Did Emperor Obama Really Lie About Not Using Executive Actions?
One of the common threads of opposition to President Obama has long been the idea that he’s a tyrannical fascist overreaching emperor who defies the will of Congress and We The People™ by abusing the authority of his office (this is a subset of the uppity arrogant narrative). As many of the President’s supporters have pointed out, and as the President himself has also pointed out, he has used executive orders with far less frequency than his predecessors, and his current critics didn’t have much to say when the president was not an n-word (NObama):
“The truth is, even with all the actions I’ve taken this year, I’m issuing executive orders at the lowest rate in more than 100 years. So it’s not clear how it is that Republicans didn’t seem to mind when President Bush took more executive actions than I did. Maybe it’s just me they don’t like. I don’t know. Maybe there’s some principle out there that I haven’t discerned, that I haven’t figure out. You hear some of them, “sue him,” “impeach him.” Really? Really? For what? You’re going to sue me for doing my job? Okay.”
Now, a new story from USA Today is calling that claim into question, asserting that “By issuing his directives as ‘memoranda’ rather than executive orders, Obama has downplayed the extent of his executive actions.”
To be clear, no one disputes the accuracy of what the President actually said; he has issued far fewer executive orders than his predecessors. The premise is that presidential memoranda are pretty much the same thing as executive orders, and Obama has been using those a lot more than his predecessors in an effort to conceal his exercise of authority. Essentially, they’re saying he’s technically telling the truth, but less technically, he’s a liar…READ MORE
Copyright 2014 Liberaland
By: Tommy Christopher
Tommy Christopher is The Daily Banter's White House Correspondent and Political Analyst. He's been a political reporter and liberal commentator since 2007, and has covered the White House since the beginning of the Obama administration, first for PoliticsDaily, and then for Mediaite. Christopher is a frequent guest on a variety of television, radio, and online programs, and was the villain in the documentaries The Audacity of Democracy and Hating Breitbart. He's also That Guy Who Live-Tweeted His Own Heart Attack, and the only person to have ever received public apologies from both Rush Limbaugh and Glenn Beck.
60 responses to Did Emperor Obama Really Lie About Not Using Executive Actions?
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tracey marie December 19th, 2014 at 18:20
I wish President Obama would start writing 1 executive order weekly. Use them to fix what the goptp have broken and watch them try and take away good EO after the fact.
tracey marie December 19th, 2014 at 19:20
I wish President Obama would start writing 1 executive order weekly. Use them to fix what the goptp have broken and watch them try and take away good EO after the fact.
fancypants December 19th, 2014 at 18:27
I don’t know about executive orders but his comments about the xl pipeline were spot on
fancypants December 19th, 2014 at 19:27
I don’t know about executive orders but his comments about the xl pipeline were spot on
Wayout December 19th, 2014 at 18:30
Okay, for the sake of the argument I will agree that Obama has used fewer EO’s than his predecessors, but some of the one’s he has issued have far more serious consequences to good constitutional order. No previous chief executives have used them to illegally change the law like Obama has and that is the key difference. “I cannot unilaterally change immigration law”, Obama said many times, right before changing the immigration law through an Executive Order.
searambler December 19th, 2014 at 19:04
OK, be specific. What did he issue that ‘illegally changed the law’? What is the law and what did Obama change, and what makes what he did illegal? You state ‘some of them’ so I’ll settle for three. Show us your work. Not hearsay, not Fox-speak, but specific points and specific citations of law-breaking.
Budda December 19th, 2014 at 19:37
Oh, come on. You are asking a RWNJ for facts?
Roctuna December 19th, 2014 at 20:24
Wayout does not dwell in the reality-based community.
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 21:05
We are pretty much his only link to it.
fahvel December 20th, 2014 at 11:52
stop the waste of time – asking wahoo to actually support an idea or even have one is beyond the imagination -he’s here to amuse and make the left appear really smart. But sadly not smart enough to teach and offer truths that the wahoos of the world might understand.
tracey marie December 19th, 2014 at 19:11
he just reordered who gets deported first, there is no amnesty so once again you just babble
Dwendt44 December 19th, 2014 at 21:00
As with most laws, the executive has room to interpret, fiddle, adjust to conditions, and enforce.
He did NOT change the law in any way, no matter what the knot heads on FakeNews say.
arc99 December 19th, 2014 at 19:45
It is rather strange that you qualify acceptance of documented fact as “for the sake of argument”.
