Democrats, led by the progressive TPM online magazine, are calling for Ron Paul to apologize for living in a reality-based world. TPM is tiffed because Paul described Obama as an elected dictator (see video below).
TPMs Josh Petri expects Ron Paul to follow in the footsteps of Rep. Denny Rehberg. The Montana Republican was lambasted for showing off a cartoon depicting Obama as the murdered former leader of Libya, Muammar Gaddafi.
Rehberg was quick to offer an apology. Paul, however, is not expected to apologize for anything, writes Petri.
Ron Paul has not compared Obama to Gaddafi. He simply pointed out the fact Obama has violated the Constitution by issuing executive orders that bypass Congress and the American people. The idea they can just do this and take over the legislative function and brag about it and Congress does nothing and the courts do nothing about it, its very, very bad, Paul told Fox News.
In October, Obama said we cant wait for an increasingly dysfunctional Congress to do its job. Where they wont act, I will. He said that he has looked at ways to violate the Constitution every single day and promised to issue executive actions on a regular basis.
Both Democrats and Republicans love to violate the Constitution. Bush ruled by executive fiat too, but Obama has taken the practice to a new level.
Serious constitutional violations through executive orders began in earnest when FDR was in office. He said that the normal balance of Executive and legislative authority may be wholly adequate to meet the unprecedented task before us and called for a temporary departure from that normal balance of public procedure.
FDR asked Congress to approve of his violation of the Constitution. I shall ask the Congress for the one remaining instrument to meet the crisis broad Executive power, FDR said.
Obama has not asked for permission from a usually compliant Congress. He has dismissed Congress and the American people as dysfunctional and has promised to act like a dictator.
TPM is either unable to see this or is making excuses for Obama. Its OK when Democrats stomp on the Constitution, but a crime when Republicans do it.
Thankfully, Ron Paul will not be following in the shoes of the spineless Denny Rehberg.