Since endeavoring to get this information, I have learned a lot about the delicate balance between persistence and answers from Presidential campaigns. Headlines ushered Bob Barr first in line to take his swipe at the Real ID cards. While BeatTheChip patiently waited for the Green Party's Cynthia McKinney to get us on her calendar, I was given the crash course and new goggles on Continuity of Government education from her Press Secretary, John Judge. We got our readers up to speed and then gave the preface to what Real ID as an issue might mean in a 2008 election.
Without further ado, we bring you a Sunday edition of ....
BeatTheChip's PRESIDENTIAL SELECT featuring Chuck Baldwin
This week we will be featuring Chuck Baldwin, Constitutional Party (CP) candidate and his stances on the Real ID Act.
Chuck Baldwin, started his political career as a Florida chair for Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority. He was chosen as a Vice Presidential running mate in 2004 for the Constitutional party. Baldwin’s criticisms of the Bush Adminstration started with a vacation from the Republican party in 2000 for being too “liberal” in choosing the Bush/Cheney ticket. He endorsed Ron Paul as the Republican nominee during the 2008 primaries. Baldwin was nominated by the Constitutional party in April this year.
Baldwin, as the Constitutional Party nominee, had the most to say about Real ID and it’s relevance in the face of the US Constitution.
“The Patriot Act and the Real ID Act are not only unconstitutional but extra-constitutional. These bills are predicated upon the idea that our government has the power to do such things as spy on its own citizens, and this is simply untrue. The 4th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the Federal Government from unreasonably searching or seizing the people, their property, and effects without probable cause. The distinction that I have made here is important, because it states that not only are these Acts of Congress unwise, but they are unauthorized and beyond the scope of power for Congress to authorize,” said Baldwin.
Baldwin then gave his path to acting on the current legislation.
“Nonetheless, these Acts must be negated or otherwise removed from the books. As President, I will not only push for Congressional repeal of the Patriot Act and Real ID Act, I will simply nullify all aspects of these egregious bills. As the chief Executive, it will be within my power to simply not enforce this legislation. However, Presidents will come after me--so it will be of paramount importance that we remove these Acts from the books. Barring that, I will seek to defund and declaw the agencies who are empowered by such legislation,” stated Baldwin.
The Department of Homeland Security is one such agency, who maintains that Real ID is a solution for immigration documentation and is actively expanding the U.S.-Mexico border wall fence. The border wall fence is an environmental debacle affecting foreign workers and US landowners. DHS, as the chief enforcer of the Real ID Act, waived 36 federal laws to expand the fence around the time Baldwin was nominated. Here is what he had to say about the fence.
“As I've already stated, I am opposed to the REAL ID Act. This includes all provisions therein because the Act comes as a whole package. The Border Fence should be built, in my opinion, but it should be voted on very clearly and with no piggy-backing provisions. A straight up-or-down vote is what the American people want, and it is what they should be afforded. Congress does, of course, have the authority to waive laws that it legislated in the past and also has the authority to limit the jurisdiction of the various Federal Courts--which is the second half of Section 102 C in the REAL ID Act,” said Baldwin.
Federal jurisdiction in Continuity of Government would be a “cross -to-bear” for Baldwin as he calculated the worse case scenario uses for Real IDs as currently mandated.
“The Continuity of Government ensures that in times of crisis or violence, the government will continue to function legitimately (or, as legitimately as governments can function). The REAL ID Act seems rather innocuous to those who trust their government and elitist leaders to do the best for the country in the event of a crisis. I fear that the REAL ID Act would be used to restrict voting or freedom of movement in the event of a crisis,” said Baldwin.
Finally, Baldwin addressed the issues of the economy, tax pay outs on Real ID implementations and its projected effects on both voters and workers.
“The Real ID is a federal intervention into the business of the various states. I am a firm believer in the principles of federalism, enshrined in our Constitution and loved by our Founding Fathers. Each state has the power to determine its own credentials for voting, or even for employment, and this is none of the Federal government's business. A simple reading of the 10th Amendment will tell us that any powers not provided to the Federal government in the Constitution is reserved to the states or to the people. Nowhere in the Constitution is voting mentioned as a power to control by the Federal government.
Simply put, my administration would do nothing to manage the fiscal burdens passed to the states by the Real ID Act. My administration would cut any enforcement of this legislation off at the knees. At an estimated cost of $11 billion over five years, Americans simply can't afford the Real ID Act. More importantly, National Identification Cards are a very unpopular idea and the people will not suffer this violation of their civil liberties. To date, 21 states have passed legislation rejecting the Real ID Act--and I will encourage more of them to follow in their footsteps,” said Baldwin.
