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In 2008, Barack Obama promised that he would not use signing statements, but last night he released when to accompany his signing of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013

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Overnight, however, Obama released this signing statement, in an attempt to try to change the meaning of the defense bill Congress sent to him for his signature:

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Even though I support the vast majority of the provisions contained in this Act

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I do not agree with all of them

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Our Constitution does not afford the President the opportunity to approve or reject statutory sections one by one

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:insertshockedfacehere:

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"While it is legitimate for a president to issue a signing statement to clarify his understanding of ambiguous provisions of statutes and to explain his view of how he intends to faithfully execute the law, it is a clear abuse of power to use such statements as a license to evade laws that the president does not like or as an end-run around provisions designed to foster accountability. I will not use signing statements to nullify or undermine congressional instructions as enacted into law."

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Obama;dr

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The Congress designed these sections, and has here renewed them once more, in order to foreclose my ability to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

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in order to foreclose my ability to shut down the Guantanamo Bay detention facility.

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. I will not use signing statements to nullify or undermine congressional instructions as enacted into law."

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quote: Overnight, however, Obama released this signing statement, in an attempt to try to change the meaning of the defense bill Congress sent to him for his signature:

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I mean you're going to need more than the Weekly Standard

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Obama's signing statement this year tracks closely his one last year. However, he toned down some of his vows to reverse the parts of the bill he found objectionable

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In last year's statement, issued as the administration was trying to enlist liberal activists in the president's re-election campaign, Obama said his administration had "worked tirelessly to reform or remove" the provisions he disagreed with, "will oppose any attempt to extend or expand them in the future, and will seek the repeal of any provisions that undermine the policies and values that have guided my Administration throughout my time in office."

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This year's statement, issued after Obama's re-election, simply notes that he continues to oppose the provisions he considers wrong and will interpret them in ways that minimize interference with his powers. Gone is the sweeping language about tireless work to change the bill and opposing all attempts to extend the disputed provisions

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During the 2008 campaign, candidate Obama criticized then-President George W. Bush for his extensive use of signing statements to declare his view that certain provisions of bills he signed were unconstitutional and would essentially be ignored by his administration. "I will not use signing statements to nullify or undermine congressional instructions as enacted into law," Obama said.

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Vegas Bengal

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