Democratic representatives have struggled to answer questions over whether President Obama’s anticipated executive order granting amnesty to illegals is, itself, illegal. In an interview with Lawrence O’Donnell, Democratic Representative Peter Welch (D-VT) could not answer whether he thought the move was legal, nor could he identify a single Democrat who has been able to so, either.
“No one at the White House has been able to give me the legal justification for the following component of the President’s plan which was leaked to the New York Times. The part where it says… that the President will allow many parents of children who are American citizens or legal residents to obtain legal work documents. Can you tell me and has the White House told you, what is the legal justification for the President to create a new category of beneficiaries for work documents? How can that be done without legislation?” O’Donnell asked.
“You know, Lawrence, I can’t tell you, and I’m not the lawyer who’s going to be litigating this case,” Rep. Welch replied. “So the answer to that would be decided by the courts as you and I know. But here’s what I can tell you…”
PPD reported last week that President Obama intends to sign a 10-part executive order that grants amnesty to at least 4.5 million illegal immigrants in the first year, alone. Republicans on Capitol Hill have hinted they will use budget tactics akin to those used to stop the president from releasing Guantanamo Bay detainees, a move that is also widely unpopular and, according to the GAO, also illegal.
O’Donnell went to say — in disbelief — that he has yet to find a single Democrat who could answer the question with a straightforward yes or no.
“Congressman, so as far as you know, and I don’t mean to badger about this but I’ve been on this for days now,” O’Donnell interceded. “I haven’t heard from a single elected Democrat, not one Democrat in Washington who can answer the question that I just put to you. Have you heard it Have you heard it answered by any Democrats?”
“I haven’t,” Welch shockingly replied. “I haven’t.”
