Obama: Rule of Law, Due Process, Constitutional Fidelity, and Separation of Powers ‘Sets Our Country Back’

President Obama said Thursday that the Supreme Court’s 4-4 decision that will block his 2014 executive actions on immigration “sets our country back,” and is “heartbreaking” for the millions of illegal immigrants still in the country.

“Today’s decision is frustrating to those who seek to grow our economy and bring a rationality to our immigration system, and to allow people to come out of the shadows,” he said at the White House.

[Read the full story here, at Washington Examiner]

The 4-4 tie left in place a lower court ruling that found against Obama’s actions. But Obama cast the ruling as one that showed the Supreme Court was “unable to reach a decision,” and argued that it’s more evidence that the Senate needs to consider his nominee for the high court, Merrick Garland, so that the court cannot deadlock again.

“This is part of the consequence of the Republican failure so far to give a hearing to Mr. Merrick Garland,” Obama said.

Obama also tried to downplay the outcome by saying “we take it seriously” only if a fully-stocked Supreme Court were to render a decision. The deadlock, however, wasn’t “any kind of a value statement on the merits” of the case, and just reflects that the court doesn’t agree…(read more)

Source: Washington Examiner