On the 36th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Roe v. Wade, President Obama said that it “stands for a broader principle: that government should not intrude on our most private family matters.” I would like to call Mr. Obama's attention to a few of the ways his government does indeed intrude — all the time. So much so that is taken for granted, it appears.
The Government mandates:
1.With whom and when one may marry.
2.The age at which one can have sex.
3.With whom or with what one may or may not have sex.
4.The degree and content of "prurient" subjects permitted access.
5.The age at which one can marry.
6.The nature of sex acts permitted.
7.The regulation of mind/mood altering substances.
8. Regulation of birth control devices and practices. And finally:
9. Permitting/ denying the right of choice.
So "our most private family matters" are indeed subject to constant and capricious regulation and inspection by the government. The choice granted under Roe v. Wade is a good example of the government decreeing what is permissible in regard to one's own body. It does not matter how one views the outcome of this ruling and that is especially true in the case of the President. For him to speak so as a private citizen is perfectly okay but totally unacceptable in his present capacity. His words carry the solemn weight of the law as well as the spirit. If he truly wishes to keep the government out of our bedrooms he has four years to work on it.
Mr. Obama tells us in The Audacity of Hope, "...the government should not interject itself into civil society" but is not his statement on private family matters exactly that? He seems to back away from responsibility by stating, "Of course, there are limits to the bully pulpit". A reflective President cannot have it both ways; particularly if he has had a long career teaching law to others.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Baritone
It's true that government intrudes into our lives regarding a number of issues. I'm not sure just how or why you seem to be holding Obama responsible for this. He has been in office a total of about 20 days or so. A lot of what you speak of has been a part of our laws at a variety of levels for years - some since the ratificaton of the constitution, probably before.
Obama has indicated that some of the laws pertaining to abortion and same sex marriage (or civil unions) should be addressed toward the relaxing or dissolution of government intervention on these issues.
It is doubtful that most of the matters you cite will receive much if any scrutiny or change under Obama or anyone else in the forseeable future.
Obama's words do NOT carry the "solemn weight of law" as you apparently believe. When it comes down to it, only the law carries that solemn weight.
It's not even clear to me just what your position is. Do you want or expect that government should remove itself from ALL those issues cited? I would agree that they should on some, not so much on others.
Government does have a proper role in limiting individual freedom where certain behaviours are deemed to be harmful to others or to society at large. That's where the debate begins. It will continue long after Barack Obama retires to a Hawaiian beach to write his memoirs.
B
2 - Hope and Change?
Wheres the human outcry???
Kentucky - 500,000 people withou power for a week as dear toll passes 50!!
Back in DC King Barry orders staff to keep his office at 73 degrees OR ELSE!!!
How come Obama hasnt led a team of people to help these poor folks? Isnt that what the media demanded of Bush????
Hope and change? I guess not...
"Taxes we dont pay no stinking taxes" Tom Dashle and numerous other in King Barrys court!
3 - Joanne Huspek
Um, H & C, politicians don't "care" about "poor" folks. They're not the ones with the money. Those who have money have the power.
4 - Hope and Change?
Does he care about all of those poor black folks freezing in the dark!!!
I thought by now King Barry would have personally led millions of military and emergency response personnel with thousands of heaters to melt the ice a free these poor souls?
Things were supposed to be differnt now...I guess not!
5 - Baritone
"Kentucky - 500,000 people withou power for a week as dear toll passes 50!!
Hey, they gotta eat somethin'!
B
6 - Hope and Change?
er....um...you know....Kentucky - 500,000 people withoue power for a week as death toll passes 50!!
7 - Jordan Richardson
H&C, Obama's given Kentucky the federal disaster declaration (he did that on the 29th). That opens up federal programs to assist Kentucky in recovery efforts.
So while you might have delusions and biased interpretations about what "King Obama" should do based on your idiotic interpretations of context, the facts aren't on your side here.
As for what the media "demanded" of Bush, why don't you ask "the media" and see where that leads instead of launching empty rhetoric based on your own inherent prejudices and interpretations of history?
In other words, is it at all possible for you to judge each president and situation based on its current context instead of playing lame comparison games?
8 - Hope and Change?
In other words, is it at all possible for you to BE FAIR AND HONEST and judge KING BARRY the SAME WAY YOU JUDGED BUSH instead of playing THE ROLE OF A PARTISAN LEFT WING LOON?
Hey you voted for hope and change, and I hope you change! WAKE UP AND SEE THAT YOU WERE ALL FOOLED!
9 - Hope and Change?
"Obama's given Kentucky the federal disaster declaration (he did that on the 29th)"....Oh I see...people are freezing to death and King Barry...makes a speach and poses for a photo op!
Sorry I didnt realize he did so much
10 - Hope and Change?
BREAKING NEWS
Tom Daschle backed the patron who paid him a million-dollar salary and supplied him with a free car and driver for a job inside the Obama administration, two Democrats said Monday.
