Romney On Whether He Can Invade Iran Without Congressional Approval: Let The Lawyers Sort It Out

During the CNBC Republican debate tonight, moderator Chris Matthews asked Mitt Romney, "If you were president of the United States, would you need to go to Congress to get authorization to take military action against Iran's nuclear facilities?" Romney's answer: let the lawyers sort it out.

ROMNEY: You sit down with your attorneys and tell you what you have to do, but obviously the president of the United States has to do what's in the best interest of the United States against a potential threat. The president did that as he was planning on moving into Iraq and received the authorization of Congress...

MATTHEWS: Did he need it?

ROMNEY: You know, we're going to let the lawyers sort out what he needed to do and what he didn't need to do, but certainly what you want to do is to have the agreement of all the people in the leadership of our government as well as our friends around the world where those circumstances are available.

Comments

[BUSHsurvivor]

Is this really the best they got? Will there be another surprise player soon?

[amerdiaspora]

what i like in a candidate:

he takes a stand in issues: 'hell i don't know'

[Kansas Evans]

How can anyone run for an elected position knowing they know squat about the Constitution? That's just deliberate deception.

We know the Constitution doesn't allow for a religion test, but we could have a test about the Constitution, couldn't we? It wouldn't have to be hard. Only 5 questions?

1) How many branches of the govt are there?
2) Which branch declares war?
3) Which branch decides the constitutionality of the actions of the other two?
4) Does the Constitution establish a national religion?
5) What article discusses the branch headed by the president?

If you can't accurately answer all 5 of these questions, you can't run for any federal govt seat.

[gevan]

1)Four--Executive, Legislative, Judiciary, and Dick Cheney. 2)The one with the biggest bombs. 3)The Deceider-in-Chief. 4)No--but the National Anthem does (see fourth verse). 5)I refuse to play these numbers games when the National Security may (or may not) be at stake.

[Kansas Evans]

That's funny.

[Gonzalez]

This dumb ass doesn't even know that the constitution calls for ONLY Congress to declare war. This is what type of people are running for President. And the hillbillies will vote for this idiot!

[garbagehead]

this is getting SCARY! God help us if one of these men gets into office, when all they can think about is going to war.

Our main hope is Ron Paul, or Dennis Kucinich. Anyone else seems almost frothing at the mouth for the opportunity to blow something up.

[KCFreedom]

Don't forget Gravel. He's a Unitarian that wants us out of all wars.

[ACELiberal]

It seems painfully obvious that these jokers are not a bit different from the current criminal in the White House. They neither understand nor care to understand that this is not a Monarchy and while the president of the United States may well be concerned about the security of the American people, he/she actually takes an oath to uphold the constitution - not to submit to the will of the Justice Dept. I know it is confusing for them in light of our current state of affairs - with Bush and Gonzales attempts to rewrite most any law that they did not find easy to ignore, but the bottom line is that Iraq, much like Vietnam and Korea ARE NOT ACTUALLY WARS. It has never been declaired by Congress. They are either stupid or criminal. Anyone who would stand to elect any of these assholes should consider psycho-analysis. fuckall.

[KCFreedom]

How 'bout Grenada, Panama, Kosovo, Lebanon, etc.?

[KCFreedom]

Oops, forgot the multiple times in Haiti.

[Qbear]

LAWYERS???

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/Lawyers.jpg

[kawika]

Have they tried reading the U.S. Constitution?

[hugs4u]

I guess that means he needs Gonzo.

[Qbear]

LAWYERS???

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-8/1210139/Lawyers.jpg

[gevan]

I guess he would only co-Mitt us to a legal war rather than an illegal one.

[factanonverba]

What a moron, oops I meant Mormon.

[bushdoescrack]

americans playing god with other countries makes be sick. america has no right to attack any country not posing a threat to them, the fact that iran may someday have nukes is an absolutely insane reason. the world has seen what a complete fuck up iraq is, the slaughter and rape of the people of this country will never be forgotten. someday i hope that america will just dissapear, be wiped out, destroyed, they surely deserve that fate.

[gevan]

The Bush Doctrine=Pearl Harbor from the Japanese point of view.

[josephpatrick]

I suggest Mitt, & all the other Republicans except Ron Paul, go take a look at the Constitution. Congress MUST declare war. Technically the Iraq War is either a) not a war OR b) is unconstitutional.

for political commentary including a complete rap-up of the GOP debate, visit:
http://www.politidose.com/

[AurigaRa]

I suggest Mutt and all the other rethugs suit up and fly over to Iraq to work it out with Iran on the ground. And then stay there.

These guys acutally PASS for candidates for President of the United States, while Dennis Kucinich has to fight the right wing media for an ounce of coverage.

They are complete F***-ups.

[Superfelo]

"It's obvious that Mitt doesn't know anything about the constitution he is so anxious preserve and protect as the President of the United States. Only Congress can declare war. Period. He should know that that."
It seems it is not only Mitt who does not know anything about the Constitution, the elected representatives swear to protect and uphold.
it is a shame; but do you expect poor and mediocre students, which most of these politicians are, to know much about the Constitution, except to bandy its name about anytime they want to pander?

[shaggles]

Everytime one of the GOP candidates opens his mouth I think, "That has got to be the dumbest thing anyone has ever said." They just keep topping each other.

[BuyRubles]

Kill 'em all and let god sort 'em out - repooplican mantra.

[Qbear]

commercial typo