When the Constitution was up for ratification by the 13 colonies in 1787, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay wrote a series of papers, now known as “The Federalist Papers,” in favor of the newly drafted constitution.

In “Federalist No. 10,” Madison warned about the mischief of factions (different political interest groups/parties). These factions are key to how our political system is set up; to keep an oligarchy or an authoritarian government at bay, we must encourage and support the creation of these factions. For when there are many competing factions, they will check themselves and keep any one from accumulating too much power over the government.

Another check against an authoritarian state is the separation of powers inherent in the Constitution that divides the judicial, executive and the legislative branches.

Since the time of the Constitution’s drafting, American politicians have more or less respected the wise words of Madison regarding the importance of separation of powers and competing factions. Until, that is, Barack Obama became president.

Obama released a video on Monday urging the first time voters who came out to vote for him in 2008 to again take part in the political process.  I have no qualms about the president urging citizens to take part in the political process; however, the less obvious message was one that is both persuasive and deceiving. Obama began by painting a negative picture of Wall Street and health insurance companies, arguably blaming them for the terrible economy. He then “warned” his audience that the “health insurance companies, the Wall Street banks, and the special interests who have ruled Washington for too long are already focused on November’s Congressional elections…they see it as a chance to put their allies back in power and undo all we have accomplished. So this year, I need your help once more.”

Obama was psychologically swaying voters. He was referencing the Republican Party when he said those who have “ruled Washington for too long,” and the word ruled connotes a king or dictator, i.e. undemocratic leaders. The use of such words as “allies back in power” is reminiscent of an authoritative power acting against the people. However, Obama failed to mention the $50 million the Democratic National Committee has budgeted towards the 2010 November elections; an amount larger than that of the Republican efforts, and larger than any prior midterm election campaign.

Why will the Democrats be taking such extreme measures this summer to finance campaigns across the country? Since John F. Kennedy’s time, the party of any president with an approval rating lower than 50 percent (Obama is at 45 percent according to Gallup) has lost over 41 seats. Such a loss by the Democrats this November would give the Republican Party control over the House of Representatives. After the loss of Ted Kennedy’s Massachusetts seat to the Republicans, the Obama administration fears the loss of control over the House. With health care reform signed into law, Obama hopes to convince Americans of its value while assuring them that he hasn’t stopped working on the economy. He fears that if the American people continue to loss their “hope,”

Republican control of the House will lead to a reversal of the health care legislation.
The fear of such a reversal is the reason Obama is traveling the country for the next few weeks to appeal to his disgruntled masses. He is persuading millions of Americans to vote for his change, for his party and, in essence, for him. He is meddling with the natural way of factions, removing the competitive element. If he has his way, Obama will control two branches of the government, both the executive and the legislative, with one majority party—the Democratic Party.

Were Madison alive today, one can only imagine the berating Obama would receive. The political system must be allowed to thrive—factions must check each other and the executive must stay separate from the legislature. Maybe Obama should blow the dust off his copy of “The Federalist Papers” and remember what this country was founded upon.

Claire Sanderson is a junior CCPA and political science double major. She can be reached for comment at [email protected].