Obama's Contempt of the 1ST Amendment

In my nearly sixty-five years as a citizen of the United States, I cannot remember a president who openly displayed his contempt of free speech and the free press, as has President Obama. He doesn't try to hide his disdain for those who disagree with his policies or his style of governing, but rather proudly displays his disgust for conservative talk radio, newspapers and cable news networks who dare challenge his authority.

His latest free press lecture is found in the February 11th issue of The New Republic. When questioned about the current gun-control debate, the president once again found a way to attack conservative targets and their first amendment rights.

Obama said, "One of the biggest factors is going to be how the media shapes debates. If a Republican member of Congress is not punished on Fox News or by Rush Limbaugh for working with a Democrat on a bill of common interest, then you'll see more of them doing it."

Greta Van Susteren, well-know attorney and host of "On the Record" with Fox, was not happy with President Obama's "one-sided" view of the media. She said, "Some Democrats have told me that they want to come on Fox to discuss issues but they get heat from their Leadership for appearing on Fox. Does President Obama know that? So which Party is intimidating its members? Apparently President Obama wants his usual media pass. Fox challenges his policies, which happens to be the media's job."

The President already has the adulation and support of the national news media and the editorial pages of the nation's major newspapers. They have become this administration's public relations department.

But, also reaching millions of Americans, The Wall Street Journal, conservative talk radio and Fox News are providing a platform for honest debate, dissenting voices, and vital information not produced by the White House press.

President Obama already had a history of trying to turn Americans away from the Fox News Network. In 2009 he told CNBC, "I've got one television station (Fox) that's entirely devoted to attacking my administration. That's a pretty big megaphone." Former Obama advisor, David Axelrod, went on ABC TV, also in 2009, and said Fox News shouldn't be treated as a news organization. "Other news organizations, like yourself (ABC), ought not to treat them that way, and we're (the White House) not going to treat them that way."

In a 2010 interview with Rolling Stone Magazine, the President said, "Fox News pushes a point of view I disagree with. It's a point of view that I think is ultimately destructive for the long term growth of a country."

What's destructive to our nation is not the free press or the free speech of citizens like me. It's a contemptuous president pushing the envelope of presidential power.

Just last Friday, January 25th, a federal appeals court overturned President Obama's controversial recess appointments from last year, ruling he abused his powers and acted when the Senate was not actually in a recess. In a unanimous decision, the court ruled his appointments to the National Labor Relations Board were unconstitutional.

Obama's battles with constitutional matters are not over. The U.S. Supreme Court will be taking a second look at the constitutionality of Obamacare's mandates during its current term. In addition, the Court will also be taking up the massive intrusion on federal-state relations in the form of a coercive Medicaid expansion.

President Obama is now experimenting with how far he can push the 2nd Amendment and his desire to impose strict government regulations on gun owners. Brace yourselves for a non-stop, rhetorical war in the weeks and months to come.

For millions of concerned Americans, the 2014 mid-term elections can't get here soon enough.