Obama: "The President does not have the power

[thundley4]

Zebedeo (1000+ posts)           Sun Mar-20-11 10:31 PM
Original message
Obama: "The President does not have the power
   
under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

This is an exact quote from candidate Obama in December 2007

Hillary Clinton said, in response to this same question: "If the country is under truly imminent threat of attack, of course the President must take appropriate action to defend us. At the same time, the Constitution requires Congress to authorize war. I do not believe that the President can take military action – including any kind of strategic bombing – against Iran without congressional authorization. That is why I have supported legislation to bar President Bush from doing so . . . "

In light of these principles, so clearly stated by both Obama and Clinton, how can the administration keep a straight face when going forward with military strikes against Libya, which no one argues is an actual or imminent threat to the United States?

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=439x703645

ReggieVeggie (696 posts)           Sun Mar-20-11 10:32 PM
Response to Original message
1. the "reasoning" is that it's a coalition effort
   
and, because of that, all warmongering is justified.

Zebedeo (1000+ posts)           Sun Mar-20-11 10:41 PM
Response to Reply #1
12. That is absurd "reasoning"
   
So the President can order military attacks without regard to congressional approval as long as the President can get at least one other nation to go along with the plan? So if Israel was on board, Bush could have bombed Iran without bothering to ask Congress? That dog won't hunt.

I wondered if any mole would post this quote from Obamalamadingdong.