Rep. John Lewis Cites ‘Pursuit of Happiness’ as Justification for Health Care Mandate
- Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:30am by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) believes the Constitution justifies Obamacare’s mandate that people must buy health insurance. According to him, the Constitution’s reference to the “pursuit of happiness” specifically justifies that mandate. There’s just one problem, the pursuit of happiness isn’t in the Constitution.
“Well, when you start off with the Preamble of the Constitution, you talk about the pursuit of happiness,” Lewis told CNS News regarding the mandate’s justification. ”You go to the 14th Amendment–it’s equal protection under the law and we have not repealed the 14th Amendment. People have a right to have health care. It’s not a privilege but a right.” [Emphasis added]
As CNS News points out, it’s the Declaration that states: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Ironic, though, is that opponents of the mandate also cite the Constitution as justification for repeal. According to them, it is unconstitutional for the government to force people to buy insurance. And recently, a federal judge in Virginia agreed.
Finally, though, Lewis’s statement begs the question: what happens of many people’s “pursuit of happiness” doesn’t include buying health insurance, or what if being forced to buy health insurance infringes on people’s “pursuit of happiness?”
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Comments (503)
smithclar3nc3
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:52amWell that means everyone who ever paid for healthcare and health insurance needs to be reimbursed for services that were rights that they to pay to recieve.
Report Post »The American
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:36amAt about 8 grand a year for the last 15 years, hell yeah, I want my money back!
Report Post »notavictim
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 12:21pmI’m getting the ball rollin now-contacting the offices of ‘Johnnie Cochran” right now.
Report Post »TheAmericanRifleman
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:49amThere must be some real dopes down there in Atlanta for voting this moron in office.
Report Post »psst
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:01amyes.
Report Post »His voters insists in pursuing happiness.
For free.
notavictim
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:06amYou’re wrong, they’re not dopes, hell he makes sure they get free living accomadations, free heat, free food, free phones, free daycare, free education-post secondary, free bus service, and already free huealthcare, as of yesterday they’ll be getting free internet & cable, unlimited welfare checks, andon and on. Why wouldn’t they vote for him?
Report Post »BlazingBlonde
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:49pmIt is a burden, they guy is an embarrassmet to any one sane.. 6 people inside the perimeter here in the ATL.. :)
Report Post »BlazingBlonde
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:49amAs told to us in the Preamble, we are created equal under God’s provenence…. So. with that, I would like to REMIND the good Mr Lewis that your promotion of the recipient class is NOT equal to what you expect from the paying class..
Report Post »Make no mistake, there is a push, has been for a long time, to enslave the American people by punative financial arrangements.
We have got to start pushing the argument back at them with their beating us with our own Constitutiton in a way that is not in any way reflective of what the Constitution means.
People like him need to have some push back with the inverse of their argument.
T-2
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:49amDictionary.com says pursuit is “an effort to secure or attain; quest: the pursuit of happiness”. How in the hell is it a pursuit when it is mandated.
Report Post »smithclar3nc3
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:55amMaybe instead of happiness they should declare the bill Unconstitutional for denying you the right to pursue by handing everything to you.
Report Post »DSTSS2010
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:48amAmazing, health insurance is a Right? What’s next? Is owning a house and a car a Right? Just another ENTITLEMENT, REDISTRIBUTION OF WEALTH. How about my right to the pursuit of happiness to enjoy the fruits of my own labor?
Report Post »taebaggranny
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 4:54pm@DSTSS2010 Of course it a right!! How do you think the housing bubble was created? The Black Caucus DEMANDED that home loans be given to the MINORTIES even if they knew that they would not be able to repay their mortgages..Thank you Bawney Fwanks!!! Their argument then was the same as it is now..IT’S THEIR RIGHT…
Report Post »larman
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:47amIts amazing how these congressman use the constitution when it fits there purposes. When it does not the trample it! check out my blog http://www.larryfalco.com
Report Post »Freedom1984
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:47amThis is by far one of the most craziest arguments made yet by the liberals. If this is all they have, and the Country sticks together…and FORCES our politicians to follow the Constitution we actually can have this Health Care Law, ripped up, just like the liberals are trying to rip up our Constitution!
Report Post »YaDarnTootin
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:46amI am pursuing Happiness by not having health care insurance. When I need to go to the Doctor, I pay him, I get treated and I am so happy! No monthly fees, either!
Report Post »Buck_Ofama
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:45amThis guy is a ******!
(With apologies to Glenn Beck for using the word ******. I don’t want to be your buddy Glenn but I do like your program!)
Report Post »psst
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:44amI need lots of money.