But tell us. Assume the date is not 12/19/2014, but 12/19/1862. President Lincoln is preparing the final draft of an executive order to be issued on new year’s day. That executive order would go down in history known as the Emancipation Proclamation.
If you were an advisor to Lincoln, would you tell him that his action is legal or illegal? As searambler said, please show your work.
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 21:04
Well, was Lincoln black? there’s your rightie answer.
OldLefty December 20th, 2014 at 07:21
“I cannot unilaterally change immigration law”, Obama said many times, right before changing the immigration law through an Executive Order.
______
And he did not.
William December 20th, 2014 at 07:56
No previous chief executives have used them to illegally change the law like Obama ….
HA,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha.
Here’s something Screech Levine and Sean Shamidy forgot to toss in your bowl.
William December 20th, 2014 at 07:58
Or lets be even more specific.
Kick Frenzy December 20th, 2014 at 20:33
He didn’t change immigration law.
He made a change to how resources are utilized, like any president (country, company or otherwise) is expected to do.
Not only that, but it’s only in effect for 3 years.
So, for the sake of argument… or rather, the sake of truth…
– Obama has issued far less executive orders than any other president for about the last 100 years.
– He did not change the law, he directed the severely limited resources (only able to handle about 4% of illegal immigrants in a year) to concentrate on criminal elements instead of bothering to deport otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants.
– No executive action has violated any part of the Constitution.
Wayout December 19th, 2014 at 19:30
Okay, for the sake of the argument I will agree that Obama has used fewer EO’s than his predecessors, but some of the one’s he has issued have far more serious consequences to good constitutional order. No previous chief executives have used them to illegally change the law like Obama has and that is the key difference. “I cannot unilaterally change immigration law”, Obama said many times, right before changing the immigration law through an Executive Order.
searambler December 19th, 2014 at 20:04
OK, be specific. What did he issue that ‘illegally changed the law’? What is the law and what did Obama change, and what makes what he did illegal? You state ‘some of them’ so I’ll settle for three. Show us your work. Not hearsay, not Fox-speak, but specific points and specific citations of law-breaking.
Budda December 19th, 2014 at 20:37
Oh, come on. You are asking a RWNJ for facts?
Roctuna December 19th, 2014 at 21:24
Wayout does not dwell in the reality-based community.
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 22:05
We are pretty much his only link to it.
fahvel December 20th, 2014 at 12:52
stop the waste of time – asking wahoo to actually support an idea or even have one is beyond the imagination -he’s here to amuse and make the left appear really smart. But sadly not smart enough to teach and offer truths that the wahoos of the world might understand.
tracey marie December 19th, 2014 at 20:11
he just reordered who gets deported first, there is no amnesty so once again you just babble
Dwendt44 December 19th, 2014 at 22:00
As with most laws, the executive has room to interpret, fiddle, adjust to conditions, and enforce.
He did NOT change the law in any way, no matter what the knot heads on FakeNews say.
arc99 December 19th, 2014 at 20:45
It is rather strange that you qualify acceptance of documented fact as “for the sake of argument”.
But tell us. Assume the date is not 12/19/2014, but 12/19/1862. President Lincoln is preparing the final draft of an executive order to be issued on new year’s day. That executive order would go down in history known as the Emancipation Proclamation.
If you were an advisor to Lincoln, would you tell him that his action is legal or illegal? As searambler said, please show your work.
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 22:04
Well, was Lincoln black? there’s your rightie answer.
OldLefty December 20th, 2014 at 08:21
“I cannot unilaterally change immigration law”, Obama said many times, right before changing the immigration law through an Executive Order.
______
And he did not.
William December 20th, 2014 at 08:56
No previous chief executives have used them to illegally change the law like Obama ….
HA,Ha,Ha,Ha,Ha.
Here’s something Screech Levine and Sean Shamidy forgot to toss in your bowl.
William December 20th, 2014 at 08:58
Or lets be even more specific.
Kick Frenzy December 20th, 2014 at 21:33
He didn’t change immigration law.
He made a change to how resources are utilized, like any president (country, company or otherwise) is expected to do.
Not only that, but it’s only in effect for 3 years.
So, for the sake of argument… or rather, the sake of truth…
– Obama has issued far less executive orders than any other president for about the last 100 years.
– He did not change the law, he directed the severely limited resources (only able to handle about 4% of illegal immigrants in a year) to concentrate on criminal elements instead of bothering to deport otherwise law-abiding illegal immigrants.
– No executive action has violated any part of the Constitution.
