PrintFebruary 25, 2009
Giving Obama the Byrd?
Senator Robert Byrd apparently thinks President Obama has gone too far in extending the power of the executive branch.
John Bresnahan writing for Politico states:
Sen. Robert Byrd (D-W.Va.), the longest-serving Democratic senator, is criticizing President Obama’s appointment of White House “czars” to oversee federal policy, saying these executive positions amount to a power grab by the executive branch.
In a letter to Obama on Wednesday, Byrd complained about Obama’s decision to create White House offices on health reform, urban affairs policy, and energy and climate change. Byrd said such positions “can threaten the Constitutional system of checks and balances. At the worst, White House staff have taken direction and control of programmatic areas that are the statutory responsibility of Senate-confirmed officials.”
This letter is proof positive that at least one Democrat has read the Constitution. Strange that happened to be Robert Byrd.
Byrd does not have a reputation of going after fellow Democrats. He was a staunch defender of President Clinton during the impeachment trials of the 1990s.
If life long Democrat Byrd, who fancies himself a constitutional scholar, is telling Obama that the President is out of line … other Democrats might start noticing that Obama is out of line.
Or not.
Hat tip: Tony Salazar
Shout out: Ann "blue state" B.
