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Rep. Pete Stark: Constitutional Limits on Federal Power Totally Don’t Exist

By: Tabitha Hale (Diary)  |  August 2nd, 2010 at 02:30 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

This is one of those stories that you read and really don’t know whether to take seriously or check for a link to The Onion.

Watch this (text after the jump):

Via J.P. Friere:

“I think that there are very few constitutional limits that would prevent the federal government from rules that could affect your private life. The basis for that would be how would it affect other people.”

After the questioner asks what possible constitutional limits there are, then, if Obamacare can pass constitutional muster, Stark replies: “The federal government yes, can do most anything in this country.”

The questioner, outraged: “You, sir, and people like you are destroying this nation.”

Stark, smirking: “And I guess you’re here to save it. And that makes me very uncomfortable.”

Well, good, Mr. Stark. The fact that you’re uncomfortable means that we’re doing our job. As the incredibly articulate woman challenging you pointed you, you are everything that is wrong with government right now. Your inability to recognize or even be aware of Constitutional limits on Federal power is astounding and sickening.

The whole philosophy of this country was that the Federal government could NOT obtain absolute power. The delgation of power to states and the checks and balances among the three branches were meant to keep tyranny at bay.

It’s more than a little frightening that we now have a Federal goverment that doesn’t acknowledge those limitations and places no checks and balances in Washington. Personally, my hope is that we continue to make people like Mr. Stark uncomfortable.

Town Halls are important, people. Show up and talk to your Representatives while they’re home on August recess.

And bring your Flip cam.

COMMENTS

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  • fpete13527

    Stark and the Dems and their SC appointees all consider the Constiution to be an entertainment document that has no validity.

    Thankfully the people of this country are explaining otherwise to them.

    Great post Tabitha.

  • arnehartmann

    We don’t need Mr. Stark and his like uncomfortable; we need to make them unemployed.

  • Joliphant

    I mean where to begin ? an 18 term congressman that can’t even relate to his constituents in an informal setting. That someone asking a question seemed to hit him like George Foreman, or just the complete sense of disbelief that people thought he had been doing a rotten job.

  • katnandu

    How has this man continued to be re-elected over and over and over again? His opponent should challenge him to a debate on the merits of Constitutional principles!

  • toothpick

    The way to get rid of fools like this is to vote them out. They way you vote them OUT is to vote their opponents IN. Forest Baker is the Republican candidate for Pete Stark’s seat.

    Think Stark should go? Then support Forest Baker. Or enjoy another two years of this disrespectful, crotchety socialist running around in Washington as an elder statesman of the Democratic Party.

    http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/Forest4Congress?ref=ts

    http://www.forestbakerforcongress.com/

  • eastbaylarry

    You can check him out at:
    http://www.forestbakerforcongress.com/

    I missed this town hall because I had work. Three whole hours that week and they had to be during the town hall.

  • citizenjerry

    The arrogance and tone deafness of the left should be no surprise. But since the current regime rolled into town, they’ve been using the Constitution for bum fodder.

    I certainly hope the good people of California 13 will realize they’re being poorly represented by a buffoon and vote him out on his worthless backside come November.

  • tragiconda

    A clip like that is simply brilliant, many thanks for sharing.
    What makes it so perfect is the reasoned tone and crystal logic of the questioner.
    All props to her.
    I realize folks tend to get upset and rowdy at these town halls but this is far more devastating to simply state your point/question respectfully and watch them stammer for some bogus reply.
    He was a deer in the headlights for sure.

  • mikerazar

    “the federal government can do anything it wants”.

    Hmmm….Could it reinstate slavery? Could it permit waterboarding? Could it oder all children to pray every day….to some idol? Could it award one group of people all the property of another group of people? Could it ban all abortions? Could it order Nancy Pelosi not to practice witchcraft? Could it order Mr.Stark to shut up?

    This is like shooting fish in a barrel.(Illegally, I hope)

  • lucky364

    This guy, as clueless as he is, aint going away anytime soon. His congressional district has been rigged to produce a Democrat every two years regardless of the obvious horns coming out of the head of the guy with the “D” by his name.

    What this video does is shine a light on what we’re up against and exposes the enemy. My contention is that this guy is a useful idiot while there are others that are a more dangerous lot. Namely, those in the administration and the halls of congress that KNOW what the constitution says and are actively trying to undermine it.

    I’m not sure we can do anything about this guy for the time being (although my prayers are with the challenger) but it’s a good thing to get this type of ignorance on display.

  • renny

    One supposed start of the French Rev. a la Dickens is an aristocrat in his horse-drawn carriage charges through a village and kills a child in the street. The aristocrat can’t imagine why anyone cares. It was just a poor child and most of what the poor do is produce unwanted children.

    We have produced the current crop of “French” aristocrats who get free transportation ($2.6 billion for town cars and limos and Air Force plance trips–think Nancy Pelosi), free HAIR CUTS, free mailing (to keep in touch with consituents they abhor), nearly free meals (nearly a $trillion for bottled water), and the deference and treatment of celebrities.

    Let them take cabs, get out and walk, or drive themselves. Let them drink tap water. Let THEM eat cake.

    Bork’em. Call Congress and harass Snowe, Collins, Graham, Lugar Voinovich, and Martinez, all Reps. who are declared for Kagan. Kagan also said even if a law is “dumb,” like Congress voting that you cannot eat sugar, Congress could do so and it would be Const. It would not. 202-224-3121.

  • RedBeard

    Separated at birth?

  • barleycorn

    If Stark is unbeatable by a Republican because his district is heavily Democrat, then an alternative is for Republicans to scare up primary opposition in 2012.

    Stark is clearly not very bright (Rush had a lot of fun ridiculing him back in the 90′s) and he appears to be losing what edge he ever had to age. Not all reliable Democrat voters are comfortable with the over-reach of the current administration. Stark could be vulnerable to a challenge from within his own party by someone who has, say, 20% more respect for the Constitution.

    If Democrats figure out that even members in very liberal districts can be targeted by conservatives, it might nudge a few of them back toward sanity.