Yeah… setting a precedent of executive overreach is a bitch, ain’t it?

Stephanopolous asked: “How do you respond to the argument, a future president comes in and wants lower taxes. Doesn’t happen. Congress won’t do it; so he says ‘I’m not going to prosecute those who don’t pay capital gains tax.’”

“The truth of the matter is George,” said the President, haltingly, “The reason that we, have to do.. uhm prosecutorial discretion in immigration, is that we know, that we – are not even close to being able to deal with the folks who have been here a long time…” Obama then pivoted to immigration talking points, without addressing the original question.

“The vast majority of folks understand that they need to pay taxes, and when we conduct an audit, for example, we are selecting those folks who are most likely to be cheating,” said Obama. “We’re not going after millions and millions of people who everybody knows are here and were taking advantage of low wages as they’re mowing lawns or cleaning out bedpans, and looking the other way.”

“So you don’t think it’d be legitimate for a future president to make that argument?” Stephanopoulos said.

Obama: “With respect to taxes? Absolutely not.”

Here again I warn you liberals who are supporting Obama on his abuse of power. The pendulum will swing – likely in 2016 – and this power can be used to enact all sorts of things. Liberals are relying on the constraint of a conservative president to adhere to the constitution even where a liberal one did not. Sadly, not all conservatives feel such constraints. And conservatives who do aren’t going to feel very motivated to speak up after watching liberals lie down when Obama did it.