Most Republican lawmakers have been careful to say that they respect the Supreme Court even while disagreeing with its affirmation of President Barack Obama’s health law.
Sen. Rand Paul (R., Ky.) has been far more dismissive.
“Just because a couple people on the Supreme Court declare something to be ‘constitutional’ does not make it so,” Mr. Paul said in his written statement after the ruling. “The whole thing remains unconstitutional.”
Democrats jumped on the comment as belittling the court. “One of the tea party’s folks — who’s, by the way, a member of the United States Senate — said, just because a small number of people said that’s constitutional doesn’t mean it is,” said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.). “Now, can you believe that? But that’s what he said.”
Mr. Paul did not back down. In an article for National Review, he repeated that “just because a majority of the Supreme Court declares something to be ‘constitutional’ does not make it so. Millions of Americans simply won’t accept it and will act to help overhaul it.”
He also suggested Americans should revolt. “The Stamp Act was a direct tax imposed on the colonies by King George III. This act inevitably led to the American Revolution,” Mr. Paul wrote. “Just as the Stamp Act did in 1765, Obamacare should act as a wake-up call. Chief Justice Roberts provides us with a similar call to action.”
At the end of the article, he made it clearer he was calling for the election of a new president and Senate, not an armed insurrection.
Poster Comment:
Rand Paul is correct. No where in the constitution does it say the Supreme court determines what is constitutional.