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The Spectacle Blog
At the Daily Caller, constitutional lawyer Ilya Shapiro runs down President Obama’s top-10 constitutional violations. Of the 10, many are violations that could be based on a misunderstanding or legitimate disagreement on the Obama team’s part about what is constitutional. But this one is inexcusable:
4. The Chrysler bailout
Building on the Bush administration’s illegal use of TARP funds to bail out the auto industry, the Obama administration bullied Chrysler’s secured creditors — who were entitled to “absolute priority” — into accepting 30 cents on the dollar, while junior creditors such as labor unions received much more. This subversion of creditor rights violates not just bankruptcy law but also the Constitution’s Takings and Due Process Clauses. This blatant crony capitalism — government-directed industrial policy to help political insiders — discourages investors and generally undermines confidence in American rule of law.
The Chrysler bailout was more a violation of the rule of law than the Constitution, which makes it the worst offense, in my book, of ones Shapiro lists.
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More Blog Posts by Joseph Lawler
http://spectator.org/blog/2011/12/05/obamas-number-one-violation-of
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Dr. X| 12.5.11 @ 1:18PM
While I agree with Shapiro's list (sadly, yes there are at LEAST ten violations of the Constitution by Obama) I disagree that it comprises the actual "Top Ten" and I disagree with Lawler that the Chrysler bailout is the worst example.
1. The Illegal War in Libya. Obama got European and UN authorization for this and TOTALLY ignored Congress. He was complicit in the assassination of a foreign head of state without a declaration of war.
2. The Assassination of Anwar al-Awlaki, an American citizen, without Due Process.
3. The Extortion of $20 Billion from BP. Remember, Eric Holder commenced a CRIMINAL investigation of BP. BP then met with Obama and somehow magically agreed to cough up $20 billion. What ever happened to the criminal investigation against BP? No criminal charges were ever filed. There's never been a more egregious example of an extrajudicial shakedown in American history.
Shapiro's list isn't even close to being a comprehensive catalogue of Obama
s constitutional infringements.
1ConservativeUSA| 12.5.11 @ 1:57PM
I agree that the Chrysler episode was despicable, but what is being done about it? Moreover, what is being done about all of Obama's misdeeds?
Thing is, I know there are some in Congress who are taking steps to reign in this wanna ba King. However, it has not been enough.
As it should be, true and binding accountability will need to come from We the People, at the election booth.
9thID| 12.5.11 @ 4:11PM
"This blatant crony capitalism " - no this is criminal Liberal Fascism warranting impeachment hearings...
Bob K.| 12.5.11 @ 5:38PM
Useless political descriptions like "liberal fascism" aside, these actions could be construed as the "high crimes and misdemeanors" that the Constitution requires for Impeachment proceedings to begin and they begin in the House of Representatives which the Republicans now control.
In fact a couple of people who are members therein are running for President: Paul and Bachman to name two. Where have they been on this issue? They should be using this as a campaign issue. They should be calling for Obama's impeachment on this issue!
Mike Rogers | 12.5.11 @ 6:50PM
He simply is not honoring, and does not intend to honor, his oath of office. Even Hillary should be able to make a good enough case to remove Obama, especially if she signed Coulter to help write the charges. Just think - set the Red Queen and the Acid Queen to take down the Black King! (Think more Alice than race here)
Flee| 12.5.11 @ 7:32PM
And a policy they quite neatly abandoned with Solyndra. There they flipped off the govt lenders or taxpayers in preference to chosen political supporters. I wonder how Obama can sleep at night knowing how obvious he has been in the mistreatment of legitimate investors and then taxpayers in his all-out effort to reward his supporters. The man has no conscience.