Congress, Constitutional Law, Courts, Politics, Society

Obama: “I Just Took An Action To Change The Law” On Immigration

Screen Shot 2014-11-26 at 9.27.01 AMThere was an unscripted moment for President Barack Obama yesterday that might make Justice Department lawyers defending the recent unilateral changes to immigration laws a bit uneasy. The President was faced with an understandably annoying problem of hecklers who interrupted his speech demanding an end to deportations of anyone. The President responded with a clearly justified admonishment that they should let him speak, but he added in obvious frustration “What you’re not paying attention to is the fact that I just took an action to change the law.” That is what the Administration lawyers have striven to deny. They are insisting that this was not a change in law (which is a legislative act) but the exercise of discretion allowed under the law.


I have to say that I have always admired how the President handled such hecklers. He stay calm and respectful despite dealing with some pretty rude characters in the past.

President Obama admonished the protesters initially by saying “Don’t just start yelling, young ladies . . . I let you holler . . . You’ve got to listen to me too.” He then said “What you’re not paying attention to is the fact that I just took an action to change the law.”

His other statement was more in line with the legal position of the Administration: “Although I disagree with some of your characterizations, it does not make much sense to yell at me right now, when we are making changes.”

Here is the encounter:

The statement comes after another statement earlier where the President seemed to draw an uncertain line over when he is entitled to act unilaterally and when he is not. The statement came in an excellent interview by ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos where President Obama made some strong points. However, Stephanopoulos asked Obama: “How do you respond to the argument, a future president comes in, wants lower taxes. Doesn’t happen. Congress won’t do it — he says I’m not going to prosecute those who don’t pay capital gains tax.” When the President did not address that question, Stephanopoulos pressed again “So you don’t think it’d be legitimate for a future president to make that argument?” The President responded “With respect to taxes? Absolutely not.” Despite the President’s skills in argument, the separation-of-powers question is how that line is drawn from taxes to health care to online gambling to immigration etc.

232 thoughts on “Obama: “I Just Took An Action To Change The Law” On Immigration”

  4. Squeeky Fromm:

    Not enough people use “poo-poooed” anymore. I laughed a church laugh just typing it. 🙂

  9. Karen on several different healthcare discussion threads over the last several months, you referred to a ” SISTER” who was on Medicaid. If you weren’t referring to her in the above quote, fine. BUT again in the past you have spoken about a SISTER who was on Medicaid.

  11. I merely was trying save you from having to make another twenty posts about yourself.

  14. Karen S >> is there not some Mormon website or something that might explain your family lucidly?

  15. Inga:

    Yes. You are mistaken.

    I have spoken about a relative who died on Medicaid.

    I have also spoken, in other posts, about my sister-in-law who is a nurse.

    I posted yesterday about my mom.

    These are 3 different women, all of whom are relatives.

    I do not recall ever mentioning my sister before today in posts, when I verified she is alive and well. She will be happy to hear it if and when she reads this post.

  17. Spinelli <<"Dems love more people getting disability because then they have their vote."

    Not only is that incorrect, it is beneath contempt. Perhaps the regressive ooze from which these sentiments spring has permanantly damaged your perspective. You seriously should attemot to get help before your chronic and hateful cynicism overwhelms you,

  18. “Terminal relative” does not mean “my sister.”

    Get it?

    My relative died on Medicaid. My sister, who is ALSO my relative, but a different one, is alive and well. Otherwise it wouldn’t be “her mom” at work but “our mom.”

  20. on 1, November 26, 2014 at 5:33 pmKaren S
    Inga:

    My sister was never on Medicaid.
    ***************
    Karen, I posted that comment of yours in reaponse to this comment of yours. So was your sister on Medicaid or not? Why imply she was then deny she was?

Comments are closed.