May the other 29 states follow.
For more information on Chuck Baldwin’s campaign, visit www.Baldwin08.com .
Chuck Baldwin, started his political career as a Florida chair for Jerry Falwell’s Moral Majority. He was chosen as a Vice Presidential running mate in 2004 for the Constitutional party. Baldwin’s criticisms of the Bush Adminstration started with a vacation from the Republican party in 2000 for being too “liberal” in choosing the Bush/Cheney ticket. He endorsed Ron Paul as the Republican nominee during the 2008 primaries. Baldwin was nominated by the Constitutional party in April this year.
Baldwin, as the Constitutional Party nominee, had the most to say about Real ID and it’s relevance in the face of the US Constitution.
“The Patriot Act and the Real ID Act are not only unconstitutional but extra-constitutional. These bills are predicated upon the idea that our government has the power to do such things as spy on its own citizens, and this is simply untrue. The 4th Amendment to the Constitution prohibits the Federal Government from unreasonably searching or seizing the people, their property, and effects without probable cause. The distinction that I have made here is important, because it states that not only are these Acts of Congress unwise, but they are unauthorized and beyond the scope of power for Congress to authorize,” said Baldwin.
Baldwin then gave his path to acting on the current legislation.
“Nonetheless, these Acts must be negated or otherwise removed from the books. As President, I will not only push for Congressional repeal of the Patriot Act and Real ID Act, I will simply nullify all aspects of these egregious bills. As the chief Executive, it will be within my power to simply not enforce this legislation. However, Presidents will come after me--so it will be of paramount importance that we remove these Acts from the books. Barring that, I will seek to defund and declaw the agencies who are empowered by such legislation,” stated Baldwin.
The Department of Homeland Security is one such agency, who maintains that Real ID is a solution for immigration documentation and is actively expanding the U.S.-Mexico border wall fence. The border wall fence is an environmental debacle affecting foreign workers and US landowners. DHS, as the chief enforcer of the Real ID Act, waived 36 federal laws to expand the fence around the time Baldwin was nominated. Here is what he had to say about the fence.
“As I've already stated, I am opposed to the REAL ID Act. This includes all provisions therein because the Act comes as a whole package. The Border Fence should be built, in my opinion, but it should be voted on very clearly and with no piggy-backing provisions. A straight up-or-down vote is what the American people want, and it is what they should be afforded. Congress does, of course, have the authority to waive laws that it legislated in the past and also has the authority to limit the jurisdiction of the various Federal Courts--which is the second half of Section 102 C in the REAL ID Act,” said Baldwin.
Federal jurisdiction in Continuity of Government would be a “cross -to-bear” for Baldwin as he calculated the worse case scenario uses for Real IDs as currently mandated.
“The Continuity of Government ensures that in times of crisis or violence, the government will continue to function legitimately (or, as legitimately as governments can function). The REAL ID Act seems rather innocuous to those who trust their government and elitist leaders to do the best for the country in the event of a crisis. I fear that the REAL ID Act would be used to restrict voting or freedom of movement in the event of a crisis,” said Baldwin.
Finally, Baldwin addressed the issues of the economy, tax pay outs on Real ID implementations and its projected effects on both voters and workers.
“The Real ID is a federal intervention into the business of the various states. I am a firm believer in the principles of federalism, enshrined in our Constitution and loved by our Founding Fathers. Each state has the power to determine its own credentials for voting, or even for employment, and this is none of the Federal government's business. A simple reading of the 10th Amendment will tell us that any powers not provided to the Federal government in the Constitution is reserved to the states or to the people. Nowhere in the Constitution is voting mentioned as a power to control by the Federal government.
Simply put, my administration would do nothing to manage the fiscal burdens passed to the states by the Real ID Act. My administration would cut any enforcement of this legislation off at the knees. At an estimated cost of $11 billion over five years, Americans simply can't afford the Real ID Act. More importantly, National Identification Cards are a very unpopular idea and the people will not suffer this violation of their civil liberties. To date, 21 states have passed legislation rejecting the Real ID Act--and I will encourage more of them to follow in their footsteps,” said Baldwin.
May the other 29 states follow.
For more information on Chuck Baldwin’s campaign, visit www.Baldwin08.com .
