422 Yea & 1 Nay from RP
One person out of the entire congress thinks it's a bad idea to spend tax payer money to award Arnold Palmer with a gold medal and of course Ron stood up as he did in the past.
"I must, however, oppose the Gold Medal for Ronald and Nancy Reagan because appropriating $30,000 of taxpayer money is neither constitutional nor, in the spirit of Ronald Reagan's notion of the proper, limited role for the federal government."
"Because of my continuing and uncompromising opposition to appropriations not authorized within the enumerated powers of the Constitution, I would maintain my resolve and commitment to the Constitution--a Constitution, which only last year, each Member of Congress, swore to uphold. In each of these instances, I offered to do a little more than uphold my constitutional oath."
"In fact, as a means of demonstrating my personal regard and enthusiasm for Ronald Reagan's advocacy for limited government, I invited each of these colleagues to match my private, personal contribution of $100 which, if accepted by the 435 Members of the House of Representatives, would more than satisfy the $30,000 cost necessary to mint and award a gold medal to Ronald and Nancy Reagan. To me, it seemed a particularly good opportunity to demonstrate one's genuine convictions by spending one's own money rather that of the taxpayers who remain free to contribute, at their own discretion, to commemorate the work of the Reagans. For the record, not a single Representative who solicited my support for spending taxpayer's money, was willing to contribute their own money to demonstrate their generosity and allegiance to the Reagan's stated convictions." ~ Ron Paul
tom mcclintock
here's an email i sent to rep mcclintock here
Tom,
I'm disappointed you voted for HR1243. Please be the Constitutionalist that I donated money to. Please abide by the oath you took to uphold the Constitution of the United States.
As a fiscal conservative, you should have voted AGAINST HR1243, but above all else, you should have let the Constitution be your guide and voted against this bill.
If you need inspiration, please see:
http://imgur.com/H61K.jpg
or
http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2000/cr040300.htm
Thanks,
I pledge, do you?
Ron Paul Rocks..
100 bucks.. hehehe
Total 5 star class..
www.youtube.com/truefictions
As a member of the Military
... and recipient of a medal or two..
I BOUGHT my own medals. The government/military just authorized me to wear them...
I'm stunned
I just looked up who Arnold Palmer was and it said he was a golfer. Excuse my ignorance, but is that all he's done? If this is the case, what does it have to do with congress?
you can expect to fork out
you can expect to fork out money for tiger woods some day as well ;)
"One man with courage is a majority." ~ Andrew Jackson
he was making a point
Fortune Favors the Bold
the medals wouldn't have necessarily sold, and it still involves the government doing something beyond its prescribed function.
Fortune Favors the Bold
What's so principled about this?
Did anyone actually read the text of the bill which can easily be found by following the link in Chad's post? http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1243
The bill is just a few hundred words and it says the Secretary of the Treasury may strike duplicate medals to cover the cost of the gold medal.
I suppose the government shouldn't award medals to members of the military since that's not in the constitution either.
What about the cost of the
What about the cost of the raw gold?
Awarding Medals To Celebs Is Not A Proper Governmental Function
Military medals are not the same thing, as is plainly obvious.
____________________________________________
"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." -- Joseph Goebbels
_____________________________
"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." -- Joseph Goebbels
Where in the constitution does it say that awarding medals
to anyone is a proper gov. function - or that the military may do it but not Congress? And why is RP opposed to giving the Congressional Gold Medal to a former president? This is what he was quoted as saying in the post that started this thread.
"I must, however, oppose the Gold Medal for Ronald and Nancy Reagan because appropriating $30,000 of taxpayer money is neither constitutional nor, in the spirit of Ronald Reagan's notion of the proper, limited role for the federal government."
The acts of Reagan himself contradict this statement. As president, he bestowed the Presidential Medal of Freedom (the executive branch's equivalent to the Congressional Gold Medal) many times so he obviously did not see awarding medals as outside the proper role of government. Although the PMOF probably isn't worth $30,000, we can presume it's not made of iron pyrite, either, and therefore it was taxpayer funded. Moreover, the Reagans themselves received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, Ronald in 1993 and Nancy in 2002.
Not An Enumerated Power; Hence Prohibited
And why on earth would you ask why Ron Paul would oppose it, when his answer is in his very statement. You may not agree that it should be prohibited, but to claim RP's stance is not a matter of principle, or that you don't comprehend his statement, is utterly bizarre.
___________________________________________
"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." -- Joseph Goebbels
_____________________________
"Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it." -- Joseph Goebbels
I hear the trinket business
I hear the trinket business is rockin
Arnold Palmer never done anything for me, has he you?
"Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it."