Leo Hindery, whose InterMedia Partners employed the former Senate majority leader, had been mentioned as a possible secretary of commerce or U.S. trade representative.
Gee...things are sure different now that Barrys running this place, and here is anotherone...
MORE BREAKING NEWS
Nancy Killefer, who failed for a year and a half to pay employment taxes on household help, has withdrawn her candidacy to be the first chief performance officer for the federal government, the White House said Tuesday.
Gee...unethical rich liberals telling all of us poor working folks how to live..
Do any Democrats pay their fair share?
11 - Dave Nalle
I didn't realize people in Kentucky actually HAD electric power. Do they have indoor plumbing now too?
Dave
12 - Roger Nowosielski
I'm there, Dave. They're at least one hundred years backwards, but to answer your question, yes, they do!
13 - Clavos
Do they have indoor plumbing now too?
Yes, but only in the public johns; nobody can afford it in their homes...
14 - Roger Nowosielski
You're wrong there, Clavos. There's lots of old money here.
15 - Clavos
Ziiiippp!
16 - Hope and Change?
NEW FLASH...
Obama Annouced His New Kentucky Stimulus Plan...
$250 Billion for Dentures (What do you get when you have 12 girls kentucky in the same room = a full set of teeth)
$100 Billion for DNA testing of cousins and siblings who have married each other (may not be enough)
$35 Billion for Outhouse Building and Renovations Program
Yes....Barry is on his way with his snow shovel and salt!
17 - Roger Nowosielski
I don't give a shit about an outhouse. They don't even have a coffee house in the whole goddamn town.
18 - Dr Dreadful
Does Kentucky have a voter-approved state constitutional amendment which states that marriage shall be between a brother and a sister?
19 - Roger Nowosielski
No, it didn't pass through despite large base support. So they're doing it illegally, I guess, like bootlegging and marijuana crops. But all South is like that, except that Kentucky is the leader.
20 - Hope and Change?
No but I hear King Barry has added a tax credit for marriage between a brothers and sisters as part of his stimulus plan...
21 - Roger Nowosielski
That just might tip off the scales. An implosion of morons, as if they didn't have that already.
22 - Baritone
"WAKE UP AND SEE THAT YOU WERE ALL FOOLED!"
I know, as H&C has noted ad nauseam, Obama has been in office 2 entire weeks and hasn't solved ANY problems yet. What a butthead! That should have been plenty of time to solve every bit of the cluster fuck left by Bush & Co. that took 8 years to develop. Hell, we should all be living on easy street by know.
Or, maybe H&C is just full of shit!
B
23 - Roger Nowosielski
Baritone,
H&C is not alone. Plenty of "reasonable" people on this site say the same thing: at least he's being blunt in expressing his opinions. And that's a plus.
24 - Hope and Change?
Speaking of full of shit...Baritone. People need to realize that King Narry is "Full of Shit"...
He claimed that no lobbyist would work in his administation then he appoints these former lobbyists for top jobs:
Eric Holder, attorney general nominee, was registered to lobby until 2004 on behalf of clients including Global Crossing, a bankrupt telecommunications firm [now confirmed].
Tom Vilsack, secretary of agriculture nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year on behalf of the National Education Association.
William Lynn, deputy defense secretary nominee, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for defense contractor Raytheon, where he was a top executive.
William Corr, deputy health and human services secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until last year for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, a non-profit that pushes to limit tobacco use.
David Hayes, deputy interior secretary nominee, was registered to lobby until 2006 for clients, including the regional utility San Diego Gas & Electric.
Mark Patterson, chief of staff to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner, was registered to lobby as recently as last year for financial giant Goldman Sachs.
Ron Klain, chief of staff to Vice President Joe Biden, was registered to lobby until 2005 for clients, including the Coalition for Asbestos Resolution, U.S. Airways, Airborne Express and drug-maker ImClone.
Mona Sutphen, deputy White House chief of staff, was registered to lobby for clients, including
Angliss International in 2003.
Melody Barnes, domestic policy council director, lobbied in 2003 and 2004 for liberal advocacy groups, including the American Civil Liberties Union, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the American Constitution Society and the Center for Reproductive Rights.
Cecilia Munoz, White House director of intergovernmental affairs, was a lobbyist as recently as last year for the National Council of La Raza, a Hispanic advocacy group.
Patrick Gaspard, White House political affairs director, was a lobbyist for the Service Employees International Union.
Michael Strautmanis, chief of staff to the president’s assistant for intergovernmental relations, lobbied for the American Association of Justice from 2001 until 2005.
King Barry has commanded - " Do not look at the man behind the curtain"......
Gee...can all the people who voted for this guy really be that STUPID?
25 - Roger Nowosielski
It's politics as usual. I know it. You know it. What else is new?