You'd never guess from his actions as President that Bill Clinton began his career as a professor of constitutional law.
During his tenure as an instructor of constitutional law, Professor Clinton presumably had high regard for the principle of free speech. President Clinton does not. Timothy Lynch of the Cato Institute points out that the Clinton Justice Department "has attempted to censor the rights of peaceful protesters; the views of priests and doctors; radio, television, and the Internet; and truthful advertisements for lawful products."
Professor Clinton surely abhorred all ex post facto laws. President Clinton is rather fond of them. Lynch recalls how at the beginning of his first term Clinton "urged Congress to levy a retroactive tax on the American people. Under the President's initial budget plan, income, corporate, gift, and estate taxes were to be increased retroactively to January 1, 1993 -- 20 days before the President assumed office."
Professor Clinton must have bridled at the very thought of warrantless searches. President Clinton "has asserted the power to conduct warrantless searches, warrantless drug testing of public school students, and warrantless wiretapping."
Professor Clinton may have been a staunch defender of private property rights. President Clinton is a booster for Big Brother. "As the number and scope of federal and state regulations have multiplied over the years," reports Lynch, "so have the grievances of landowners who point out that their property has been commandeered for various public policy objectives. The 104th Congress attempted to redress the imbalance between landowners and regulators," he observes. "Unfortunately, the move to enact property rights legislation stalled when President Clinton announced that he was unalterably opposed to such measures and would veto any such bill that emerged from Congress."
Professor Clinton must have understood the importance of the Second Amendment. President Clinton "lobbied strongly for the passage of the Brady bill and a ban on 'assault weapons'," says Lynch, "and signed both measures into law."
Professor Clinton surely supported the right to trial by jury. President Clinton finds it inconvenient. "The Clinton administration's fidelity to the jury trial clause was tested on three occasions," Lynch reports. "Unfortunately, President Clinton's legal team tried to weaken the jury trial guarantee in each case."
Professor Clinton must have admired the Constitution's ingenious checks and balances. President Clinton "has authorized missile attacks against Iraq, ordered air strikes in Bosnia, and threatened to invade Haiti. In each instance," says Lynch, "the President claimed that it was unnecessary to seek any constitutional authorization from Congress."
Professor Clinton must have recognized the limitations of federal power. President Clinton does not. "The Clinton White House has sought to federalize health care, crime fighting, environmental protection, and education. It has also tried to thwart any effort to downsize federal agencies and programs," says Lynch. "By his official conduct as President, Clinton has made it clear that he believes there is no area of human activity that is beyond the redistributive or regulatory reach of the federal government."