Report Post »Methunks I’m gonna go to my bank. pull out my you know what (I can’t say what the what is, it’s now illegal to say the word)and demand the teller fill the large sack I will hand her. Instruct her if she puts any of thsoe exploding canisters in it or marked ink bills, I’ll return w/ my you know what (I can’t say what my you know what is what,it’s now illegal to say what it is).
If I’m caught. What da hey. I’m just in Pu-Cute ( as the Great one said in Smokey & the Bandit) of my happiness.
What da hey again. It’s my constitutional right. The law will have to contend w/ my barrister.
Court appointed of course. It’s my right to have a free barrister. It’s in the constitution.
Silversmith
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:44amAnother administrative shill. Entitlement is so manly.
Silversmith
Report Post »tobywil2
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:44amWhy, Sir, does the “pursuit of happiness” required the control of our health care by bumbling bureaucrat intent upon enforcing the tyrant’s will upon us. It would seem that this tyranny would make the “pursuit of happiness” virtually impossible. Such a statement could only be made by a “wannabe tyrant”. http://commonsense21c.com/
Report Post »NickDeringer
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:43amThe country is being run by lawyers and con men. Save your pennies so we can throw these bums out in 2012.
Report Post »wildbluyonder11
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:43amOh yeah, well I cite episode 11 of Spongebob Squarepants. See, I can cite something completely irrelevant to support my argument, too. These people are representing us in Congress? Oh, by the way, a doctor‘s LABOR is no one’s RIGHT. I believe that would make the doctor a slave.
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:12amYou have to admit though, Opposite Day does hold more logic to this debate than citing the Pursuit of Happiness.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:42amPeople have a right to work (if only there were jobs…) and then they will have healthcare. People have a right to be happy (but they don’t have jobs, they are losing their houses, and their kids are getting a sub-par education. Again we are back to jobs…..) How about keeping your eye on the ball!
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:15amGood morning, hope it is warmer in Florida today for you, had to deal briefly with our imitator of the Blazers yesterday for a time. Hope they have gotten the hint and leave the rest of us alone now.
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:18amNot likely but we can hope…weather pleasant today but back to rain followed by cold tomorrow. Gotta love this global warming! Have a great day!
Report Post »MarkBL
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:42amSeriously? But seriously? People elect these clueless brains?
Report Post »Buck Bagaw
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:00amThe clueless are elected by the clueless. Every elected representative reflects the average mood, mindset, and intelligence of the voters in his/her district. Thank God this clown is now in the minority where his influence is minimized.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:09pmAin’t jerrmandering wunnerful!!!
1
Report Post »Tri-ox
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:39amDemocrats really don’t have any viable arguments for allowing the government seizure of our healthcare system – do they?
Report Post »ClarityPlease
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:48amNo, the government does not have the right to seize the health care industry, that is why with the health care law that they have co-oped health care through regulations and mandates. Which effectively has the same effect at taking over health care through regulation.
Report Post »Born In MA
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:39amMr Lewis,
I believe you should re-read the constitution before you go quoting it seeing as you got it TOTALLY WRONG. Being forced to buy something by the gov. that you either don‘t want or can’t afford is UNCONSITIUTIONAL !!! jerk
http://www.funandcozyknits.com
Report Post »microace
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:39amWell then, let’s just pass a bill that guarantees Happiness, we can call it the Universal Happiness Bill. Oh wait, it says the pursuit of happiness….it never actually guarantees happiness, it just says I have the right to pursue it….there may be a clue here.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:37amGrasping at straws in desperation. The arguments get more absurd by the day. You’d think someone on their side would point out how ridiculous they sound.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:09amThat is the problem when someone is in denial of reality about themselves; they do not see anything wrong with their hold on power, and are refusing to deal with the fact they are losing big time.
Report Post »what4
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:56amThe beauty of his comment…..Straws made of razor wire! hehe!!!!!!!
Report Post »GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:10amThat would require introspection, which would require a sense of humility such that a person could acknowledge the fallibility of his or her own views. The Left has purged humility from its herd, and the ideology of the Left is now seen as perfect and infallible in concept if not in method. This spawns a mindset that looks to all things except the ideas of the Left to blame for the failings of those same ideas. They simply cannot grasp that their dogma can be wrong, so the blame must lay outside the dogma, usually directly pinned on the heretic who questions.
Nobody wants to be a heretic I’m afraid, if one wishes to continue to be in the religion.
This is why nobody can point out idiocy on their side, in regards to their own words and pronouncements.
Just my view, YMMV.
