The Oswegonian

The Independent Student Newspaper of Oswego State

DATE

Nov. 25, 2024

PRINT EDITION

| Read the Print Edition

Archives Opinion

Obama, Democrats subject founding ideals to cruel, unusual punishment

"President Obama said in a radio interview in 2001 that stated, "the Constitution has generally been interpreted as a charter of negative liberties. It says what the states can’t do to you, says what the federal government can’t do to you, but it doesn’t say what the federal government or the state government must do on your behalf."

"He is absolutely right (and that is not something you will often hear from me). The Founding Fathers and framers of the Constitution had designed it to protect the individual from an obtrusive, corrupt and over-powerful government.

"But Obama views our Constitution as a constraint on the government. He is not alone in his way of thinking; it has been a core belief for the progressive leftists throughout history, and especially since the 1960s.

"The Obama administration, who take their notes from these leftists who have contempt for the Constitution, have managed to implement their radical agenda on the American public. With this regime being in its infancy, many are surprised at the direction the country has taken since Obama took office—even some of those who emphatically voted for him. According to current polling data, Obama and the democratic majority’s approval ratings are plummeting. A whopping 42 percent of likely voters surveyed by Rasmussen said they strongly disapproved of Obama’s job performance, compared with only 28 pecent who strongly approve.

"What do you think he meant when he said he would fundamentally transform America? While some of you were chanting "Yes We Can" those of us who saw through the rhetoric were voicing our concerns over the possible danger that an Obama presidency would entail. We’re glad you are finally coming around and joining the resistance, but it may just be too late.

"The Constitution, with its system of checks and balances, was supposed to prevent the government from growing out of control. But this administration has all but destroyed the Constitution. They seem to think it doesn’t apply to them and they don’t have a problem bending the Bill of Rights to fit their agenda.

"Examples of Obama’s treatment of the First Amendment would be favoring the Muslim religion and giving it precedence over all other religions. That’s what happened when he came out to defend the builders of the Mahattan mosque. The administration has also used political correctness as a means of silencing free speech.

"They have even managed to skew freedom of the press by giving the press exactly what it wants published, but preventing access to information and demonizing those who provide the truth, such as Fox News.

"Here’s the Fourth Amendment: "the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures." I include the full text because I’m not sure some of Obama’s administration has read it, and I wanted to give them another chance.

"Recently, some cities, including Cleveland and Charlotte, N.C., have taken the 2010 Audi Super Bowl commercial too seriously—over the line of the Fourth Amendment. The commercial was set to the music of Cheap Trick’s song "Dream Police," however, the lyrics were changed to "Green Police" and showed Americans being arrested for not complying with efforts to save the environment. The Green Police were going through people’s trash in order to get the evidence to make the arrest. It was amusing. That is, until the idea was actually implemented and cities installed a handful of computer chips in trash bins. This green police technology actually relays information to the government about whether or not citizens are in compliance with recycling law. If someone is found not to be, they are ticketed and charged a fine. This is probably a violation of the Fourth Amendment, as it can be considered an unreasonable search and the loss of privacy. Personally, I think it’s creepy in an Orwellian manner.

"One last example is the overlooked 11th Amendment: "The Judicial power of the United States shall not be construed to extend to any suit in law or equity, commenced or prosecuted against one of the United States by Citizens of another State, or by Citizens or Subjects of any Foreign State." Could apply to the Obama administration’s decision to sue the State of Arizona’s for enforcing a federal law that deals with illegal aliens crossing the border? I doubt Obama has ever asked.

"There is a long list of actions that this administration has taken that are in direct violation of our Constitution. The President as well as every member elected or appointed has taken an oath to uphold and protect the Constitution, but clearly he and his administration have not.

"Yet, there is good news. The Constitution hasn’t made it all the way through Obama’s shredder. There is still hope and this November we’ll be able to use our liberties to hit reboot on Congress. That is why November 2010 and 2012 are important and possibly the only way to take back our country.