Thanks to Don S for pointing out the connection between Sen. Judd Gregg’s withdrawal as Commerce Secretary nominee and the Obama administration’s attempt to take over how the census will be conducted. Democrats have been wanting to use computer models to establish population numbers in an effort to boost the number of minority groups, claiming that the actual ennumeration specified in the Constitution misses those core constituency groups. From Census battle intensifies; GOP leader threatens lawsuit:
Minority groups, quietly encouraged by Democrats, led a charge in 2000 to challenge the census, urging that statistical sampling and computer models – not the head-count “actual enumeration” mandated by the Constitution – should be employed. That despite a 1999 Supreme Court ruling that sampling could not be used to apportion congressional seats.
“Adjusting is statistical abstraction or extrapolation that gives a select few the ability to go in after the count is done in the census and adjust the numbers and adjust the numbers in ways they see and deem fit,” said Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican and ranking member on the census subcommittee.
The Republicans went so far as to threaten to file a lawsuit if the White House steps too far into how the 2010 census is conducted and counted. If the president does not relent, “we would seek the court, because ultimately I don’t think there’s any question among the federal court, about whether or not this is a personal power of the presidency, or in fact whether or not executive privilege would be waived if he starts doing functions like this,” Mr. Issa said.
The attempt to use computers rather than counting is another example–like giving the District of Columbia representation in Congress–of a jaw-dropping, oath-violating indifference to the plain text of the Constitution!
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