Report Post »BoilitDown
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 12:14pm@GhostOfJefferson
Report Post »I guess it was foolish of me to believe that any one of them would consider their absurdities as anything other than heroic support for their cause. Questioning their premises is clearly taboo.
Bastardizing the Constitution must therefore be righteous justification.
TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:37amThe “pursuit of happiness” does not include free stuff paid for by money taken from your fellow Americans. Get a clue, bozo!
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 12:04pmUnfortunately, then liberty he speaks of is his not yours.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 12:45pmJ.C. McGlynn, are you saying the “pursuit of happiness” DOES include free stuff paid for by money taken from your fellow Americans?
Report Post »ClaytonDM
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:26pm@Texascommonsense
I think J.C. was agreeing with you.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:31pmpur•suit
pur•suit (pər-stʹ) noun
The act or an instance of chasing or pursuing.
It does NOT say:
The act or an instance of someone else chasing or pursuing for you.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:34pmClaytonDM, that could be. I wasn’t sure, that’s why I put the question mark. If that’s the case, I apologize sincerely, J.C. McGlynn.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:37pmNo, I’m not saying that. His liberty to do what he wants to do with your money.
Report Post »TexasCommonSense
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 3:53pmJ.C. McGlynn, my apologies for the misunderstanding.
Report Post »ENTITLEMENTSBLOW
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:36am“Pursuit of Happiness” not “You’re Happiness will be provided to you for free”. What a freakin idiot!
Report Post »123gone
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:02amYou’re right !! – Who in Georgia would be stupid enough to vote this Idiot into office?
Do they really have that many sitting around with their hand out, saying: Give me something for free – I want it – I deserve it – I have a “right” to have whatever I want – I’ll just die without it ……Oh go puke !!
If this ****** represents the best the Democrats have in Georgia, they should be ashamed.
Report Post »J.C. McGlynn
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:33amDid anyone realize that the dems trashed the reading of the Constitution then quote it when they want something or justify their point of view?
Report Post »flyguync
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 5:40pm123Gone, have you ever been to Atlanta? Plenty of people there getting handouts.
Report Post »silquin11
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:36amUnfortunately like to many minorities, happiness is having the governemnte take care of your entire life and tell you how to live! He and anyone with this kind of mentality should pursue living in dictatorships where tyrants will provide for all that HAPPYNESS. Try Cuba for starters…I’m sure Mr. lewis would just LOOOOOVE IT THERE!
Report Post »wildjoker5
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:04amThat kind of sounds like something whites fought for to end slavery back in the 1850s. Slavery of telling people what to do and buy with their money they earned to provide to those that don’t work.
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:51amThey just have a new “master” .. the government .. Sadly they are so uneducated / brainwashed they don’t even see it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19v5Kjmc8FI
Report Post »GONESURFING
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 4:15amIf we all thought like this we would really be in trouble. Fight for individual rights and responsibility instead of a government nanny state. There is still time to reverse course I hope.
Report Post »DirectlyUnPCman
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 4:54pmIncoming course: Slavery 102
Report Post »EqualJustice
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:36amHELLO? Is he not aware of Commerce laws? The federal government can not FORCE a tax payer to PURCHASE a product. PERIOD. We will win this in court as “Unconstituional.”
Report Post »IntheKnowOG
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:44amHe’s not aware. He is an idiot politician. Probably elected because he promised his constituents “aythang thay wonted”.
Report Post »wildbluyonder11
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:48amI’d like to believe that this would be overturned as unconstitutional, but so far, there are more federal court judgements FOR the Obamacare law than AGAINST it. Unfortunately, a good number of our federal judges have long ago forgot about what impartiality means or what the Constitution means. Lots of agendas out there, folks.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:08amJust watch for them to slip it in the back door via “Regulations” as this newest of executive orders seems to be allowing to do. The administration will do anything to keep and maintain their own hold on power and leave America a wreck in case they somehow lose power.
Report Post »ltb
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:12amEqualJustice – good luck with that little argument. If you Liberals want to live under a government that tells you what to eat and how to live, you need to move to a country that’s already communist. The beauty about the way that the world is set up is that if you don’t have any self-control, or if you’re a thief who has no problem with the government stealing from others to buy stuff for you that you can’t afford, you have plenty of options out there. I suggest you consider taking a banana boat to Cuba where you’ll feel more at home with other thieving beggars who have set up the kind of government you’re looking for.
Report Post »ltb
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:15amOh, well, EqualJustice, I owe you an apology. I’m sorry, I read the first part of your post and thought you were just another Liberal using the commerce clause to defend Obama’s take over of our healthcare system. Never mind.
