This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2012, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I am outraged at the ignorant and hate-mongering cartoon by Nate Beeler in the Jan. 7 Tribune. Titled "Recess Appointment," it shows President Barack Obama tossing the Constitution into a wastebasket and walking away whistling. Here are a few facts:
1. The Constitution says "The President shall have power to fill up all vacancies that may happen during the recess of the Senate, by granting commissions which shall expire at the end of their next session."
2. About six months ago, Obama nominated Richard Cordray to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau; since then the Republicans have blocked a vote in the Senate on his nomination because they don't like the new agency that Congress created by law.
3. At this point in his presidency, George W. Bush had made 61 recess appointments; Obama has made only 32.
4. Nothing in the Constitution gives the members of the House or Senate the right to fake being in session when they are obviously not in session.
5. Most important, this new consumer protection agency, and its director, are essential to help us understand and navigate the complexities of mortgages, loans and other financial agreements so we can know what we're actually getting into.
Kathleen Preston Knight
Teasdale