President Obama’s recent assault on the U.S. Constitution — first with his illegal “recess” appointments and then Obamacare’s anti-conscience mandate — demonstrates a lack of respect for America’s founding principles, Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI) said Tuesday.
“Loud and proud, I’m talking all over my district and any forum I have, saying this is a constitutional crisis,” Walberg said during a visit to The Bloggers Briefing at Heritage.
Obama has touted recent administration actions as part of the White House’s “We Can’t Wait” campaign. From that stemmed the president’s decision on Jan. 4 to make four “recess” appointments, even though the chamber wasn’t in recess.
>> Watch: Sen. Mike Lee tells Heritage that Obama was “manifestly wrong” on appointments
Obama followed his illegal appointments with another controversial decision. This month he backed an Obamacare mandate that forces health insurance plans to cover contraception, sterilization and abortion-inducing drugs, even if employers have religious objections.
“This is a constitutional crisis that says, we will not afford First Amendment liberties, and right of religion, and right of conscience, to our citizens regardless of where they come down on the issue,” Walberg said.
“The media continue to push out this contraception and birth control [story]. That isn’t the issue. Women have a choice, women can make that choice, the majority of women can make that choice through their insurance companies or their health care providers. But bottom line is this is an issue of liberty, and the First Amendment and of conscience.”
>> Watch: Sen. Roy Blunt tells Heritage he will fight Obama’s anti-conscience mandate
Despite these recent attacks on the Constitution, Walberg said Americans should always be reminded of their rights.
“Our Constitution serves us well and provides us the greatest amount of freedom, liberty, and opportunity,” he said. “There’s an established fact that there are such things as unalienable rights, God given rights that government can’t give or take away.”
