Podesta Calls on Obama to Circumvent Congress
BY MATTHEW BOYLE
Former President Bill Clinton’s chief of staff John Podesta, now the head of the Center for American Progress, called on President Obama to push forward with his agenda using federal agencies and executive branch power Tuesday, even though Democrats were dealt a blow in the recent midterm elections. Podesta said the American people want the president to move forward with his agenda.
“I think most of the conversation since the election has been about how President Obama adjusts to the new situation on Capitol Hill,” Podesta said. “While that’s an important conversation, it simply ignores the president’s ability to use all levels of his power and authority to move the country forward.”
Citing his experience in Clinton’s White House after the GOP House takeover of 1994, Podesta said Obama’s administration “can and should take” the specific measures detailed in a report released by the Center for American Progress, utilizing all the tools at its disposal to circumvent Congress in a way to keep his agenda moving forward.
“One of the best ways for the Obama administration to achieve results of that nature, in the short term, is through substantial executive authority to make and implement policy,” Podesta said. “As noted in the Constitution and the laws of the United States give the president the ability and the responsibility to act as the chief executive using authorities granted to all presidents such as executive orders, rule-makings, agency management and public-private partnerships.”
Even though he said that he disagreed with why former President George W. Bush went about using them, he defended how the former president used executive actions in a conference call with reporters Tuesday.
“No one can doubt that President Bush, also, when he took office in 2001, made extensive use of his executive authorities,” Podesta said. “Sometimes I agreed with it, often I didn’t, but he was able to move the policy agenda forward using executive authority.”
In an April 2005 speech about the importance of checks and balances in government, however, Podesta opposed the president expanding his executive boundaries.
“I’m convinced that Americans want the president and the Congress to work together to ensure that judges who populate the federal bench and who serve with life tenure are highly qualified men and women whose views are within the constitutional mainstream,” Podesta said in the April 2005 speech, according to a transcript obtained by The Daily Caller. “The filibuster is a means towards that end. Why? Because it encourages presidents to consult with the Senateand to name moderate, mainstream nominees who will judge cases fairly and without bias, and who will have no difficulty garnering the votes of 60 senators that they need to be confirmed. By removing the safeguard offered by the filibuster, the nuclear option would seriously and perhaps irreparably damage an institution that has functioned since its inception under customs and traditions that ensure an atmosphere of careful deliberation and mutual respect.”
Podesta’s staff wouldn’t return TheDC’s request for comment on his change of heart regarding the president’s use of executive power.
(This article originally appeared on the Daily Caller)
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Comments:
Re: Podesta Calls on Obama to Circumvent Congress
This is nothing new and is hardly surprising. Leftists tilt toward authoritarianism. They are end-justifies-the-means oriented. They only talk about democracy and the will of the people opportunistically.
Don't you remember back in February when Rahm said basically the same thing, i.e., "We are reviewing a list of presidential executive orders and directives to get the job done across a front of issues." I wrote about this in my book.
The point is that libs know better than the unwashed masses what's good for them. When they can't fool the unwashed into supporting their schemes, they'll do end runs to circumvent the people's will or the rule of law, such as abusing the reconciliation process, the Cornhusker kickback, or the renegade executive order.
What's also noteworthy is that neither Podesta nor Rahm even bothered to hide their intentions. Their arrogance is palpable.
May '10
Re: Podesta Calls on Obama to Circumvent Congress
David's comment above says it perfectly. Arrogant people behaving arrogantly. No surprises.
What a terribly painful lesson the nation is learning through these four years. But, since we are condemned to endure it, let's make it a really vivid lesson...
So go for it guys! Double down on your losing bet! Toss the Constitution and rule from the White House without check. Let's find out once and for all what the American people want and will stand for.
I'm confident the American people will give them what they deserve.
EDIT: Just saw the news that Pelosi will remain the leader for the Democrats in the House. So it's Obama, Pelosi and Reid heading into the 2012. As Holmes would say, "The game is afoot!"
Edited on November 17, 2010 at 8:52pmOct '10
Re: Podesta Calls on Obama to Circumvent Congress
"Podesta said the American people want the president to move forward with his agenda."
Only if Obama, Pelosi, Shumer, Boxer, Frank and the few dozen hard-left clones that were left standing after the election can be considered "the American people."
The majority of the American people (as determined by ballot and by poll) would prefer that the president sit down, shut up, and stop with the socialism.
Edited on November 17, 2010 at 11:12pmRe: Podesta Calls on Obama to Circumvent Congress
By the "American People" I think Podesta mean't California and New York.
Oct '10
Re: Podesta Calls on Obama to Circumvent Congress
I call this left-fascism. Only difference from traditional fascism are the morals and duties society should have imposed on it. Fascism is fascism, it doesn't matter if your morals and traditions are ultra-conservative or ultra-liberal.
Oct '10
Re: Podesta Calls on Obama to Circumvent Congress
My fav Podesta from Power of Progress:
"[The Bush administration ] embraced the “unitary executive” legal doctrine as an excuse for ignoring the separation of powers ideal enshrined in our Constitution. Based on this obscure legal theory, the president has the power to protect our national security without oversight by the courts much less legislation or court approval. It provides the administration’s rationale for signing statements….
"[T]he administration has engaged in a number of additional acts that are constitutionally dubious:
Or as Posdesta v. 2010 puts it: Precedent!
Oct '10
Re: Podesta Calls on Obama to Circumvent Congress
Sorry, forgot the Power of Progress link.