Constitution-Stunting Congressman Admits Not Knowing What’s In it

Lawrence O’Donnell hosted Virginia Republican Congressman Bob Goodlatte, who was all pumped up about the Republican stunt to read the Constitution on the floor of the House. But O’Donnell was able to show that Goodlatte cared not about what was in the Constitution when he offered past legislation (via Mediaite).

O’Donnell really revved up after learning that Goodlatte’s favorite Supreme Court Justice is Antonin Scalia, even despite Scalia being part of a majority opinion striking down Goodlatte’s law to restrict First Amendment rights on the Internet. Citing Goodlatte’s past vote for an increase in the minimum wage, O’Donnell wondered whether the minimum wage was constitutional? Goodlatte’s dumbfounded response: “I have not looked at the constitutionality of that issue.”

This exchange points up the folly of the dog-and-pony show the Republicans are putting on:

O’Donnell: “You voted for an increase in something that you don’t even know has constitutional authority to exist?”

Goodlatte: “That’s correct and that’s why it’s good to reinstate this focus on the Constitution as we debate these bills. In the future a minimum wage bill will have to have in it a declaration of the section of the Constitution that gives the authority to increase the minimum wage.”

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By: Alan

Alan Colmes is the publisher of Liberaland.