CNBC Host Chides NYT and Dems for Opposing Constitution Reading
- Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:36am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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CNBC’s Rick Santelli is known for his conservative-leaning rant. Readers may remember his impassioned speech on the floor of the Chicago Mercantile Exchange in 2009, in which he suggested a “tea party.” It was that speech that many credit with launching the Tea Party movement.
Now Santelli’s at it again, this time with a sarcastic mockery of the New York Times and Democrats who opposed the reading of the Constitution on the House floor yesterday.
“Oh my God. We’re wasting so much money. You know this reading stuff is way overrated – whether it’s the Constitution — or reading scores in the U.S., or reading bills,” he said sarcastically on CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “A complete waste of time – come on. This is the digital age.”
He then went after the hypocrisy of those who objected to the document’s reading:
You know what then – here’s what I want to know – then why did they all swear to that when they took their jobs yesterday? What a bunch of hypocrites.
“Some swear to and some swear at it, I think,” co-host Joe Kernen added:
(H/T: Daily Caller)




















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Comments (112)
flagbearer
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:33amYou know what, guys, this is off topic, but it just hit me while reading your comments. The Tea Party is a complete surprise to the globalist commies and progressives. What we need to do is band together somehow and find entrepreneurs who can start companies with similar products that we can all buy/support that are owned and operated by conservatives. We need to stop buying goods from Geroge Soros owned/supported companies and establish our own. Get back to manufacturing here and give jobs to those unemployed willing to work in non-union environments. We might even establish co-ops. I understand there is a movement for health insurance co-ops. Does anyone have info in regards how we can do this?
Report Post »cece959
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:47amWow, what a great idea! You need to float this idea quite a few times on this sight! Maybe the Tea Party could establish a website solely for the purpose of entrepreneurs and their ideas, provide links to them and how to network for funding and employment. We desperately need to turn this country around and start manufacturing and purchasing our own products again.
Report Post »awiderview
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:28amAre you promoting SOCIALISM on THIS site?…and you didn’t even know it.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:03amGreat idea! We should also bombard the sponsors of main stream media with letters and phone calls demanding that they treat both sides fairly. They should report the news and stop offending the right side of the country with their slanted ideaology.
Report Post »EZDOZIT
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:27amI also would love it if they read George Washington’s“ Farewell Adress” on the froor of The house.He stated the government should keep people informed by “The diffusion of knowledge”. Just like the plantation owners of the south,the democrats are trying to keep their servants from learning . Since liberals are wrong about most things;if you do the opposite of what they want ,you most likely will choose right.
Report Post »BlueknightUSA
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:14pmWell that makes perfect sense…as the plantation owners of the south were Democrats!
Report Post »reckless
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:22amDemocrats are well aware of the contents of the Constitution, they just don‘t give a tinker’s damn about it. The real fear is that the Average Joe will hear the words and realize how the Democrats have been using “extra- constitutional” methods in governing.
Report Post »Rickfromillinois
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:22amThe progressives are showing their true colors when they show their contempt for the Constitution. How arrogant are they that they think they can complain so much about reading the Constitution and attempt to belittle the document while thinking that there will not be any type of back lash? Either they think their constituents are stupid, agree with their point of view, believe that the media will be on their side of the issue, or a combination of the above.
Report Post »It’s time to hold their feet to the fire and continuously replay their statements for the voters. People who are contemptuous of the Constitution have no place in our government and who they are should be well known to all. By the way, Waxman represents Beverly Hills. Says allot doesn’t it?
usa2stay
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:18am“We the People of the United States” likely includes members Congress too.
Report Post »Adlu
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:11amSantelli, shut yer yap. It’s not the reading of the Constitution, it’s the continuous, “we’re more American than you” nonsense that this symbolizes. Using the Consitution as a partisan prop is silly.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:23amDoes ADLU stand for A Dumb Liberal Underling?? People that stand up for freedom ARE more American than wannabe communist. Stop drinking the Kool-aid. I did.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:25amLOL, hey bugger head, I think you’ve eaten too many of those! A prop, are you kidding? You are just another progressive schill, and you are irrelvant!
