Wednesday, November 19, 2014
From: Gary L. Bauer
Obama’s Amnesty Gamble
Washington is abuzz today with reports that President Obama will formally announce his executive amnesty tomorrow and promote it at an event Friday in Las Vegas. How appropriate since he is playing roulette with the rule of law.
As we wait for this firestorm to erupt, let me knock down the latest attempt by Obama to hijack Ronald Reagan’s legacy.
The White House is spinning some revisionist history by suggesting that Ronald Reagan did the exact same thing Obama is threatening to do. The gist of Obama’s argument is, “See I’ve got that power because Reagan did it too.”
No, Reagan did not do it and, no, Obama does not have that power. In fact, Obama has repeatedly acknowledged that he lacks such power. For example, while referring to immigration reform in 2011, Obama said:
“I know some people want me to bypass Congress and change the laws on my own. . . . But that’s not how our system works. That’s not how our democracy functions. That’s not how our Constitution is written.”
That’s the critical difference between what Reagan did and what Obama is proposing to do now. Reagan wasn’t acting on his own. He was acting as head of the executive branch to enforce legislation passed by Congress in 1986.
In contrast, Obama is acting in the absence of legislation — thereby changing the laws on his own — in defiance of Congress and the American people.
While I am angry at the distortion of Reagan’s record, I can’t help but comment on what it says about the place of Reagan in our national life.
The left hated Reagan when he was in office. But it grudgingly pays homage to him every time it tries to cover itself by claiming the mantle of the most beloved president in modern history.
Ferguson Is Not Selma
If tensions weren’t high enough already, Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) threw gasoline on the fire yesterday calling for nationwide protests if the Ferguson grand jury refuses to indict Officer Darren Wilson. Whatever happened to respect for the rule of law and our judicial system in this country?
But Lewis went even further, comparing the events in Ferguson, Missouri, to the famed civil rights march in 1965 across the Edmund Pettus Bridge. The non-violent protest for voting rights became known as “Bloody Sunday” when marchers were attacked and beaten by police. Lewis said:
“When we were beaten on that bridge in Selma, people couldn’t take it, for they saw it, they heard about it, they read about it, and it lit a sense of righteous indignation. When we see a miscarriage of justice in Ferguson, they’re going to have the same reaction they had towards Selma.”
What happened on that Selma bridge in 1965 was disgusting. The police brutality seared the conscience of white and black Americans. The congressman was beaten for a noble cause. I regret that I was not there marching with him. (I was only 19 years-old.)
The racism and bigotry so obvious in Selma was a violation of our Constitution and a clear indictment that America was not fulfilling the founding principle of our nation — that we are all created equal and endowed by our Creator with certain rights.
But with all due respect to Rep. Lewis, there is no equivalence between Ferguson and Selma. Michael Brown robbed a convenience store and reportedly assaulted a police officer. What right was he martyred for? The right to rob stores? The right to assault police officers?
The confrontation that took place in Ferguson, Missouri, has nothing to do with other incidents where police use deadly force. Each of these cases involves split second decisions where someone’s life is at risk. They should be individually investigated.
Undoubtedly some incidents are criminal and the police are prosecuted. In other cases, they are not and courts find that the police are acting in the best interests of society. And, yes, I do give the men and women on the thin blue line, risking their lives every day, the benefit of the doubt.
The great problem facing black Americans is not out of control police. There is no doubt that too many black children are afraid to walk to school because of thugs and drug dealers. Too many grow up in broken homes without fathers. Too many inner city teachers can’t pass basic competency exams. The gang and hip hop culture is sending all the wrong messages about life, love and virtue to minority children.
The John Lewis who bravely walked across that bridge in Selma would show much more courage today speaking out against those things — taking on the teachers unions and rap artists, indicting minority men who break their promises to the women they impregnate and the children they create. But that wouldn’t be a good liberal thing to do, would it? It is so much easier to stoke the fires of racial discord.
Good Job, Barack!
Remember that deal Obama signed in China last week to stop global warming? Who knew it would work so fast! The National Weather Service reports that all 50 states — even Hawaii — have hit the freezing mark this week. More than 1,300 record lows were broken.
Forty years ago, the climate change alarmists were worried about a new ice age. Now they are up in arms about global warming. Yes, the climate does change over time, and they may have been right 40 years ago. Ironically, solar activity — or the lack of it — suggests we could be headed for a new mini-ice age. Brrr!!!
Grubergate
As I wrote yesterday, it’s clear now that we were misled about the policies in Obamacare and it’s it equally clear that liberals are lying about Dr. Jonathan Gruber’s role in helping them hide the truth. Watch this video. Unbelievably, some liberal apologists in the media are still struggling to understand what all the fuss is about.
But CNN’s Jake Tapper deserves credit for realizing the news value of Gruber’s deceptions. Watch this video explaining how Obamacare’s tax scheme will eventually eliminate all employer provided healthcare plans and how we were misled about that too.
If you are interested in receiving Mr. Bauer’s daily report by e-mail, please call 703-671-9700, visit SIGN UP FOR GARY BAUER’S “END OF DAY REPORT” or simply send a reply e-mail titled “Subscribe” and include your name and address.
Visit End of Day archives to share reports on Facebook. Follow Gary On Facebook And Twitter.
To be removed from Gary Bauer’s End of Day distribution list, please reply to this message with “Remove” in the subject line.
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, donations to American Values are tax deductible for federal income tax purposes. You may donate online by visiting our website or by using the following address in your web browser: https://www.ouramericanvalues.org/american-values-contribution or you may mail contributions to the following address:
American Values
2800 Shirlington Road
Suite 950
Arlington, VA 22206
Phone: 703-671-9700
Fax: 703-671-1680
