The Temptations of Power is Broader Power

BY ANTHONY MELE
Publish by Rockland County Times

Political power can test the most temperate of people, but when those temptations remain unsatisfied it leads to a need for more of it. The media ignored President Obama when he told the room hosted by The Council of La Raza he felt "tempted” to bypass the US Congress. When the President of the USA expresses his contempt for the US Congress as a co-equal branch of government, he is simultaneously expressing the separation of powers built into the US Constitution is a constraint that frustrates his exercise of power. That is precisely what the founders in their wisdom intended. When he says he is "tempted to go it alone," he is expressing a desire to rule by dictat. That is precisely what the founder’s intended to constrain.

As a former soldier, it disturbed me to my core for the first time in my life to actually hear the Commander in Chief announce he wanted to suspend the separation of powers clause. As an American of Latin heritage, it embarrassed me to hear Latinos chant "yes, you can.” Especially when you take into consideration most of these immigrants and their parents fled from Latin American dictatorships to partake in the freedoms guaranteed by our Constitution.

What rose from simmering incredulousness to furious objection was the pure outlandish lie that if the president had dictatorial powers granted to him by those cheering him on in that room, he would be a beneficent dictator. He would grant them all they wished, like immigration reform, which is left-wing code word for a borderless America. Like balance and fairness from a dictator who would seize the wealth from those who earned it and redistribute to those he says should have it instead.

What became downright frightening was the mob mentality in that room, who would, if they could, at that moment abolish the presidency as a public office in a co-equal branch of government, constrained by the US Constitution, restrained by the Bill of Rights and sustained by the equal protection under the law. They would have anointed him an American Dictator before my very eyes. When I observed his reaction to that possibility, there was no Chris Mathews warm feel up my leg, but a very cold chill ran down my spine.

It is my intention to warn every American why the founders swore an oath to pledge their life, their wealth and sacred honor to declare to a world of Kings, we shall have no Monarchs over a free people. I can do no less than they. Mr. President, the US Constitution is not White House toilet tissue. That is the contempt he expressed for it on this day in July 2011. It is my goal to persuade every voter I can to return the favor come Election Day 2012.