The Tea Party, Tenthers and the Constitution . . .

I just watched an interview with Ron Paul on CNN. As the titular father of the Tea Party his oft repeated mantra of Constitutional Authority has been adopted by that movement and been forced on the GOP as evidenced by the “Pledge to America” which says that all laws must cite a constitutional source for authority.

Well, I have news for them all. Congress can pass any frackin’ law they want to ‘cause IT’S IN THERE!

Section 8 delineates the powers of congress and along with maintaining a navy and such it says, in part:
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Section 8 - Powers of Congress
The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States . . .
{and}
To make all Laws which shall be necessary and proper for carrying into Execution the foregoing Powers, and all other Powers vested by this Constitution in the Government of the United States, or in any Department or Officer thereof.
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I had the opportunity to point this out to Tenther recently and it really hung ‘im up. The Tenth amendment reads:
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Amendment 10 - Powers of the States and People
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
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Section 8 delegates to the Congress the power to pass any law it deems to be in “the general Welfare”. It is an enumerated power. In the Constitution. Delegated by the Constitution to the Congress of the United States.

I could almost hear his brain bouncing around inside his head . . .