Issue link: https://newsleader.uberflip.com/i/185868
Sarasota News Leader October 4, 2013 OPINION The epicenter of that crisis is the mindless opposition by these radicals and their toadies to what they derisively refer to as Obamacare, and they have determined that they will obstruct the implementation of the law even if that destroys the country in the process. Page 86 Yet Buchanan and his Republican colleagues, most of whom purport to love our Constitution (a document each and every one swore a solemn oath "to protect and defend"), appear oblivious to how contradictory their actions are to the proper protection and defense of our constitutional way of life. The United States Congress passed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act Buchanan was quoted recently, "An open dia(ACA) in 2009. It was immediately challenged logue is critical to any negotiation, and I'm hopeful that [meeting in the courts by memwith the president] will bers of Congress who were in the minority Buchanan and his Republican put us on the path to when it passed, along colleagues, most of whom purport to love restoring government with those states gov- our Constitution (a document each and services." It was a parerned by Republicans every one swore a solemn oath "to protect roting of his party's who wanted to harry and defend"), appear oblivious to how mantra in this criand hinder the adop- contradictory their actions are to the proper sis: The Republicans tion of the Obama protection and defense of our constitutional would be happy to compromise, if only Administration's sig- way of life. the Democrats would nature legislation. agree to negotiate. After years of litigation, the Supreme Court of the United States Except that this is not a negotiation. It is a hijacking. The Republicans do not fully upheld the ACA last year. control even one branch of the federal govSo the ACA was debated in Congress and ulti- ernment. The ACA is the law of the land. mately passed by a majority of its members, It is in the process of being implemented. signed into law by the president, challenged Demanding that a law properly debated and in court by opponents on constitutional passed by Congress be abandoned as a congrounds and ruled constitutional by the dition to the Republicans' fulfillment of their Supreme Court. In other words, the ACA was constitutional duties is a usurpation of treacompletely and thoroughly vetted by the very sonous proportions. process the Founding Fathers established more than two centuries ago, demonstrating Buchanan, ever the unctuous used-car saleshow truly functional our Constitution is in man, has been busily using sleight-of-hand to actual practice. deceive his constituents of his betrayal.