Does the US President have a higher moral duty than a constitutional duty?

Philosophy Explorer · Post by **Philosophy Explorer** » Sat May 23, 2015 5:34 am

That's what Franklin D. Roosevelt said. Any thoughts on this?

PhilX

David Handeye · Post by **David Handeye** » Sat May 23, 2015 1:43 pm

What other should have said the president who took his nation into a world war?

artisticsolution · Post by **artisticsolution** » Sat May 23, 2015 4:32 pm

Yes, and so should the law.

bobevenson · Post by **bobevenson** » Sat May 23, 2015 4:51 pm

Being president is just another job, and that job is to see that things are run according to the U.S. Constitution, but unfortunately, every president in history has failed miserably.

Skip · Post by **Skip** » Sat May 23, 2015 7:40 pm

What does the oath of office say?

bobevenson · Post by **bobevenson** » Sat May 23, 2015 8:14 pm

“I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

No, every president has trashed the Constitution of the United States.

vegetariantaxidermy · Sat May 23, 2015 10:46 pm

Of course not. It's far less. Ordinary people in the US who murder a dozen or so people are called 'serial killers' and get locked up. Presidents who murder hundreds of thousands of people are called 'heroes'. Mind you, the country's so sick and depraved that even serial killers are admired and become 'celebrities'.

Skip · Post by **Skip** » Sat May 23, 2015 11:11 pm

There is a job description, an oath of office and a constitution.
The person occupying that office has exactly those duties and those obligations.
Any moral questions outside that scope are between him and his conscience (or god or mentor, or mother or spirit guide) and nobody else's business. If his employers find fault with his performance or with his character, they have the means of replacing him.

bobevenson · Post by **bobevenson** » Sun May 24, 2015 12:17 am

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Of course not. It's far less. Ordinary people in the US who murder a dozen or so people are called 'serial killers' and get locked up. Presidents who murder hundreds of thousands of people are called 'heroes'. Mind you, the country's so sick and depraved that even serial killers are admired and become 'celebrities'.

You're crazier than any serial killer, that's for sure!

vegetariantaxidermy · Sun May 24, 2015 12:35 am

bobevenson wrote:
vegetariantaxidermy wrote:Of course not. It's far less. Ordinary people in the US who murder a dozen or so people are called 'serial killers' and get locked up. Presidents who murder hundreds of thousands of people are called 'heroes'. Mind you, the country's so sick and depraved that even serial killers are admired and become 'celebrities'.
You're crazier than any serial killer, that's for sure!

Of course you would think so. You are not exactly the most rational person around.

bobevenson · Post by **bobevenson** » Sun May 24, 2015 10:21 pm

vegetariantaxidermy wrote:
bobvenson wrote:You're crazier than any serial killer, that's for sure!
Of course you would think so. You are not exactly the most rational person around.

A prophet is by definition rational.

Dalek Prime · Post by **Dalek Prime** » Mon May 25, 2015 12:37 am

bobevenson wrote: A prophet is by definition rational.

Rationality is not in the definition of prophet. C'mon Bob. You can't go around redefining words.

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Does the US President have a higher moral duty than a constitutional duty?

Does the US President have a higher moral duty than a constitutional duty?

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