Right-Wing Group Preparing Constitutional Challenge To Clinton

Politico:

A conservative watchdog group is considering litigation to prevent Hillary Clinton from becoming the next Secretary of State, saying Congress' action Wednesday to clear a legal hurdle for her nomination runs counter to the Constitution.

Judicial Watch says that Clinton is ineligible to serve as Secretary of State because the Constitution prohibits members of Congress from being appointed to an office that saw a pay increase during their time in office. In January 2008, President Bush signed an executive boosting Cabinet secretaries' pay to $191,300.

But on Wednesday night, both houses of Congress approved a resolution reducing the salary to the January 2007 level of $186,600.

...

But Tom Fitton, president of Judicial Watch, said Thursday that Congress' action has never been tested in court, and he says his group is considering litigation in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia to challenge her appointment.

Read the whole story: Politico

Comments

[rabiddog6708]

What a shock! Repubs take legal action against a Clinton. They don't care if our government spies on us, imprisons people without charge or legal recourse, torture prisoners, outright lie us into invading a country that neither attacked nor threastened us, revealed the identity of a covert CIA operative for political retriubtion, fired Repub-appointed Federal Prosecutors because they would not pursue bogus cases of voter fraud against Dems.....but this is what they decide is beyond the pale and needs to be taken to court. They have no shame.

[microcosm]

Save Journalism, Save America - google "Fix News Now"
America deserves a strong press

[VikingKing]

Yuri pegs it.
http://allanerickson.wordpress.com/2008/12/11/what-every-leftist-should-hear/

[Peter007]

It shouldn't matter what group is bringing the lawsuit.
The facts of the case indicate that Hillary is not eligible to be Secretary of State. It's as plain as the requirements that give an age requirement.
The congress will attempt to circumvent the law by changing the facts ( which they can't ) or by arguing that the reason for the law is to prevent something from happening ( corruption ). The congress will argue that a new piece of legislation will accomplish the same thing so the constitution can be ignored.

It's like this. A person violated the speed limit. Because they are politically connected, the legislature passes a new law that says the speed limit didn't exist when the person violated it. After the trial, the speed limit goes back into effect. Quid pro quo. Smells like Chicago politics.

[Troubledwawa]

Outside of the hypocrisy of Judicial Watch's argument about emoluments (yes, emoluments are prohibited to Senators AND Presidents, while in office), I'm kind of glad their doing it...

It's at least keeping them busy, getting absolutely nothing done.

[partyofone]

... and it is showing the type of lightening rod Hillary will be throughout the Obama administration. Nothing she brings to the post is worth the distraction she is already causing, and Bill isn't even warmed up yet. A bad choice.

[45245]

I love it.........let's see if lightening can hit the same place over and over........

[wm1066]

It doesn't matter if its a Clinton or whoever, these people will go after anybody who is an effective Democrat. Its about their hatred for America.

[keepemhonest]

And the GOP wonder why they were voted out on their a$$es

[dwillisno1]

This group has more odd and mismatched tools than an explosion at a Craftsman Factory.

[Bitsko]

lmfao!

[jdwoman]

Isn't it interesting how the GOP rails on the lawyers and how they are driving up costs and wasting time with 'frivilous lawsuits' that might involve insurance companies and big corporations but they have no qualms about using that same system for their own gain?

[Philippa]

Great! Such action will surely endear the GOP more to the people and will clinch more votes for the party in the next election. Keep it up!

[Hawka]

Because they did so much apparently to validate that support... oh wait, I forgot the GOP apparently only knows how to do nothing and prevent other people from doing anything!!

[Durango]

For the past 8 years they have ignored minor Constitutional issues like Habeas Crpus, signing statement, torture, abrogating International Treaties, not to mention the 1st Amendment, 4th amendment, 5th Amendment, 6th Amendment, 7th amendment, 8th Amendment, not to mention the 14th Amendment.

And they are bringing this up?

What next? Hillary is not a Natural Born Citizen?

[Woodguy]

Good job, Durango! One wonders where they were all these Bush years!

[LittlePurpleUSA]

Nothing would push those 18 million "cracks" further to the Left than to have the GOP be responsible for Hillary not becoming the SoS.

http://littlepurpleusa.blogspot.com

[duze]

It may happen.

[NextYearLions]

First we have to make sure Obama is a natural born American citizen. It is important issues like these that make me feel safe and sound because they are what we are wasting our time with.

[indypete]

You almost had me there! I was about to jump all over you but caught your second sentence just in time. Well done!

[chalo]

It's always hilarious - not - when the Far Right wrings their hands over "upholding The Constitution!!" They treat it like a roll of, shall we say, bathroom tissue!!

[avvocato]

As much as it pains me, the Constitution is clear about this. Clinton is ineligble.
Too bad the Repugs didn't file suit against the hundreds of Bush constitutional violations!

[indypete]

Technicalities like this can be a real pain in the arse..... At her level, five grand is lunch money.

[Cunningham]

I agree with you on both points.

I don't think reducing the salary matters when you read what the constitution says. She's not eligible.

Rethugs wiped their collective @ss with the constitution. I don't think it's a good idea to follow suit.

[iheardthisbefore]

I hear that Judicial Watch has stolen Obama's "original" birth certificate
and they are going to carbon date the paper in order to prove that it is a
fake......
They will make an announcement about this just after they win the Federal
Court challenge to Clinton's appointment to State.

Stay tuned for more tabloid news.......

The wingnuts never stop spinning.

[whit4brains]

LOL!

[judyc]

Yeah-LOL!

[PATina]

I have an idea !!! Let's play nice w/ the Repubs and maybe they will be nice to us !!!!

Sorry... couldn't pass that up. Anyway... this just goes to show that the Republicans have no desire to act in a "bi-partisan" manner. They are pros at manipulating the people and will stop at nothing until they get back in power again. You've been warned.