President Obama today appointed former Ohio Attorney General Richard Cordray to the head of the new Consumer Financial Protection Bereau. He used his recess appointment powers to accomplish this.
Wait a minute!! Congress is still in session! This is illegal!
Section 2, Article 2, Paragraph 3 of the United States Constitution states:
“The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen
during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall
expire at the End of their next Session.”
Needless to say, the Republicans in the House and Senate are upset. As they should be. As should the Democrats as well. The President is breaking the law.
In prepared remarks, Obama replies:
“I refuse to take ‘No’ for an answer. I’ve said before that I will continue to look for every opportunity to work with Congress to move this country forward. But when Congress
refuses to act in a way that hurts our economy and puts people at risk,
I have an obligation as president to do what I can without them”
On the surface this sounds ok. But when you really dig into it, he’s stating what he appears to believe, that the President, not Congress, is in charge of the country. He says will “work with Congress” but circumvents congress when they don’t do it his way. He stated he has “an obligation as president to do what I can without them [Congress]” when referring to them not following his desires.
But that’s just the point, he isn’t the king, he’s only the President. He is supposed to uphold the law and be the prime example of America, not break the laws and twist them to his desires.
To put in business terms, President Obama is the Chief Operating Officer, and *not* the Chief Executive Officer of the country. We the people are the shareholders/owners of this great country. We are the employers.
Mr Obama, you are the civil servant. We are not your citizen servants. We, the American People, are in charge. The Congress is our representative in the board room. They, not you, have final say.
Wake up America! Obama is arrogantly strutting around as if he owns the place, when he is really just a hired hand.
Further Reading:
Obama bucks Republicans by making unprecedented recess appointment – Washington Times
Obama to recess appoint Cordray as consumer bureau director – CNN Money Jan. 4, 2012
Bucking GOP, Obama Will Recess Appoint Consumer Agency Chief : The Two-Way : NPR
Recess appointment – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