Report Post »Adlu
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:30amExDem,
Don’t be so dramatic. Anyways, it should bother you that they skipped over all the nasty bits in the Constitution that we’d like to forget. They’ll do anything to deny the falliblity of the founders.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:52amThey read the RATIFIED Constitution for your information, and the 3/5′s clause was amended, so now you want them to read the original, and not the amended version I guess? You progressives can’t take a stand on any issue, because all you do is skirt them and spin around like a whirling dervish, spewing nonsense…take a hike pal
Report Post »exdem
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:55amI’m not dramatic- just disgusted that progressives have been allowed to ruin the democratic party and I will not be silent while they try to take down my country too. I come from a huge family of lifelong democrats and we have all jumped ship. I bet there are 10s of thousands that have abandoned the party to drink tea instead of koolaid. They should take a poll on that.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:28amGood for you EXDEM, I applaud your move, and all the others! It is really sad, like you say, the progressives hijacked your party, they give it a bad name sir.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 11:14amHave you ever sat back and thought who are the Demedopes voter base.
Report Post »- Welfare and all the help me crowd
- Unions and their give me more socialism (teachers unions ruining our kids education)
- Hollywood – I am smarter than you plebs
- College professors – elitist academia – I am smarter than you plebs
- Miscellaneous American haters
- Opah and the View crowd
- Dumb delusional suburban soccer moms
- Acorn workers
etc.
Does this give you a clue as to why the country is in trouble after 6 years of their leadership!
SlimnRanger
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 5:23pmI to was a demcorat but i got smart and was so ashamed that i switched over to the Republican party,then i began really paying attention to political views.
Report Post »exdem
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:06amIf only there were more like Rick Santelli who is not afraid to speak his mind.The dems disgust towards our Constitution speaks volumes of who they really are. They swore to uphold a document they have no respect for. Please, lets send all these communist/socialist learning jerks home. They work for us and we should hold them accountable. They all talk about how wonderful Europe is and instead of letting them turn America into Europe , lets banish them to live there. The conservatives should be running ads with all of the videos of them admitting their communist/socialist ideaology. Then show how members like Kristen Gillibrand (NY) used the self admitted revolutionary communist Van Jones for her reelection campaign. These people are a cancer on our freedom and we need to expose to the masses who they really are instead of letting the main stream media make heroes of them.
Report Post »pacemaker42
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:06amMany of the Tea Party Supporters are Democrats. The socialist and progressives have infiltrated the democratic party and are trying to destroy it. If the democratic members of congress feel they are safe they are sadly mistaken. Your tenure in congress will be short lived. As a patroit, we have just started on your sorry hind-ends.
Report Post »EZDOZIT
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:38amTheir will always evil traiders in our government; it’s the people that re-elects them that are also traiders to the Constitution. Or they may not know what the Constitution says, so they don‘t know they’re voting for a traider. So that why the democrats don’t want it read.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:04amWaxman, ugh, I think when he was a kid stuck too many kideny beans up that pig snout he has going there! I mean, really, really? Judges make the laws? Then WHAT THE F is he doing in congress, excuse me while I go vomit, yet again!
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:21amI haven’t seen what Waxman said, but it appears he was trying to quote a Supreme Court Justice who served under FDR. The Justice said something like, “The Constitution isn’t what it says, it’s what the Court says it means.”
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:31amHE was quoted in the NY Times saying Judges make the laws, or something to that effect, I don’t read that rag, Joe K mentions it in the video…
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:45amTypical Waxman–trying to appear ‘educated’ and wise. The Justice who said that originally was being somewhat truthful and, maybe, cynical. I never read his entire thesis so I can’t speak to his intent.
Waxman’s idea is common among the Left, as I’m sure you know. What libs can’t get through by legislation, they try to impose through the courts. Roe v. Wade is a case in point, where SCOTUS wrote a national law rather than decide if the TX abortion limitations were, of themselves, unconstitutional.
