FERRARO SAYS CLINTON CAN STAY IN OFFICE BEYOND JAN 20TH

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ELECTION 2000 Clinton term extended?
Geraldine Ferraro suggests Bill could stay in office beyond Jan. 20

By Julie Foster
© 2000 WorldNetDaily.com

Geraldine Ferraro, former Democrat congresswoman from New York and 1984 vice-presidential candidate, said President Bill Clinton could stay in office beyond the Jan. 20 inauguration date should the current presidential election results be delayed. The stunning remark was made during an interview today at approximately 1:20 p.m. Eastern on Fox News Channel's "Fox News Live" program, to which Ferraro is a regular contributor.

Ferraro expressed her belief that the United States is not approaching a "constitutional crisis" and that Americans live in a "strong country." The United States has a president in office until Jan. 20, and if need be, he can stay in office beyond that date, she said.

Her comment elicited no response or further questioning from the Fox anchor Linda Vester, who conducted the interview. Shortly after the remark, the network switched over to a live statement being made by Gore campaign adviser Bill Daley.

Neither the Republican nor Democratic National Committees could immediately comment. However, California Republican National Committeeman and elections lawyer Tim Morgan sounded off on Ferraro's suggestion.

"Some people might think the president serves until his successor is elected or qualified, but that isn't the way the Constitution works," he said.

Morgan cited the 20th Amendment to the Constitution, adopted in 1934, which states in Section 1: "The terms of the President and Vice President shall end at noon on the 20th day of January ... " Section 3 of the same amendment outlines the procedure to be followed in the event no president has been selected: " ... the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified."

According to his recollection of federal law, Morgan said the speaker of the House of Representatives is next in line to act as president in the event there is no president or vice president.

"I think we're looking at Denny Hastert," current speaker of the Republican-controlled House, he said. "Now that is only in the very unlikely event that neither the Electoral College or the House of Representatives will have produced a result by January 20."

Morgan added that "any suggestion that it would be lawful or appropriate for Bill Clinton to remain in office one half-second past noon next January 20 is absurd."

Mark Pfeifle, a spokesman for the Republican National Committee, agreed: "Fortunately, the Constitution clearly states that the eight long, torturous years of Clinton-Gore expires precisely at 12 noon, January 20, 2001. Although I wouldn't doubt that it might take a crow bar and a squad of Secret Service agents to remove Clinton from the White House."

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Julie Foster is a staff reporter for WorldNetDaily.