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By LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer 1 hour, 21 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - The House moved Wednesday toward approval of a constitutional amendment that would give Congress the power to ban desecration of the American flag, a measure that for the first time stands a chance of passing the Senate as well.
Lawmakers in the House debated — as they have six times before — whether such a ban would uphold or run afoul of the Constitution's free-speech protections.
Supporters said the measure reflected patriotism that deepened after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and they accused detractors of being out of touch with public sentiment.
"Ask the men and women who stood on top of the (World) Trade Center," said Rep. Randy (Duke) Cunningham, R-Calif. "Ask them and they will tell you: pass this amendment."
But Rep. Jerrold Nadler (news, bio, voting record), D-N.Y., said, "If the flag needs protection at all, it needs protection from members of Congress who value the symbol more than the freedoms that the flag represents."
The measure was designed to overturn a 1989 decision by the Supreme Court, which ruled 5-4 that flag burning was a protected free-speech right. That ruling threw out a 1968 federal statute and flag-protection laws in 48 states.
The proposed one-line amendment to the Constitution reads, "The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States." For the language to be added to the Constitution, it must be approved not only by two-thirds of each chamber but also by 38 states within seven years.
Each time the proposed amendment has come to the House floor, it has reached the required two-thirds majority. But the measure has always died in the Senate, falling short of the 67 votes needed. The last time the Senate took up the amendment was in 2000, when it failed 63-37.
But last year's elections gave Republicans a four-seat pickup in the Senate, and now proponents and critics alike say the amendment stands within a vote or two of reaching the two-thirds requirement in that chamber.
By most counts, 65 current senators have voted for or said they intend to support the amendment, two shy of the crucial tally. More than a quarter of current senators were not members of that chamber during the last vote.
The Senate is expected to consider the measure after the July 4th holiday.
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Will someone please tell some of the shameless Republicans to stop using 9/11 as a political tool to get whatever agenda they want pushed through!
That is a rediculous statement!
Also, there are many of us who don't like seeing the flag burned, but I support a person's right to do so. Freedom of speech also applies to symbols.
Once again, another Republican request to make an amendment to our constitution that goes against one of the first paragraphs of that document!
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Will someone please tell some of the shameless Republicans to stop using 9/11 as a political tool to get whatever agenda they want pushed through!
That is a rediculous statement!
Also, there are many of us who don't like seeing the flag burned, but I support a person's right to do so. Freedom of speech also applies to symbols.
Once again, another Republican request to make an amendment to our constitution that goes against one of the first paragraphs of that document!
You'd think one of the intelligent Republicans would say something...at least to keep people from thinking that every member of that party is a complete idiot.
Will someone please tell some of the shameless Republicans to stop using 9/11 as a political tool to get whatever agenda they want pushed through!
That is a rediculous statement!
Also, there are many of us who don't like seeing the flag burned, but I support a person's right to do so. Freedom of speech also applies to symbols.
Once again, another Republican request to make an amendment to our constitution that goes against one of the first paragraphs of that document!
Ridiculous. :BIM:
I agree with your above statements. I wouldn't burn a flag, but I support a person's right to do so. And I hate when politicians use 9/11 and other events as support for their agenda. Not everyone in America is an idiot.
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Paul Calvisi: How about you, Gerald Hayes. If you had to call a travel agent and go to one place in the world, where would it be?
You'd think one of the intelligent Republicans would say something...at least to keep people from thinking that every member of that party is a complete idiot.
Its why we have a 2 equal party system.
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Goal for 2008: Half as many penalties.
Thank you for contacting me with your thoughts on the desecration of the
American flag. I appreciate the time you took to share your views.
Burning or otherwise desecrating the American flag is a despicable act
which I condemn in the strongest possible terms. The flag holds tremendous
personal meaning to me. When it is defiled I take it as a personal affront.
However, amending our Constitution, which I consider to be a sacred document,
is not the proper remedy to stop such conduct.
The principle of free speech is at the very heart of our Constitution.
Amending the Constitution to allow states to enact statutes making it a crime
to burn or desecrate our flag will not stop those who have no respect for this
great symbol of freedom and opportunity.
My support for legislation in the House of Representatives is based on
ability of the measure to maximize individual freedom and rein in an already
too powerful federal government. A constitutional amendment to prohibit flag
burning does not meet this test.
We do not need to pass a constitutional flag amendment to show that we
love and respect this enduring emblem of American freedom. What we need to do
is restore the values of family, faith and hard work, and to teach our children
to honor the flag and the principles for which it stands.
Again, thank you for sharing your views on this issue. I look forward to
hearing about issues of importance to you in the future.
John Shadegg
Congressman
Arizona 3rd District
U.S. House of Representatives
If someone would like to burn the U.S. flag, feel free to do so! But please wrap the flag around yourself just prior to ignition, it makes a much more effective statement!
Other than that; What arthur said!
Quote:
Originally Posted by arthurracoon
Dont these politicians have BETTER THINGS TO DO?!?!?!?!?!
Our our elected officials that stupid?
Why are they wasting their time???
DO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE!!!
By the way, in order to pass more than a few Democrats would be supporting the legislation (2/3 vote required).
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"Get your facts first, and then you can distort them as much as you please."
-Samuel Langhorne Clemens
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