Report Post »DMcPher316
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:42amthe commerce clause is what they hope to use to make us BUY the insurence. They assume that because insurence companies do business accross state lines on thier upper end, that gives them the right to regulate it, which gives them the right to make us buy it because it involves interstate commerce.
Report Post »For an example of the stupid things the government uses the commerce clause to do, look up a case “Wichard v Filburn”, under this ruling we have to buy food from stores because to gow our own, would impact interstate commerce. So if you run this case out further, then your back yard garden is not legal, because you are not buying food grown elsewhere, thus interferign with commerce. The clasue was also used to justify most of the civil rights legislation.
ron the veteran
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:23pmif the supreme courts dont overturn this unconstitutional bill, its time to impeach some judges. this is so odvious that its not constitutional any judge who votes for it is a commie and isnt looking at it to decide. this is pure socialism and its the liberal progressive plan to try and feed little bits of socialism to the masses to try and over throw the constitution. we should put these losers in jail for being in our government with out being checked for communist ties and marxist ideas. this guy is a traitor to this nation and should be prosicuted for it.
Report Post »DisillusionedDaily
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:34pmIs this the guy who thought Guam would tip over if a Marine regiment was stationed there? Seems to me its the same kind of thinking.
Report Post »Devil Dog 7175
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 5:06pmYet he is re-elected over and over… says a lot about his supporters.
Report Post »RightUnite
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:36amWell now, that is just plain stupid.
IntheKnowOG
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:40amI forgot about that right. So pursuing happiness means free healthcare? So, that means anythig that makes you happy is a “right”? Holy father in heaven, I can’t understand how any of you lefty trolls here can justify the lack of common sense, logic and outright stupidity your side spews on a daily basis.
Fletch
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:40amI’d like to think that John Lewis was once an honorable man
but he has trashed any legacy and become one of the worst kinds of politicians and so called “black leaders”
can he really believe the things that he says? I think not
Report Post »Ironmaan
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:41amThe healthcare law interferes with my persuit of happiness as it siphons money out of my wallet and prevents me from spending my hard earned money as I wish.
Report Post »http://guerillatics.com
exdem
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:46amGovernment takeover of health care makes me very unhappy. Giving my hard earned dollars to people who refuse to work makes me very unhappy. My party taken over by radical Progressives makes me very unhappy. WHAT ABOUT MY PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS???
Report Post »cnsrvtvj
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:47amSo a person without health insurance can’t be happy? Really? I am so sick and tired of these liberals telling us what is best for us. I know people who choose not to have health insurance and they are seem to be happy. Happiness is living in a country where you can decide for yourself what to buy.
http://www.donsmithshow.com – conservative news and political humor
Report Post »Silversmith
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:48amintheknowog – it would make me happy to be free of this bill, have fair taxation, and the dollar tied to something of intrinsic value.
Soooooo that a RIGHT too!
He can’t even pretend to believe his own logic.
Silversmith
Report Post »mikem1969
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:48amLewis is a moron. If the pursuit of happiness means pursuit, it does not mean nor guarantee that you will get what you pursue, it just gives you the right to pursue it. If people want health insurance so bad, then they need to educate themselves and get better jobs that either offer insurance as a benefit, or one that affords them the income to buy personal insurance.
The only reforms that were needed for the AMERICAN HC system (the best in the world at this point in time) were tort reform, open up interstate competition between state lines and no pre-ex.
Report Post »gramma b
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:53amHow do these idiota get elected? Oh, wait — by bigger idiots.
Report Post »ltb
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:58amWhat a surprise, we have another Liberal in Congress who’s a moron.
Report Post »oldguy48
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:58amHe has probably read “Das Kapital” and never bothered to read the constitution he has sworn to preserve and defend.
Report Post »Can’t figure out how we have gotten into the situation we are in?
BarCalliyon
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:59amPaying taxes makes prevents me from completly pursuing happiness, can I stop paying them? His response reminds me of a childs excuse for demanding they get what they want. No practical logic but it makes you feel good to hear it.
Report Post »Dustyluv
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:02amI have my justification for not paying taxes then!! Yea for me!!
Report Post »KICKILLEGALSOUT
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:04amWho is he to define what happiness is to me! Socialist Scum!
Sorry but the government forcing me to buy healthcare is not my idea of pursuit of happiness.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:05amPursuit of happiness to the progressives is the right to mess this country up, and recreate into some thing of a nightmare for all Americans. The Pursuit of Happiness enables us to be able to take the risk of sports, riding, fishing, etc. and decide at the same time how we wish to ensure against the risk of accident or death happening.
