GRAND RAPIDS — U.S. Rep. Justin Amash opposes U.S. military action in Libya and says President Obama is not only violating the Constitution, he is contradicting his previous statements about a commander-in-chief’s unilateral declarations of war.

“I wouldn’t support going into Libya under the present circumstances,” Amash, R-Cascade Township, said Monday, two days after the U.S. began launching missiles as part of a coalition effort to enforce a no-fly zone over the country.

But his opposition to the offensive is a separate issue of his belief that U.S. involvement violates the Constitution.

“I don’t see any imminent danger to the U.S,” he said. In an interview, Amash also talked about his sponsorship of a resolution to remove U.S. forces from Afghanistan, his “present” vote on a bill that would require the Corporation for Public Broadcasting to defund only NPR and his willingness to part with his GOP colleagues on votes.

Amash will answer questions about his votes and other issues at a town hall meeting from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum in Grand Rapids.

Explaining his opposition to the Libyan attacks, Amash pointed to the president's statements as a U.S. senator in 2007 when he said, "The President does not have power under the Constitution to unilaterally authorize a military attack in a situation that does not involve stopping an actual or imminent threat to the nation."

Amash's view is shared by a number of Democrats -- Reps. Jerrold Nadler of New York, Barbara Lee of California and Michael E. Capuano of Massachusetts -- and Republicans, including Sens. Richard Lugar of Indiana, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Rep. Roscoe G. Bartlett of Maryland. Editorials in the conservative Washington Times and National Review also suggested the president had exceeded his constitutional authority.

The president sent Congress a letter Monday insisting the commander in chief did have authority to launch the air strikes and pointing out they were done in cooperation with French, British and other allies.

Amash said he may offer legislation demanding the president seek congressional authorization for the air strikes.

A freshman Congressman who has made national news since taking office in January for voting independently and explaining all his votes on Facebook, Amash said he’s not worried about diminishing his status with GOP House leaders. He has sometimes voted with extremists on both sides of the aisle, including Ohio Democrat and anti-war crusader Dennis Kucinich and Libertarian-darling Ron Paul, R-Texas.

“Most of the people who were supportive of me when I was in the state House, understand how I operate,” he said. “The feedback is very positive. Some of the more Democratic and independent members of the community say ‘This guy really is independent.’”

IF YOU GO

U.S. Rep. Justin Amash hosts a town hall meeting

When: 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., Saturday

Where: Auditorium, Gerald R. Ford Presidential Museum, 303 Pearl Street NW, Grand Rapids

While not defending the actions of Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi, Amash said there are similar conflicts around the world, particularly in other African nations, where atrocities are being committed against people, and the U.S. cannot intervene in all of them.

His statements came days after he introduced a resolution directing the president to remove forces from Afghanistan. The same week, Amash voted “present” on a bill that would prohibit the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) from funding NPR. Amash voted in favor of House Resolution 1, which would eliminate all federal funding of the CPB.

Amash also garnered national media attention for voting the same way last month on a resolution to eliminate federal funding to Planned Parenthood. Monday, Amash said he does not intend to vote "present" on a frequent basis, but is using the tactic to draw attention to bills that are inherently unconstitutional and circumvent the founding fathers' intentions.

He called the GOP-led initiatives to defund Planned Parenthood and NPR “punitive” by singling out individual organizations. He said his Republican colleagues supported the pubic broadcasting resolution “just because it’s NPR,” just as many Democrats voted against the resolution “just because it’s NPR.

”That’s not a good way to make laws, he said. “Laws should be written with general applicability and for the long run.”

After taking Amash to task for his "present" vote on the NPR funding measure, Fox News host Greta Van Susteren posted a blog saying she still thinks he should have voted "no." But she included Amash's explanation.

Here is a portion:

Speaking about his beliefs about the U.S. role in Afghanistan, he said he is not taking a broad anti-war stance, but his views are shaped by a growing belief that the U.S. mission has become murky. “I believe we accomplished our primary goals — to disrupt Al-Qaida and those who are harboring them.”

Acknowledging he was in college at the time, Amash said he supported going to war in Afghanistan since the country was the point of origin for attacks on the U.S. on Sept. 11, 2001.

“But we’ve been there 10 years, and no one is telling me what the objectives are now,” he said. “There needs to be an end game.”

President Obama and his top Afghanistan commander, Gen. David Petraeus, indicated last week they will stick to a previous announced plan for a “transition process” in Afghanistan beginning in July, though there were no specifics on troop numbers or other details.

E-mail Jeff Cranson: jcranson@grpress.com and follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/jdcranson