OBAMA AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT

I hope you have been aware of the latest shenanigans from the Obama Administration. Apparently they have decided to declare war on Fox News. Last Sunday their minions were out spreading the word that Fox News was not a legitimate news organization. Why? Could it be that Fox doesn't give the Obama Administration the coverage that Obama believes they should? It would seem that the only news the President would have us receive is positive pro-Obama coverage. Any criticism of the current administration should be outlawed. The latest threat was last night when Obama himself said that his administration would continue to monitor Fox for their compliance. Well guess what? There is an old adage that goes like this, "never pick a fight with anybody who buys ink by the gallon." When the Administration recently decided to offer a news event for reporters but to exclude Fox, fortunately for this country and our Constitution, the other news organizations declined to cover the event. This rebuff by the news media should be sufficient to let the Administration know that that is not the way it is done here in America. No elected official, not even the President, gets to choose who covers the news or the content of that coverage.

The reason for this latest attempt by Obama to try and control the news media and their access is very simple to understand. The Obama Administration is afraid. They and their proposals are in free fall and have been for some time. Obama's poll numbers are now at the lowest of any President on record at this point in their term. There are now rumblings that Obama will not survive a full term let alone win a second term. Some have said that the Democrats have the goods necessary to ask for his resignation at any time they choose to do so. If the Democrats, as expected, suffer huge losses at the mid term elections, it will not be pretty for Obama or his administration. I, however, do not believe we as a country need this type of Constitutional crisis.

Being the kind and helpful individual that I am, let me offer some thoughts to this administration. How about some study material? Number one, I recommend reading and committing to memory the first amendment to the Constitution. For edification I'll spell it out. "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for redress of grievances." I don't know about you, but that seems pretty clear to me. Secondly, perhaps a study of the Nixon White House might be helpful. Nixon had his enemies list and it ultimately led in part to his complete down fall as President. Some, including me, thought that Nixon saw himself as something of an Emperor. That turned out to be a fatal mistake. Any good that Nixon could have done was compromised by his arrogance and his phobias. His legacy is clear and it is not very flattering. There is helpful information here for the Obama Administration. Please note there is a difference between governing and ruling.

On this final note I offer this. Our President is not our Emperor. He is elected by the people and he can be removed by the people. If Obama is to have any success, he would do well to come back down to earth and face the facts. He doesn't make law. He doesn't rule. He is not above the law. To be successful, he must have the people with him. A little humility is definitely in order. He may well have some good ideas and changes that would be good for the country, but it is not going to happen if he refuses to obey the law and tries to circumvent the Constitution.

Ron Scarbro October 23, 2009