It is a Choice for us to make, not to be mandated by the administration or the Federal Government in any means.
http://www.artinphoenix.com/gallery/grimm
Report Post »DashRipRock
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:08amThe only people this persuit makes happy are the insurance people.
Report Post »easyed598
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:10amAs Beck pointed out in his book “Broke” our founding fathers put in the constitution “the pursuit of happiness” not the guarantee of hapiness.
Report Post »oldoldtimer
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:14amIn that case they also have a right to their meth labs. Gov’t supplied drugs for free. Free malt liquor. How do these people get elected? How do they get reelected? Oh, Thats right they bought those votes with promises of more free stuff.
Report Post »c10win
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:16amHey, John, will obamacare cover you? The ‘o’ has granted waivers to 222 different orgs, including most all unions, McDonalds, Waffle House, United Fed of Teachers, etc. The unions spent millions to get Obamacare passed and now they’re lining up for waivers? I guess if I were as smart as the ‘o’ I’d understand why something that’s bad for unions is somehow good for me. Weird, huh?
Report Post »TSUNAMI-22
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:16amThat’s funny. I never equated “the pursuit of happiness” to mean the happiness of congress leading the American people around by the short hairs. What’s preventing the American people from not paying their taxes in the name of “pursuing happiness”?
They can’t put all of us in jail, can they?
Idiots.
Report Post »LSX
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:24amMakes about as much sense as Guam flipping over because of too many US troops!
WAIT – that was another member of the Progressive Black Caucus.
And these morons talk about Palin?
TRUMP-WEST in 2012
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:24amDo you actually BELIEVE that the “Republicans” have had a “come to Jesus” conversion? This entire Repeal of Obamacare is nothing more than a Dog and Pony Show! This is nothing more than a cheap political ploy! DE-FUND IT!!!!! Starve it! They are wasting previous time that they could be using to go after Obama and all the corruption that has been going on for over two years! Openly bribing members of the Congress to get this enacted…threatening them on the phone…Twisting arms…on and on and on…Wake Up America! This is politics of symbolism! Why is Glenn not reporting on this?…Glenn…REPORT ON THIS! Tell America what is ACTUALLY going on in Washington!
Obamacare is the most radical piece of legislation to ever be enacted in the history of this country…and was enacted under the most RADICAL president in American history!
AND…STATE DINNERS are ONLY given for our ALLIES? China is COMMUNIST!
Report Post »oldguy49
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:40ami keep a pocket copy of the constitution at work and home and when someone starts becoming an idiot i give it to them and ask…..SHOW ME WHERE IT SAYS THAT?
Report Post »myfamily04
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:41amSir, you have to understand FIRST that our rights come from GOD…not from you or the government!
Report Post »demint.disciple
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:57amWhat about my pursuit of happiness with the REPEAL of this monstrosity of a bill ? Don’t MY rights count ?
Report Post »It’s not a right.. it’s a pifhlige, dope…Then do I have a right to housing and food and an automobile ? Oh wait a minute, that would be socialism right ? Oopss…
He wouldn’t understand the constitution if Thomas Jefferson and James Madison sat down with him and explained it in detail, to him.. To him and progressives like him, the constitution means whatever they want, on any given day, to fit into their ideology. period..
GhostOfJefferson
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:01amDon’t search for sense in their words, there is none to be found by any right thinking man. Their words are crafted around thoughts already accepted from others. Instead, look for the reasons why they feel the need to use nonsense as argument.
The methods they use are, from my vantage, used to justify these things:
1. Inherent racism
2. Inherent collectivism (itself the root of racism)
3. Excusing themselves for conformity through trying to offer reasons for the conformity
If Obama were to come out with a statement that he wished for all skyscrapers to be toppled and all cities to be nuked in order to Start New With Hope, you’d see these same people scrambling to find ways to make arguments for his cause, even as they felt the churning of revulsion in their own guts. In short, they are intellectual and moral cowards who fear to raise their heads from the collective and adopt the braying of the herd in order to reinforce the braying in lieu of thought.
“Two feet bad, four feet good” brayed the sheep, louder and louder until all other voices were silenced.
Report Post »AmeraPatriot
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:03amI thought the unalienable rights are something you want and fight for. No something that is thrown together over night and then forced upon you.
Report Post »rubintheartist
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:07amHe’s got that backwards. The left believes they can repeat lies and false rational thoughts over and over on the state controlled airwaves until people them….. He’s no better than Charlie Rangle who is a harboiled liar in the new animated web movie “A Not Too Grimm Fairy Tale”. We have to learn to laugh loudly at these left wing clowns and warn them that jail can be thier reality if they continue to mess around with the meaning of the constitution. Don’t get mad watch the comedy film here and feel better. http://www.marcrubin.com/Hairmerica.ivnu
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:07amIs he black?
