BHO is not an enemy,

itsnotaboutme on July 10, 2009 at 8:43 PM

He IS the enemy. Just look at the foreign dictators he is chumming up with.

How did this man become President of our great nation?
christene on July 10, 2009 at 8:35 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!”.

So much for the 1000 Year Majority, eh, Democrats?

One thing I know is true (one of Obama’s favorite transitions) is…the campaign trail is a lying, cheating road to the Oval Office for four more years of lying and cheating. Congress has rebuked President Obama’s Presidential Signings….