Bob Barr Questions Palin's Understanding of the Constitution Concerning VP Duties

[Herb Schaffler]

October 3, 2008 5:51 pm EST
Atlanta, GA – During the first and only vice-presidential debate, Republican candidate Sarah Palin stated, "I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are.”

“Despite the poor sentence structure and grammar, which rendered the comment largely unintelligible, lurks the disturbing notion that the powers of the vice president, already expanded dangerously by the current vice president, Dick Cheney, should be expanded even more,” said Bob Barr, Libertarian Presidential nominee.

"For eight years, the United States has suffered as George Bush has assumed the role of a unitary executive," Barr continues. "In the vice-presidential debate, Governor Palin's expectation of playing the role of Senate whip and enforcer of presidential policy is disappointing as it is simply an extension of the heavy-handed tactics used by the Bush administration," stated Bob Barr.

The Constitution states that, "The Vice President of the United States shall serve as the President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided."

Barr continued, "The damage instigated by Vice President Dick Cheney – specifically, the invasion of Iraq – is a perfect example of why we should allow the legislative branch to operate as an independent branch not beholden to what are often short-sighted whims of the executive branch."

[Corvair]

Strange.

What I heard following the debate was that Biden, not Palin, was the one who misinterpreted the Constitution regarding vice presidential duties. Barr must have some kind of axe to grind.

[Herb Schaffler]

What did Biden say in regard to what the Constitution says about VP duties? Palin was wrong when she said, "I'm thankful the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president if that vice president so chose to exert it in working with the Senate and making sure that we are supportive of the president's policies and making sure too that our president understands what our strengths are.” The only thing the Constitution says about the VP's duties is what Barr quoted, "The Vice President of the United States shall serve as the President of the Senate, but shall have no vote unless they be equally divided."