Report Post »mtnclimberjim
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:08amIs he african or American?
Report Post »ollie42
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:13amPursuit is an active verb, It is a right for each individual to “pursue” happiness on their own not stand by and wait for a handout from John Lewis. This is so insane. Why do we continue to elect this type of politician? I guess I can answer my own question. Because he has trained his constituents to just wait for more slop from Washington, DC. Mr. Lewis is no leader, he is a disgrace to his own people. Will they ever learn? I fear not!
Report Post »BoiseBaked
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:17amI think Lewis is confusing “the pursuit of happiness” with “the pursuit of stealing from others.” It’s an easy mistake.
Report Post »snowleopard3200 {cat folk art}
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:23am@Ghost of Jefferson
Amen, my hat is off to you.
Report Post »paperpushermj
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:26amWhat a fool. We have the opportunity to pursue happiness, it does not fall to Government to provide it
Report Post »DMcPher316
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:29amThis dummy is typical of those in DC now. They have NO idea what the constitution says let alone the rest of the founding documents. There is nothing in the constitution that gives the government the right to make us buy anything. I would dought this person has EVER read the constitution of the Declaration, he is parroting what he has been told.
Report Post »If you check alot of the things the government does are not in the constitution, they have admitted to that, Lewis is just another example of these fools inteligence.
wise grandma
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:29amI am entitiled to a little BMW sports car. That will make me happy.
Report Post »AzDebi
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:30am@GhostOfJefferson: Excellent post!
Report Post »Rowgue
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:33am@INTHEKNOWOG
There is no free healthcare in the Obama system. That’s the big lie. They aren’t paying for anything, they are simply mandating that every person in the country carry health insurance. That’s why the legislation falls apart without the mandate. There are certainly huge costs associated with the law, but that is all wrapped up in setting up the new beuracracy to manage the tracking and fining of people who refuse to carry insurance.
Report Post »Kaen
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:38amThese socialist/marxist pigs are just grasping at straws…they were sooo close and now see their Socialist/marxist dream slipping away…I take great pleasure in their misery…
Report Post »CatB
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 11:49amThe insanity continues!
Report Post »highcarry
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 12:22pmi can understand why he left out the part about liberty.
Report Post »Disabledvet
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 12:47pmHey Dumb A$$ if it is a right, then why do Doctor Degrees cost so much money,
Report Post »AngryMobOfOne
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 12:50pmLet’s see, if person 1 has a “right” to the labor of person 2, in a particular field of endeavor, without fair market compensation, logic dictates that person 2 will change fields so that he can feed his family.
So, then there are no Doctors because it simply doesn’t pay. No one works that hard and accumulates that much debt during a brutal 8 year curriculum of higher education if there’s no profit motive. Those massive student loans that could never be repaid in this Brave New World.
Oh no, now what do the central planners do?
Well, they’ve already created two separate health care systems within ObamaScare – one for The Party and one for the Cattle. Party doctors will no doubt have a good life in the fevered vision of the central planners. The Party believes there are already way too many Cattle, especially those Cattle that do not support The Party, so that will just kind of sort itself out.
Report Post »Marcobob69
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:02pmIf certain members of Congress would actually READ THE CONSTITUTION before commenting on what is IN IT, Americans might actually be convinced that they know what they are talking about! Progressives will stoop to “any means necessary” to get their point(s) heard, even if those points are total fabrications!
Report Post »Lustwunder
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:12pmI don’t know who is more stupid. This buffoon who may actually believe this utter garbage or the constituents who keep voting for the idiot.
Report Post »ron the veteran
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:14pmmr lewis our rights come from God not you. you cant give something thats not your right to give. its not your place to play santa clause just so you feel better about screwing the taxpayer so you look good. you look like an idiot and your in need of some basic civics classes. government dont give rights we already have the rights we have and health care isnt one of them. you should resign commie!
Report Post »IVillageIdiot
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 1:21pmI wonder if he would accept the argument that…
Shinny shoes makes me happy, I hate having dull and dirty shoes, I HAVE A RIGHT TO BE HAPPY! Ergo, someone must make me happy, the Constitution says so, now all we have to do is find someone that we can force to shine my shoes.
Viola! I have an idea!
These guys are either malignant and nefarious liars, or they are none to bright, I know not which…… yet…….
Report Post »TheBMT
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 2:18pmthere is a reason Life, Liberty, and pursuit of happiness is in a certain order. You can‘t pursue happiness if you are infringing on people’s Liberty to make the choice of what they want to do. AND Liberty can not be achieved unless you respect people’s Life.
