White House and DOJ Declare Roe v. Wade Unconstitutional

@Rollo1 (16676)
Boston, Massachusetts
February 24, 2011 10:42am CST
In a letter to Speaker John Boehner, the Attorney General explained the legal arguments that brought the president and the DOJ to this conclusion. "While the Department has previously defended Roe v Wade against legal challenges, recent lawsuits that challenge the constitutionality of Roe v.Wade have caused the President and the Department to conduct a new examination of the defense of this provision. The Supreme Court has yet to rule on the appropriate level of scrutiny for classifications based on unborn status. It has, however, rendered a number of decisions that set forth the criteria that should inform this and any other judgment as to whether heightened scrutiny applies: (1) whether the group in question has suffered a history of discrimination; (2) whether individuals "exhibit obvious, immutable, or distinguishing characteristics that define them as a discrete group"; (3) whether the group is a minority or is politically powerless; and (4) whether the characteristics distinguishing the group have little relation to legitimate policy objectives or to an individual's "ability to perform or contribute to society. Each of these factors counsels in favor of being suspicious of classifications based on born or unborn status. First and most importantly, there is, regrettably, a significant history of purposeful discrimination against the unborn, by governmental as well as private entities, based on prejudice and stereotypes that continue to have ramifications today. Indeed, until very recently, states have "demean[ed] the[] existence" of the unborn "by making their existence indefensible under the law." ...the adoption of laws like those at issue in Roe v. Wade, show the group to have limited political power and "ability to attract the [favorable] attention of the lawmakers." "Roe v. Wade contains numerous expressions reflecting moral disapproval of unborn children and their potential intimate and family relationships -- precisely the kind of stereotype-based thinking and animus the (Constitution's) Equal Protection Clause is designed to guard against." "Much of the legal landscape has changed in the 40 years since the Supreme Court created a so-called 'right to privacy,' which has no constitutional basis and no tangible form. Various Supreme Court justices have previously ruled that laws authorizing the taking of the life of an unborn child are unconstitutional and Congress has forbidden the federal government from paying for abortions." Okay, this isn't a letter from Eric Holder to the Speaker. However the text of this discussion has been lifted from that letter and Roe v Wade has been substituted for the Defense of Marriage Act. But could this letter be sent under a Republican president and AG if it is within the President's powers to declare laws "unconstitutional"? How does this affect your current opinion on the recent decision by the administration to declare DOMA unconstitutional and refuse to defend it? If the president is allowed to take unto himself the power of the judiciary, to interpret the law and determine its constitutionality, then there is the real possibility that any president can declare any law he does not like "unconstitutional".
2 people like this
9 responses
• United States
24 Feb 11
You appear confused regarding the difference between the President (through the Attorney General of the United States) opining on the Constitutionality of a law with regard to whether or not they will attempt to defend it in court, which is what happened yesterday; and and the President declaring a law Unconstitutional, which didn't happen yesterday.
2 people like this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
I guess I am confused as to why, if this MA decision was key to Eric Holder's decision, he didn't mention it.
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
If the DOJ is charged with upholding the law and based on the combined "opining" of the president and the DOJ, the law is unconstitutional, then for all intents and purposes it is just that since they will not defend nor uphold it. Perhaps I do not appear confused, perhaps you perceive me that way.
• United States
24 Feb 11
No, you're definitely confused. The Obama administration has not stopped enforcing DOMA based on the AGUS's or President's opinion that it's unconstitutional. A judge did rule that DOMA is Unconstutional last year. http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/07/judge_declares_3.html The AGUS has discretion to determine whether it is a proper use of his finite budget to appeal a judge's ruling that a law is Unconstitutional, and his opinion regarding the correctness of the law is a proper basis for making that decision. You're a strict constructionalist: where in the Constitution does it say the President has to appeal every decision striking down a federal law all the way to the Supreme Court? Please be specific. The simple fact is that there has been no abuse of power here, no matter how much you would like to pretend otherwise.
1 person likes this
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
24 Feb 11
And so many say that 'that can't happen in America'. Seems to me that ANYTHING can happen in America lately.
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
I would personally love for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, just as many would be very happy to get rid of DOMA, but none of us can have our wish so easily. The president simply does not have the power or the right to declare laws unconstitutional. Still, it has happened. Yeah, anything can happen these days.
@debrakcarey (19887)
• United States
24 Feb 11
We are living in a dictatorship. What scares me is the lack of OUTCRY! Why isn't the man removed from office? What is it that he's got that makes him untouchable?
• United States
24 Feb 11
We are living in a dictatorship. Really? Last I heard, there's an election on for 2012, and the Republicants are still planning to field a candidate. Perhaps you don't actually know what a dictatorship is?
