Summary: President
Obama decided to chime in on the Hillary Clinton email investigation saying, “I
don’t think it posed a national security problem” and that, “This is not a
situation in which America’s national security was endangered.” This opinion did
not make friends with FBI agents who saw the President’s comments as a
political hindrance to their ongoing investigation. Ron Hosko, a former senior FBI agent, said it
was inappropriate for the President to “suggest what side of the investigation
he is on.” This position isn’t without reason. Presidential comments like these
have caused the Justice Department to sway their opinion in the past. George W.
Bush made similar comments in the Tom DeLay case, in which the FBI’s
investigation was overruled. The President himself has weighed in on issues in
the past (the Petraeus case) when state secrets were on the table. The FBI agents
are angered at continued political involvement in investigations because it
negates the value of their work. In fact, Mr. Comey, the FBI Director, said one
reason that he had a 10 year term was “to make sure this organization stays
outside of politics” and that his agents “…don’t give a rip about politics.”
Synopsis:
The President should not overstep his boundaries, especially when he’s already
messed up once. This breach of protocol does not inspire confidence in the Executive
Branch and it makes the President look like he’s protecting Hillary Clinton for
political reasons. When Presidents protect those accused of breaking the law,
it makes them seem corrupt. The
Executive Branch should not attempt to influence court decisions, as a part of checks
and balances. Hillary Clinton is a frontrunner for the Democratic Party, but
political parties should not influence executive decisions to the point that it
undermines checks and balances. That’s precisely why President George Washington’s
Farewell Address warned us about political parties; to prevent conflicts of
interest.
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I like how you mentioned that Obama shouldn't over step his boundaries because I feel like Presidents feel like they have a right for everything and that their opinion is the only opinion. There are certain circumstances that the president's opinion may not be the most appropriate one for the situation.
ReplyDeleteI loved how to brought up George Washington's Farewell Address. I think that the person currently in the presidential position should not speak nor have an opinion about the running candidates. Yet alone publicly announce their personal opinions on the candidates. Madeline Jones 4th period
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