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

[Qbear]

THAT was Romney's Waterloo

Think EVERY Democratic Campaign is making a comercial with the lawyer clip...ya think?

I'd say calling your lawyer when you need to decide to go to War....is only slightly better than reading to children MY PET GOAT when you are told "Country under ATTACK."

[unclebucky]

So Invading Iran is the new Anti-Gay Agenda? Or the new Immigrant Pogrom? Or the new litmus test for 2008?

Crikey.

Ok, everyone, note the wind patterns. Note where you live right now, and what level of protection you have against dirty bombs and big boy nukes.

Then, get your passports. Let these people incinerate themselves and get out.

Let's see... Paraguay(1) will be safe... {snicker}

(1) Paraguay is where the Bushies are moving to be closer to the Nazis who are selling their houses and moving into nursing homes.

Ugh.

--UB.

[beholder]

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.

[Halibut]

typo - obviously I meant to say "make war" not "make law". An interesting slip to be sure . . .