1 person likes this
@laglen (19759)
• United States
24 Feb 11
lmao I pegged it in the first sentence! It is amazing to me how one to two men can make these decisions. Even though through history one would have to bring the constitutionality of an issue to the Supreme Court. It seems to me that this was the purpose of the Supreme Court. So I think the phrase "wouldn't recognize this country any more" makes more and more sense everyday.
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
It is an utter usurpation of power. It's a grab for power that will come back to bite us all in the b*m if this is allowed. What law will they decide to go after next? It's the most dangerous thing the Obama administration has done so far. Of course, all those arguments would be valid in front of the Supreme Court, and that is why laws are examined and interpreted there. That is their Constitutionally granted power. But it isn't a power the president is given.
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@laglen (19759)
• United States
25 Feb 11
Thats exactly it and any other president with any issue would be called to task. So why pray tell isnt he?
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
24 Feb 11
Any President can choose to not defend any bill he or she doesn't feel is Constitutional. President Obama isn't the first, nor will he be the last, to do so. However, the important thing is he intends to continue to enforce this law until it's decided by the courts, the only difference is the DOJ isn't going to defend it. Annie
1 person likes this
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
24 Feb 11
Actually, if Sarah Palin were to become President - which I think we all know is NOT going to happen - my family and I will be moving to another country! On a serious note, I think we all know that if a conservative Administration were in the White House and someone challenged Roe v. Wade in court that Administration would NOT defend it. Annie
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
"if Sarah Palin were to become President - which I think we all know is NOT going to happen - my family and I will be moving to another country!" WE all know that never happens. Hardly anybody moved to France for real when Bush was elected, even though they promised to and I would prefer it if some of them had...
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
And if in 2012, Sarah Palin becomes president and chooses to have the same doubts about Roe v. Wade and declares it unconstitutional and indefensible against states passing laws controverting its decision, you will defend her position on that.
@Taskr36 (13963)
• United States
24 Feb 11
Why the heck not? Our elected and appointed officials have been stealing powers from each others branches for decades. After all, Supreme Court Justices do not have the right to amend the constitution, that power lies with the states. Despite that they amended the constitution to include some fictional "right to abortion". In addition to that they have consistently written new laws which they call "precedent". Judges are not allowed to create laws as that power lies with the legislative branch. When it comes right down to it, it's almost like it's about time somebody stole a power from the Supreme Court and declared something unconstitutional just so they could see how ludicrous it is to allow such gross violations of the separation of powers in the constitution.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
There is a definite leakage of powers and duties from one branch to another. Might be time to return to basics, start over.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
24 Feb 11
The president does NOT have the power to declare a law unconstitutional although this president thinks he has all the power he needs to do anything. I'd like to see the unborn afforded all the rights of humans outside the womb but I want it to go through the courts the way the constitution says it should. Obama has abused his power so much that I'm surprised he has not been impeached.
1 person likes this
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
That's really the point I am trying to make. The President does not have the power to declare a law unconstitutional - not DOMA, not Roe v. Wade, not any law. One must consider that if the president is allowed to take this power upon himself in this case, any president in future will feel entitled to review and declare any law he or she doesn't like to be unconstitutional. Based on their logic regarding DOMA, I think the president ought to consider declaring Roe v Wade unconstitutional. It meets all their criteria.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
24 Feb 11
Good point! If Obama can unilaterally decide what laws on the books are worthy of enforcing and which aren't, then why couldn't a Speaker of the House do the same thing?
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
24 Feb 11
Obama proves again and again that he considers himself above the law, and the Constitution is only their at his convenience.
@Rollo1 (16676)
• Boston, Massachusetts
24 Feb 11
I would actually welcome this sort of move, but it still wouldn't be legal. The problem has always been that when the executive branch or any branch of government grabs some power they don't really have the Constitutional basis to wield, they do it by enacting something that the people will find a reason to support - like the Patriot Act (we've got to keep the country safe, etc).
@sid556 (30953)
• United States
25 Feb 11
I've always been on the fence with the whole abortion issue which has been going on for how many years now? Exactly why I remain pro-choice. There are too many good arguments on both sides of the issue. How in the hell can one man step in and make such a decision? I don't see as he can. Last I knew, the president did not have the final or only say on any of these decisions.
@dark_joev (3034)
• United States
26 Feb 11
As I have read other peoples post Obama isn't deciding which laws to enforce or not and he isn't stepping over his bounds he is following the decision of lower courts and deciding not to appeal it. So the Executive branch is deciding not to spend money to appeal the lower courts decisions. So not really over stepping anything. Also just a note this really wouldn't work as an example because this isn't a law it is a Supreme Court Decision which means the Legislative Branch would have to respond or the President would have to appeal the Roe V Wade decision of the Supreme Court.
1 person likes this