That’s why the courts need to be filled with people who understanding the plain meaning and intent of laws. Lefties like to discount intent, and read into a law what they want to happen. Often, it takes convoluted thinking.
And Waxman is a master at it.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:02amAmen, UPSTATE! Progressives are the ENEMY of our Constitution, but our framers were too smart for them, and wrote a solid document, one that they still are trying to find a way to usurp, but are left to scratch their collective butts…what people do not understand, is that the Tories of the British Crown, were progressives themselves, and they wrote that great document with them in mind, LMAO! So try as they may, they will NEVER defeat it, NEVER!
Report Post »rflaaskog
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:03amMay God Bless the 112th Congress
Report Post »heavyduty
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:03amDemocrats motto is: COMMON SENSE WHO NEEDS IT? One comment here said that if they had read the health care bill they could have saved a trillion dollars. I agree, because they would have probably still been trying to understand what’s in it.
Report Post »WILLIAM E.
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:03amMaybe many of the liberals forgot they took an oath to uphold the constitution & hearing it makes them feel bad that they have been trashing it !!
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:00amTell ‘em Rick, you’re about the only one on that channel that has a lick of sense!
Report Post »arjundawg
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:58amI think all politicians and government should be given a test on our Constitution before they even run.
Report Post »with a grade of 100 required
heavyduty
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:04amThe Democrats would say that’s UNCONSTITUTIONAL.
Report Post »Adlu
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:09amWell that would disqualify most republicans.
Report Post »davuf
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:11amYeah but that would depend on who gave it. I can see a progressive version of the test:
The right to bear arms means
A. The right for citizens to own weapons
B. All weapons must be controlled in the National Guard
Correct answer B
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:44pm@Adlu
Quite true. We’d effectively clean house of 99% of the entire Congress. After that, it’s pretty much a given that the vacancies would be filled, test and all, by libertarians.
Sign me up!
Report Post »Maggie in Indiana
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:58amNow that they have read it er a at least heard it, maybe they’ll follow it.
Report Post »tamalpass
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:58amI turned off Rush to watch them read the Constitution. Got a lump in my throat a couple times. it was great!
Report Post »FedupinFlorida2
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:55amGo Rick!! Commonsense is unrated that’s way there has been so little in Washington.
Report Post »Lana40
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:54amMaybe it‘s just southern ole’ me, but if I was a democrat, I’d be changing my party right fast. How do they show their face? I’d be so ashamed. Not reading our wonderful constitution…it‘s ’offensive’, ‘tired and old’, ‘not modern enough’………..OH SHUT UP DEMOCRATS!!!
Report Post »reckless
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:53amIf the Democrats had the courage to have read the Obama-care bill in front of Congress and the American people we probably would have saved one trillion dollars.
Report Post »RepubliCorp
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:13amI dare they read that 200+yr old porn……….. times have changed. People don’t need rights, they need the TSA………..Grope and change
Report Post »BeckIsNuts
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:51amYou gotta love Santelli. He is the real deal.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:47amYeah, he does seem genuine. The guy has moxie.
Report Post »NeoFan
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 2:31pmI think you misunderstood. He likes the constitution and does not like the democrats and liberals.
Report Post »reckless
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:51amDemocrats complaining that it cost 1.5 million to read the Constitutionon the floor of the house? Give me a break. If Democrats had the cajones to have read the Obama-care bill in front of the American people then we could have most likely saved one trillion dollars.
Report Post »Cpriestess
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:50amGood on ya,mate!
Report Post »WBOB
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:47amYeah,..interesting. For some of those who swear to uphold it…complain about it being recognized.
Report Post »Kinda like loathing your own boss. Typical. Be wary 112th Congress….we’re watching you intently.
Highland
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:50amEvery congressman who derided the reading of the Constitution ought to be suspected of treason. If they swore to uphold it, but then make it their mission to ignore or – worse – violate it on a daily basis, then something is amiss.
grandmaof5
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:45amSitting in front of the tv we applauded the reading of the Constitution and we are ever hopeful that this great country will return to what made it great – individuals using their talents, hopes and dreams, their character and integrity to work hard and achieve the American dream. Congress promises to uphold the Constitution and yet some mock it. I think before they take the oath they should have a “short course” to make sure they understand what they are promising and decide if that is really what they want to do. It seems some forget that after they have been in Washington for awhile.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:06amI believe there is a NY dumbo-crat, who said the Constitution is propaganda and the like!? I’d like to know how he keeps getting voted in?