Report Post »AmericanSoldier
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 2:22pmYou have the right to PURSUIT happiness not the right to have it given to you. This means you have the right to every opportunity to succeed in life. You are far from being guaranteed happiness, only that this country is not suppose to hinder your pursuit of it.
Report Post »AmericanSoldier
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 2:25pmPlus Liberty supersedes the right to pursuit happiness. The fact that they would use this line as their argument FOR Obamacare while at the same time reducing my liberties by FORCING Obamacare down my throat is highly ironic….
Report Post »timm84
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 2:47pmThe constitution, yet another thing is “representative” has yet to read.
Report Post »Untameable-kate
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 3:06pmWhy do Dems always want to stick their hands into my pockets? Pay for your own damn health care if you want it. No more welfare. We need to end all entitlements. Then maybe they’ll go back to mother Africa.
Report Post »darkloch
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 3:06pmheathcare is not a right, and it is not a privilege. lets just keep it simple for the dems’, i can buy a little house, i can buy a big house, or i can buy no house at all. and having a house is not a privilege or a right. or you can use a car for the example. now does that make it easier to understand.
Report Post »nptden
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 4:34pmHis idea of ‘pursuit of happiness’ is let someone else pay for it, infringing on their happiness…
pur·suit [per-soot] Show IPA
–noun
1.
the ACT of pursuing: in pursuit of the fox.
2.
an EFFORT to secure or attain; quest: the pursuit of happiness.
3.
any OCCUPATION,pastime, or the like, in which a person is engaged regularly or customarily: literary pursuits.
The definition tells me YOU gotta WORK for it and make an Effort to secure and attain healthcare. Not your government GIVE IT TO YOU.
Report Post »CultureWarriors
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 4:46pmGreat! By his logic we can expatriate all liberals because they stand in the way of freedom and the ‘Pursuit of Happiness’! You know even if you are playing to your base, you really should try not to make yourself look like an imbecile (even if your base is full of imbeciles). Liberals are so vacuous.
Report Post »avenger
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 4:50pmwhy are these morons allowed to vote or run for office..wow..momma should have paid attention to abortion…
Thatsitivehadenough
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 6:02pmGarbage in, garbage out: Your government at work.
Send idiots to Congress, and this is what you get for logic.
Report Post »A Doctors Labor Is Not My Right
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 6:46pm@LSX,
Not Trump! He doesn’t believe in sovereign countries and their respective economies – he, like Obama, believes in an international economy; not in the sovereign control of each country’s citizens over their own economies and their several and separate international trade agreements. See, trade with other countries is fine, if you can get it, but countries need to be economically sovereign because the citizens of each country are the only ones whose consent their respective governments should consider with regard to the security of their unalienable rights and their way of life.
Trump would be extremely dangerous for America, especially with regard to China, since he wants to greatly tax Chinese imports, rather than allowing free market trading to set prices.
Report Post »stop spending
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 7:06pmWhat the hell is a “Jurge”?????
Report Post »youmustread
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 7:51pmThe healthcare bill is nothing more then the redistribution of wealth . Take it from whitey and give it to blacky.This black clown never read the documents! In the draft to the Declaration ” Life,Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness “ was originally ”Life,Liberty, and the Pursuit of Property” and slaves were property so they changed it .This monkey more then likely does not even know this.It is the same with that other fat female monkey (Lee Jackson or Jackson Lee or what ever). They are so stupid it is embarressing. There arguments make them look as stupid as they really are and they don’t even know it. All I can say is lets here it for (BLACK POWER) if black is beautiful I must go create a masterpiece
Report Post »drphil69
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 9:34pmLet’s see if we can figure this out –
This is what we’ve been told about Obamacare:
Obamacare is a law consisting of over 2,300 pages.
Obamacare will cover an additional 30 million people.
Obamacare will create an additional 111 new federal agencies and offices.
Obamacare will require thousands of new IRS agents to enforce the “individual mandate.” (The mandate says that you WILL have health insurance, or you WILL pay a fine or you WILL go to JAIL.)
Obamacare will reduce the Health Insurance cost for the average family by $2000 – $2500 per year. (The President said this in public many, many times.)
Obamacare will reduce the deficit.
If you like your current Health Care plan, under Obamacare, you get to keep it.
If you, as a citizen question how this is possible, you are an idiot, a moron, a racist, and you hate poor people and want them to die.
Personally, if you believe Obamacare could possibly do ALL this, you are definitely an idiot, a moron, or just plain ignorant.
