Note to big media: Tenthers predate Obama

The Tenth Amendment Center and the idea of nullification are gaining ground in the U.S., with major battles ongoing between the federal government and the states. What most big media and the majority of Americans don’t realize is that supporters of the Tenth Amendment Center, often called ‘Tenthers’, predate President Barack Obama.

As states sought ways to deal with an overreaching federal government, the idea of nullification gained ground. Some states have considered nullification as a means of avoiding the costly and unconstitutional Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. PPACA is popularly referred to as ObamaCare, but the nickname is misapplied. PPACA is more accurately called PelosiCare simply because Democrats headed by then-speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (Calif.) wrote the bill and passed it via a budget reconciliation bill. The president signed the product he was given by liberal Democrats most of whom confessed they did not read the bill.

Leftwing bloggers jumped on their soapboxes as soon as they got wind of the nullification approach to PPACA, attempting to tarnish the method strictly as a pro-slavery tool in pre-Civil war days. This is misleading—powers reserved for the states, in effect the limiting of federal powers, were set when the Tenth Amendment was ratified in 1791.

The Tenth Amendment Center, the group that gave rebirth to the concept of existing states’ rights in conformity with the US Constitution, was founded during the administration of President George W. Bush. Founder Michael Boldin attempted to set the record straight on this and other matters. He sent an op-ed to a number of newspapers. All declined to publish the article though it is well-written and sourced.

Boldin wrote, “Our organization has been leading the 10th Amendment movement for nearly five years now, and we’ve spearheaded actions in support of nullification around the country. We even created the health care nullification legislation that’s been used as a model for introduction in Idaho and other states.”

Boldin pointed out the use of de facto nullification during the Bush administration: “So, in 2008, when the Idaho legislature passed – without dissent – House Bill 606 to declare that ‘the state of Idaho shall not participate in the implementation of the REAL ID act of 2005,’ it was participating in a nationwide effort (championed by the ACLU) to effectively nullify the federal law.”

I underlined the phrase about the ACLU; the underline is not in Boldin's original content. 

The Tenth Amendment Center provides insight on a peaceful and legal means of reining in a federal government that functions as a corporate body, one that often refuses to answer to the investors who fund it, the taxpayers.

Now that the Tenth Amendment Center, holding a consistent line on political ideology, disagrees with a liberal Democrat, left-allied media has trouble accepting the organization’s position.

Bottom line: The Tenth Amendment Center and the idea of nullification didn’t begin with Obama. It began during the term of his predecessor who, like our current president, was a big spender. Bush, however, could not trump Obama when it came to spending or big government. 

(Commentary by Kay B. Day/Feb. 28, 2011)

Comments

[Jim Kress]

More proof that the "good old days" of 3 networks that controlled all the information we were allowed to know was indeed real and is, thankfully, dead. At least, until Obama gets his "kill switch".

[Kay B. Day, Editor]

Jim, those three networks have done more to mislead the American people than any politician could. It's ironic how the left criticizes Fox News, but that's partly because the left no longer controls all messaging. Thanks for weighing in.