Report Post »NoName22
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:28pmThe Darkness hateth the Light.
Anyone who spoke out against the Constitution, be it a political member, a newspaper, a tv host, ANYBODY that spoke out against this reading, exposed themselves as either ignorant of the fact that America’s backbone is the law, or exposed themselves as someone who is an enemy of American law.
Report Post »BrerRabbit
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:44amLOVE Rick!
Report Post »Stuck_in_CA
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:51amRick IS special! He‘s one of NBC’s few good assets. I‘m surprised he’s still working there… He was instrumental in the Tea Party uprising, that’s causing the Libs so much heartache now.
Report Post »Snapperhead
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:56amEven a half brain dead American understands that Constitution is a Very important document.
I’m Just sad to find out that this is the first time it has been read in Congress openly since its Ratification.
IT SHOULD BE READ EACH TIME THEY SWEAR IN NEW MEMBERS.
In addition Every new Freshman Congressman and Senator should be given a class on the Constitution based on the 5000 year Leap.
I felt good when they read it. Next they should read that other so called meaningless document
Report Post »The Declaration of Independence. But that might be a waste of time to for these 2000pg bill blind signing Progressive Liberal, Communist Anti-Americans.
oldguy49
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 8:59ami wonder if he would take a pay cut and get into goverment……we are going to need a good treasury sec
Report Post »UpstateNYConservative
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:02am@Snapperhead
There is no way they’ll read the Declaration, because its listing of offenses by the British Crown is much the same as what Congress has been doing to us for sixty years.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:03amThis is the quote from Waxman that put me over the edge.
“Everybody knows now the judges make the law, not the constitution”
Report Post »TAXLORDCOMETH
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:10amWe need mandatory and rigorous testing for every candidate for federal office, before they’re even allowed to run for office. Think about it — you have to pass a test to practice law, medicine, and even cut hair in this country, but to vote on legislation that affects the future of the nation, you don’t have to demonstrate the slightest competency.
Report Post »@leftfighter
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:13amRick Santelli. The ONLY voice of reason at NB(S) Universal.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:21amTAXLORDCOMETH, just because they know the constitution, that‘s no guarantee they’ll follow it. Obomba taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. No doubt he learned it so he could find the best way to defeat it.
Report Post »forestnomad
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:26am“I’m Just sad to find out that this is the first time it has been read in Congress openly since its Ratification.”
And I find it AMAZING that the REPUBLIC has SOMEHOW managed to survive without the selective reading of some parts of a document all elected members should have read before they started accepting public money to start campaigning for election.
GENIUS!
What an utter joke. Little to no representatives saw even a part of it, the Weeper of the House scheduled his weekly press conference DURING THE MIDDLE OF IT, and it was sanitized to avoid those annoying little parts redeemed.
But hey, at least we learned the Teapublicans prefer symbolism over reality.
The birther outburst was a nice touch, though.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:38amAHH, Fnomad, you can take your head out of your boyfriends butt now, it’s over!
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:43am@Upstateconservative
“There is no way they’ll read the Declaration, because its listing of offenses by the British Crown is much the same as what Congress has been doing to us for sixty years.”
Very astute observation. The charges against the Crown at the time are identical down to the very last letter to the charges we can make today against DC.
The NFL did a Declaration of Independence reading, what was it, last year I think or year before, for a major game (super bowl? I don‘t watch sports generally sorry if I’m messing that up). They read everything EXCEPT the charges against the crown, which could have been read in a reasonable amount of time.
My wife and I both immediately noticed the skipping over of the “why” for the DOI.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:44am@TexasCommonSense
“TAXLORDCOMETH, just because they know the constitution, that‘s no guarantee they’ll follow it. Obomba taught constitutional law at the University of Chicago Law School from 1992 to 2004. No doubt he learned it so he could find the best way to defeat it.”
