George W. Bush issued 161 signing statements affecting over 1,100 provisions of law in 160 Congressional enactments. When Obama was CAMPAIGNING FOR VOTES, he was asked if he would continue Bush’s UNCONSTITUTIONAL policy:

QUESTION: “When Congress offers you a bill, do you PROMISE to not use presidential signage to get your way?”

Obama: “YES.”

Obama explains: “…Congess’ job is to pass legislation. The President can veto it or he can sign it. But what George Bush has been trying to do, as part of his effort to accumulate more power in the Presidency, is, he’s been saying well i can basically change what Congress passed by attaching a letter saying I don’t agree with this part, or I don’t agree with that part. I’m gonna choose to interpret it this way, or that way. Uh. That’s not part of his power. But this is part of the whole theory of George Bush that he can make laws as he’s going along.”

Obama PROMISES: “Uh. I DISAGREE WITH THAT. I taught the Constitution for 10 years. I believe in the Constitution and I will obey the Constitution of The United States. We’re NOT gonna use signing statements as a way of doing an end-run around Congress.”

March 11, 2009 Obama’s FIRST Signing Statement: President Obama said earlier this week that he will rarely state his own interpretation of legislation, but he issued his first “signing statement” on Wednesday, outlining five points of disagreement with the omnibus spending bill passed by Congress. While they are minor points in a bill with at least 1,132 pages, a few of them deal directly with his role as head of the federal bureaucracy.