IN a NY Times Op Ed, NYU "Law professor" Steven Gillers
says Kerry should nominate Bill Clinton as his VP. Now, from some peopl eunfamiliar with the Constitution, this might be an appealing alternative. After all, the Big Dog is the most successful Democrat since FDR. He's a hell of a leader. A great President.
He's also inelegible to be VP.
"Professor" Gillers, who I hope soon loses his post at NYU, and who displays the problem with allowing academics to speak out on real issues, says in his article:
The first objection, the constitutional one, can be disposed of easily. The Constitution does not prevent Mr. Clinton from running for vice president. The 22nd Amendment, which became effective in 1951, begins: "No person shall be elected to the office of the president more than twice."
No problem. Bill Clinton would be running for vice president, not president. Scholars and judges can debate how loosely constitutional language should be interpreted, but one need not be a strict constructionist to find this language clear beyond dispute. Bill Clinton cannot be elected president, but nothing stops him from being elected vice president.
Well, strictly construe this, PROFESSOR:
Amendment XII - PASSED IN 1804 - "But no person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice-President of the United States. "
Is that clear enough for you, "professor"?