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Thursday, May 26th, 2011

Architect Of GOP’s Constitution Reading Says Social Security And Medicare Are Unconstitutional

Author:     ZAID JILANI
Source:     Think Progress
Publication Date:     May 25th, 2011 at 7:45 pm
 Link: Architect Of GOP’s Constitution Reading Says Social Security And Medicare Are Unconstitutional
Stephan:   This is the truth of the thinking on the right. They do not believe there should be any safety net. Each person -- sink or swim -- is responsible for themselves and should look to no one else for help, or expect it to be forthcoming.

This past January, the House GOP caucus insisted that the session of Congress be launched with a reading of the Constitution. The member of Congress who led this idea into fruition was Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA) and he was also the first reader.

But at a town hall meeting that took place last week and was captured on YouTube, Goodlatte showed his pre-20th century view of the Constitution. At one point during the town hall presentation, Goodlatte displayed a pie chart to the audience showing the various programs that consume the federal budget, with Social Security and Medicare consuming the biggest sections. One constituent, referencing the pie chart, said that everything on the chart is unconstitutional. Goodlatte responded that he agrees, but that the courts keep ruling the opposite way:

CONSTITUENT: Everything that the federal government does on that pie chart is unconstitutional […] If I violated my marriage contract the way the federal government violates the constitution I’d be in divorce court tomorrow!

GOODLATTE: I hope you’re not. Here’s the deal. You’re absolutely right! But you have one problem, the Supreme Court ruling that these programs are constitutional.

At another point, a different constituent […]

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