Walt December 19th, 2014 at 18:48
Since 9-14-2001, George Bush put the country in a state of emergency, and it is still in effect today, it has not been closed. As a result the chief executive has more powers when it comes to executive orders had the state of emergency not been in effect.
Walt December 19th, 2014 at 19:48
Since 9-14-2001, George Bush put the country in a state of emergency, and it is still in effect today, it has not been closed. As a result the chief executive has more powers when it comes to executive orders had the state of emergency not been in effect.
searambler December 19th, 2014 at 19:06
LOL! These right wing idiots will try literally anything to try to make Obama look bad. I wonder if they think he’s running for president in 2016…..
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 21:03
Please,please, please, let’s keep this rumor going!
Hirightnow December 19th, 2014 at 21:35
He’s subverting the Contimatooshun,so whoose ta say he won’t try runnin’ again?
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 22:15
He really does need a third term to take away all their guns and close their churches. OK, maybe a fourth term, that’s a lot to do.
searambler December 19th, 2014 at 20:06
LOL! These right wing idiots will try literally anything to try to make Obama look bad. I wonder if they think he’s running for president in 2016…..
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 22:03
Please,please, please, let’s keep this rumor going!
Hirightnow December 19th, 2014 at 22:35
He’s subverting the Contimatooshun,so whoose ta say he won’t try runnin’ again?
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 23:15
He really does need a third term to take away all their guns and close their churches. OK, maybe a fourth term, that’s a lot to do.
Roctuna December 19th, 2014 at 19:16
The POTUS is the Chief Executive of the govm’t. How exactly is the Chief supposed to manage his various departments and exercise his responsibility without issuing orders and writing memos? I know the gop preferred method of governing is by wishful thinking but that doesn’t work to well in the real world.
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 21:03
He’s not supposed to be there, except as a cleaning guy who dusts off the desk in the oval office.
Hirightnow December 19th, 2014 at 21:33
Whilst keeping his eyes respectfully averted.
Kingminnie December 19th, 2014 at 22:13
Correction, the GOP preferred method of governing is to enact laws per the bidding of corporations and Koch’s, deregulate everything, and stomp their feet, whine, lie, blame everything on the Dems and refuse to cooperate when there is not a malleable GOP as POTUS. If only they would hold their breath.
Roctuna December 19th, 2014 at 20:16
The POTUS is the Chief Executive of the govm’t. How exactly is the Chief supposed to manage his various departments and exercise his responsibility without issuing orders and writing memos? I know the gop preferred method of governing is by wishful thinking but that doesn’t work to well in the real world.
tiredoftea December 19th, 2014 at 22:03
He’s not supposed to be there, except as a cleaning guy who dusts off the desk in the oval office.
Hirightnow December 19th, 2014 at 22:33
Whilst keeping his eyes respectfully averted.
Kingminnie December 19th, 2014 at 23:13
Correction, the GOP preferred method of governing is to enact laws per the bidding of corporations and Koch’s, deregulate everything, and stomp their feet, whine, lie, blame everything on the Dems and refuse to cooperate when there is not a malleable GOP as POTUS. If only they would hold their breath.
Dirk Prophet December 19th, 2014 at 19:40
I wonder what the comparison would be if signing statements were included.
Dwendt44 December 19th, 2014 at 20:56
Obama is in the basement with those as well. Bush went wild with those and set a record that will be difficult to break.
Guy Lauten December 19th, 2014 at 22:02
that was Dick’s idea. he ran it thru Yoo and they came to the conclusion that signing statements were the least visible method of “making stuff legal.”
Dwendt44 December 20th, 2014 at 00:39
Not to mention that Bush and the boys used the signing statements to state openly that he wasn’t going to obey the law just enacted.
Dirk Prophet December 19th, 2014 at 20:40
I wonder what the comparison would be if signing statements were included.
Dwendt44 December 19th, 2014 at 21:56
Obama is in the basement with those as well. Bush went wild with those and set a record that will be difficult to break.
Guy Lauten December 19th, 2014 at 23:02
that was Dick’s idea. he ran it thru Yoo and they came to the conclusion that signing statements were the least visible method of “making stuff legal.”
Dwendt44 December 20th, 2014 at 01:39
Not to mention that Bush and the boys used the signing statements to state openly that he wasn’t going to obey the law just enacted.
whatthe46 December 20th, 2014 at 02:02
i just love this man. i mean president.
whatthe46 December 20th, 2014 at 03:02
i just love this man. i mean president.