Very true. However, reading it out loud gives them no excuse when the time may come to pay the piper for their misdeeds. They cannot claim ignorance of the law, so to speak. :)
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:46am@Forestnomad
“And I find it AMAZING that the REPUBLIC has SOMEHOW managed to survive without the selective reading of some parts of a document all elected members should have read before they started accepting public money to start campaigning for election.”
Actually, the Republic has not survived. We’re no more a Constitutional Republic than we are an Amway Distributor. There is very little of the Constitution followed now, except a few forms on how to elect “leaders”. The parts that restrain them are thrown in the garbage bin with impunity (”Are you serious? Are you serious?!?”).
So no, actually we‘re screwed precisely because most don’t actually know the document who hold seats despite supposed “study” they did in college.
Report Post »Sgt.Crust
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 9:56amGood one’s Ghost, to add, my 16 year old son and 13 year old daughter knows the Constituion and believes in it. They understand it better than any dumbo-crat in congress today, most of whom, skipped the reading. I spit on them for doing that!
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:03amI guess you could call Rick the “Father of the Tea Party Movement” …”Yes, Virginia, there is a Constitution”…and Rick knows it!
Report Post »Slobaphobe
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:42amDear Forestnomad:
Report Post »You are assuming the “birther” outburst was authentic and not a moveon.org etc. plant. I encourage you to brush up on your critical thinking skills and research for the truth.As Americans we can have respect for honest dissent whether we agree or not. Propaganda, manipulation, lies and tricks must be outed no matter who is responsible. Let us wait and see who is responsible for the outburst.
drbage
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 10:43amI thought it quite telling how few of the Progs were there to either read or hear what they had sworn/attested to, but the Prog hand was certainly there as they chose to rewrite the two parts of the document that they feared might offend someone. Wonder if you looked at any European history book, would you find references to Hitler, Stalin, Mussolini, the Resistance, etc or would they be conveniently be left out or sanitized. As K. Gibran wrote, “the moving finger writes and having writ moves on, nor all your piety and wit can bring it back to erase a single line.”…..unless you are a Progressive.
Report Post »Dandylyon
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 12:02pmAnother FOX candidate,if this keeps up there will be a FOX 2 just to take in all the lib’s that see where the money is……………..money can change a person……………..right?
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:24pmEveryone seems to think the progressives did not study or read or listen in class when the Constitution was taught????? This is a big mistake, these folks hate your founding documents and would rather see them abolished. Waxman said it strait to your face that it is not even the utmost governing document or branch of government. Obama said it years ago when he discussed how the negative liberties were a problem and should be amended to have positive liberties. Look these people are no dumba$$es. They want a much different country then most of you! Teach your children well.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 3:38pmI too am surprised CNBC hasn’t found a way to rid themselves of this man .. he obviously has a brain .. isn’t that counter to NBC policy?
Report Post »Curator_JDR
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 4:13pmRick, as I Chicago resident, I was thrilled when you suggested a Tea Party. I sure got involved. Obamacare and bailouts arent’t expensive, yet reading the Constitution is? The world if full of head-up-the-butt people.
This animated web movie exposes the insanity of the Progressives with big time humor. It also gives Americans a new symbol (weapon) to use against the Progressives — the “head-up-the-butt” person. Please feel free to save the “no head up the butt person” logo from the movie link page to your desktop.
http://www.marcrubin.com/hairmerica.ivnu
Report Post »nptden
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 4:52pmHe slipped…’Waxmen says Judges make the laws, not the constitution’…anybody pick up on the typical Progressive/Marxist/Socialist mindset of these traitors.
Report Post »Beckofile
Posted on January 7, 2011 at 7:31pmNPTDEN
Report Post »Waxman did not slip. He was telling you that judicial activism has trumped the Constitutional system of rule of law by law makers. They have worked hard to subvert the founders.
One1
Posted on January 8, 2011 at 5:40amThey should not only read the document, but they should have a class on it every week… with a test. Then their test scores should be posted on the internet. How about that?
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