Report Post »Mateytwo Barreett
Posted on January 20, 2011 at 10:01pmBrought to you with “pride from the state that broughtyou Cynthia McKiney, and everyones favorie Hank Guams gonna cpasize” Johnson/ My apolgies to the rest of the country!
Report Post »StonyBurk
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 7:58amAnd our politicians are generally more stupid than the citizens they pretend to represent.IMO there is NO
Report Post »Constitutional right to justify ObamaCare. Unless one is speaking of the Soviet Communist constitution .
ObamaCare should be Repealed already–and whatever fragments that a bipartisan Committee can present and be put to a vote by the people(not done by Congressional fiat) then let it be. I seem to
recall our Constitution and Bill of Rights were both adopted by Congress and then passed to the People before before either was considered ratified.
momsmission
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 8:52amThis guy, like so many others, is “stuck on stupid”.
Report Post »Granted there are approximately 30-40 million Americans without health care vs other 100′s of million with it. Why, why can they not first figure out how to help those without vs. screwing up the entire population?
natstew
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 10:49amJohn Lewis, Sheila Jackson Lee, Maxine Waters, Conyers, Rangle,……………………
I’ve seen and met some very intelligent Black folks, and these are not among them. In fact most of the intelligent black folks I’ve met are republicans or independents.
Ignorance seems to gravitate to the Democrap Party.
Report Post »DirectlyUnPCman
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 12:52pmMore black logic.
Let me see, do we fine people who dont have cars? Do we force people to buy insurance if they dont drive? What an idiot. And equal protection under the law is meant to stop legal discrimination. Its got nothing to do with healthcare. What a stretch.
Why doesnt he just say it. Black people are entitle to healthcare paid for by white people. Just say it man, just say it!! Next I’ll need to buy them a car so they can get to the welfare office in a timely manner, because everyone has the right to be on time. Time to leave the black man in the dust. Move this country forward without him. I am so sick of listening to this garbage. My equal? Not if I need to pay for everything for you. get out there and earn your own way. That means sometimes you go without. God, thats just life. Damn cry babies.
Report Post »BLANKETASS
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 2:35pmWe live in a republic.Every citizen is a soveren.Which means one voice has the power of all the rest.
Report Post »The silent allow a lot of thease thing to happen.Ex.No prayer in school because one person objects.But if one of the class wants it they have the same power.
captnkirk
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 3:05pmI don’t think PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS is in the CONSTITUTION. It’s in THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE. he a smart one. LOL
Report Post »1TrueOne55
Posted on January 21, 2011 at 5:39pmWhen you put the Preamble and the 14th Amendment together then only Blacks can pursue happiness, what happened to the 14th amendment as the 3/5th of a person clause? I thought the Constitution was a “Racist” document, now you want to use it to take it down??? I guess that is why they will be the first group to loose their happiness when they can no longer pursue it under a Communist Dictatorship that will throw you into a grave. Just ask those that followed Mao Tse Tung during WWII to fight the Japanese and believed him to be their saviour. He then turned on them and a former Chinese Army General fought as hard as he could but then fled to the Island of Taiwan to create the land that Mao had promised his people.
And with Mao being the Presidents advisors favorite mentor we see how well that is working.
Report Post »Rumrunner
Posted on January 23, 2011 at 10:06pmTo LSX Post from1/20/11, and anyone else supporting Trump for 2012, do some research before you put your faith into a guy that gets a few seconds on Fox News.
Living in Southern Jersey all my life and prior to casinos, we have witnessed first hand Trump’s business style and treatment of his fellow human beings. He ripped off the local building contractors that built the Taj Mahal for him in 1991, getting court orders to prevent them from removing product he ended paying cents on the dollar for, putting some long time area businesses, out of business.
His AC gaming company over the past two decades has repeatedly gone into bankruptcy protection, while he lived high on the hog, while again leaving the outside vendors and contractors settling on cents on the dollar.
Strike up a conversation with one of the thousands of emplyees who slave at his 3 casino properties here and have gone without raises, even prior to the current economic conditions, his company healthcare plan, that he self insures, at a profit to him, while continually cutting benefits, and bleeding off any growth or reinvestment in his properties to feed his stockholders and himself.
Look into the development in Central America/Mexico, that he accepted preconstruction deposits to build a resort/country club, tha the closed up the sales office and skipped town.
Don’t take my word for it, but before you pull that lever, don‘t you think doing some research into someone’s past getting some idea of how they run their life, how they earn their living, and, most importantly, get a sense of their character – but hey, Americans wouldn’t elect a person President without doing that!
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