--Jane Wagner
A Republic, If You Can Keep It
He "Invented" Iced Tea + Lemonade
is called an "Arnold Palmer" Mmmmm! ;-)
Be it that you agree with congress spending more of our $$$...
with out constitutional authority, why don't you go ahead and flip the bill for Arnold's medal then this discussion wouldn't have to take place.
Congressman Paul understands and knows what his job is in congress as a public servant representing the people.
If congress feels they need to get this medal for Arnold they could pass a donation plate around. If each congressman donated fifty dollars each that would more then purchase a medal to large for Mr. Palmer to tote around.
How can you compare a golf player to a veteran? Maybe after all our weapons are confiscated we will throw golf balls. Maybe that is your thinking.
The ruts that people in this country are creating is beyond me.
hummm! Another distraction.
golf balls are on sale today
golf balls are on sale today at your local wally world!!!!
BUY yours TODAY because obama is expected to have them added to the latest list of "items the sane people should not have due to our good health" list.
There were three points I made in my post
1. People should read the bill it before commenting on it (it's pretty short)
2. That the bill authorizes the sale of replicas to pay for the gold medal (and the replicas)
3. That if you're going to argue against awarding this medal on constitutional grounds then the argument should be applied consistently - hence my remark about the awarding of medals to veterans.
This hardly qualifies as a "rut"; Congress has been awarding medals since the American Revolution so this practice predates the constitution.
Sure I can read it
In section 5 it says the cost is not to exceed $30,000. Why should we pay for Arnold Palmer to receive a medal. Did he serve our country? Your comparison to veterans is an insult to veterans.
EXCUSE ME!! but Arnold was
EXCUSE ME!! but Arnold was THE best golfer of his day! Don't think for one moment he did not help with the military.....all those "lost over the tree top balls", landed on some enemy heads. Honest, he was that good!
The bill authorizes the sale of duplicate medals
so the gold (and duplicate) medal is not paid for by tax dollars. The same goes for the bill that awarded Rosa Parks her medal which RP also opposed on principal.
As for your question about whether Arnold Palmer served his country, according to Section 1-7 of this bill he was in the Coast Guard for three years. The bill also cites his charitable works which I think is another example of service to one's country.
My comparison between this medal and medals awarded to veterans was not intended as an insult and should not be taken as one. The point I was trying to make is you're going to make an argument on constitutional grounds, then the constitution should be applied consistently.
Yes; Ron Paul is a class act!
What a great gesture. I hope this causes those so-called representatives of the People to be ashamed of themselves. But probably not; especially when they can be so magnanimous with other people's money, those SOB's!
Dr. Paul follows in Crockett's footsteps
Davy Crockett did much the same thing. See link
http://www.theadvocates.org/library/christian-crockett.html
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain
Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But I repeat myself.
- Mark Twain
Bump ...
... because it's more important than rehashing the creationism argument for the 10 millionth time.
bump!
sooooooooo true.
I pledge, do you?
So proud of Ron PaulNotice
So proud of Ron Paul
Notice there are two different addresses for Arnold Palmer. One in Ohio and the other in Florida. Either one ok?
My Congressman is hearing from me tomorrow....
I called his secretary
I called his secretary in Florida. That's a good address.
Arnold Palmer
c/o Arnold Palmer Enterprises
9000 Bay Hill Blvd
Orlando, FL
32819-4880
Just beautiful
What a guy! I wish he was my dad.
Colchester, New London County, Connecticut
Bump to the top
NewPatriot had a great idea. See his earlier message. Send Arnold Palmer a letter.
I suggested...
Mention how you admire his talent and his charitable spirit. You might throw "Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children" in there. Then say he can send an important message to a spendthrift congress by returning the medal with a letter from him saying that he cannot allow himself to be enriched at the expense of taxpayers. He could hold a news conference thanking the members for voting for it, and thanking Ron Paul more for voting against it. As always, state facts rather than opinions, then appeal to his noble motives (How to Win Friends, etc.).
Hurry up. His web page has a long article on it about the award, saying it was a "unanimous vote" of 422-1 [sic].
This should be done by snail mail. Hand-written would be great. The address is,
Arnold Palmer
c/o Arnold Palmer Enterprises
9000 Bay Hill Blvd
Orlando, FL
32819-4880
He cares for people and still follows the Constitution
Ron Paul voted against using TAXPAYER money to spend $30,000 for a gold medal to Rosa Parks. He proposed all of Congress to put $100 each out of their own pockets. No one took up on his offer! Ron wanted to give her a medal with HIS OWN CASH. He greatly respects Rosa Parks - he calls her a HERO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cs-0AXWV8so
Let's let congress know how we feel
Let's write to our respective representatives and tell them we don't want our taxpayer money spent this way.