States' Rights Invoked Against ObamaCare

From Rebellion:

States' Rights invoked against ObamaCarefrom feed/http://www.dixienet.org/rebellion/atom.xml by Old RebelThis story is getting surprisingly little coverage. And no wonder -- it's a direct challenge to the central government:






Gov.-elect Nikki Haley challenged President Barack Obama over his landmark health insurance law Thursday in a candid, personal exchange in front of Cabinet members and newly elected governors from across the country but away from reporters.



In an exchange recounted by Haley and confirmed by White House aides, Obama rejected Haley's request to repeal the health care bill -- but said he'd consider letting states opt out of its mandates if they run exchange programs, ban insurance firms from denying coverage of pre-existing conditions and enable people to pool together for better rates.



Sounds good -- but it could have been better. Here's how she worded her "challenge" to Obama:





"I respectfully asked him to consider repealing the bill," she said, to which he clearly stated he would not. "I pushed him further and said if that's the case, because of states' rights, would you at least consider South Carolina opting out of the program?"



That's a rather lame challenge in my book. When you possess certain inviolable rights, you don't say, "Mother, may I?", instead, you tell the trespasser, "Hold it right there, pilgrim." Asking Obama permission for an exemption to an unconstitutional law is hardly an assertion of States' Rights that would make Jefferson, Madison, or Calhoun proud.



Still, Haley invoked the principle, and Obama gave in, at least to an extent. As I've argued before, once the States begin to assert their stolen rights, the momentum will be under way, and will be impossible to stop. In this age of devolution, there can be only one possible conclusion.



Know hope.