Non-answers...

RLENT

Veteran Expediter
It is understood Ron Paul supporters may not like Mitt Romney or Rick Santorum. However, to state they do not understand the US Constitution is plain wrong. Both were legal scholars. Romney earned his law degree from Harvard. Santorum earned his law degree from Dickinson School of Law.
So was Obama ..... :p

'Nuff said ..... :rolleyes:
 
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aristotle

Veteran Expediter
So was Obama ..... :p

'Nuff said ..... :rolleyes:

Barack Obama has the professional credentials of a legal scholar. Barack Obama has a full understanding of our Constitution but little respect for it. Much of Obama's legislative initiatives, particularly, Obamacare, are widely considered to be extraconstitutional and will soon be under review by the Supreme Court.

One could argue Obama has a greater understanding of the intricacies of Constitutional law; while, Ron Paul has a greater respect for the US Constitution.

Our Constitution wasn't written in some secret code knowable only to a select few. It's pretty straight forward. But, human beings are disagreeable and would argue grass isn't green because they struggle over the definition of green. It's amazing our species survives in spite of itself.

Clearly, Ron Paul's faithfulness to the US Constitution is preferred to Obama's disregard.
 

dieseldiva

Veteran Expediter
Barack Obama has the professional credentials of a legal scholar. Barack Obama has a full understanding of our Constitution but little respect for it. Much of Obama's legislative initiatives, particularly, Obamacare, are widely considered to be extraconstitutional and will soon be under review by the Supreme Court.

One could argue Obama has a greater understanding of the intricacies of Constitutional law; while, Ron Paul has a greater respect for the US Constitution.

Our Constitution wasn't written in some secret code knowable only to a select few. It's pretty straight forward. But, human beings are disagreeable and would argue grass isn't green because they struggle over the definition of green. It's amazing our species survives in spite of itself.

Clearly, Ron Paul's faithfulness to the US Constitution is preferred to Obama's disregard.

Very well spoken, so it ends up being like any other document, people will twist it and turn it any way that they can to make it fit their agenda......
 

Ragman

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
Very well spoken, so it ends up being like any other document, people will twist it and turn it any way that they can to make it fit their agenda......

It has always been that way in American history and always will be.
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
That is the correct answer. That question was asked through Romney to see what the eventual reaction was going to be from Santorum. They should have asked it in Iowa more so than New Hampshire. Might have made a difference there? Really left no impression other than a dumb question. Just my take.
As always in these debates, they are answering for what they think the people want to hear. As mentioned, all of of them (well except maybe Perry:D) are very well versed and educated on the Constitution.
 

RLENT

Veteran Expediter
Sorry, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that anyone who said the following has any real degree of understanding of the Constitution (to say nothing of a fundamental understanding of freedom and liberty):

"Like any freedom, there has to be regulations ... The question is, how do you do it? And do it in a way that makes sure that it is not imposing upon freedoms." - Rick Santorum

Uh-huh ...... right .....

Moron <spit> ..... :rolleyes:
 

cheri1122

Veteran Expediter
Driver
I agree with RLENT [surprise!]
The questions, no matter how relevant [or ir] aren't really the issue - it's how the candidate responds to them that shows who they are, and how they will respond to other challenges that matter.
Just ask Herman Cain.
If Mssrs Romney & Santorum are "masters of the Constitution", they wouldn't have fumbled the question, they'd have provided an accurate response, whether it's PC or not.
 

muttly

Veteran Expediter
Retired Expediter
He was stammering because he was shocked that this question would come up in a debate, think about it. Of course the moderator only used Mitt as the step to Santorum, the real target for the "gotcha" question.

Even dumb little old me was sitting here going "what? where are you going with this"?

Economy, jobs, Iran, etc. and we want to talk about contraceptives?? What is this 1969?

Agree it was a ridiculous question and had no business being asked in a Presidential debate.
 

davekc

Senior Moderator
Staff member
Fleet Owner
At the end of the day it matters little. Don't think we are going to see Santorum or Paul go the distance.
 
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greg334

Veteran Expediter
I see it a bit different

First is that just because they went to law school, they are not legal experts or have the ability to divide the difference between liberty and political ideology.

The second and more important is to have a person first respect the constitution then respect the people who gave it the power to govern. In the case of Romney, santorum and especially Gingrich, they neither have the respect for the constitution or the people by their position that the need to change it in order to further or limit rights of people to fit a specific agenda. In this case the ob/gyn has it right.
 

Turtle

Administrator
Staff member
Retired Expediter
Sorry, but you'll have a hard time convincing me that anyone who said the following has any real degree of understanding of the Constitution (to say nothing of a fundamental understanding of freedom and liberty):
"Like any freedom, there has to be regulations ... The question is, how do you do it? And do it in a way that makes sure that it is not imposing upon freedoms." - Rick Santorum
Uh-huh ...... right .....

Moron <spit> ..... :rolleyes:
Putting aside Dale's request regarding name-calling, the above quote isn't the quote of a moron who doesn't have any real degree of understanding of the Constitution. For one, the quote above isn't the complete quote, and it's taken out of context. The complete quote, in context, suggests a rather high degree of understanding of the Constitution, actually. The quote is in response to a question on regulation of the Internet and SOPA, and about the wider aspects of rights and liberty, where our rights and freedoms are not unlimited, and come with responsibilities attached to them ("fire" in a theater is one example he uses, correctly).

The problems arise from why and how he wants to eliminate the "abuses" of the Internet, because it's destroying the moral fiber of the country (the how and why is him injecting his version of religious morals into everything we do, and he being the one to decide how which responsibilities should be borne, and how). But that doesn't make him a moron, either. I don't like Santorum even a little bit, even less than I like Obama, actually, but a moron he ain't.

Watch the full answer in context here: Click HERE at your own risk!
 
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