First Gay Marriage, Now Flag Burning

[Granite]

I guess when you strike out on one divisive, wedge-oriented constitutional amendment, you get right back up to the plate and try another:

A proposed constitutional amendment to outlaw the burning of the American flag won the approval on Tuesday of a Senate Judiciary Committee split largely along party lines.

Raised by some Republicans as a mark of patriotism this election year, the measure passed on a 11-7 vote and was sent to the full Senate for final congressional approval. While the Senate has repeatedly rejected such measures in the past, both sides predict a razor-close vote this time.

The Judiciary Committee's vote came a week after a divided Senate blocked a White House-backed bid to amend the Constitution to ban same-sex marriage, another issue Democrats have accused Republicans of pushing merely to rally their conservative base for the November elections.

Ah yes, the patriotism argument. Any Democrat who votes against this is going to be hit over the head with that one again, and this time there will be a flag burning vote to prove it. "So Senator, you think people should be able to burn the American flag, especially in this time of war? Why don't you tell the American people why you hate your own country?" I guess the upside to this is that it shows how desperate the Pubs are to be pulling flag burning out of their bag of tricks.

By the way, Diane Feinstein (D-CA) co-sponsored this, and was the only Dem to vote "yes" in the Judiciary Committee.

This just might be me, but I can think of, oh, about a thousand other things the Senate should be doing right now.

EDIT: Fixed the link to the Reuters story

[shoelace414]

1. ..

[realisticphish]

2. what pisses me off

is that unless some repukes step up, and get some testicular fortitude, this could very easily pass, especially in the Amerika Uber Alles period of public opinion



:hippie: The Incorrigible Democrat

[Nicholas D Wolfwood]

3. Yeah, while they waste time on this shit

there are still 9 appropriations bills that they'll wait until February to finish. Way to fucking go, GOP assholes.

Oh, by the way, burning the flag is a political statement. Banning flag burning is banning free speech. I may not agree with the message, but it IS a message.

[CTLawGuy]

4. I wouldnt worry

Dianne Feinstein was REALLY voting to send the matter to the UN. We have to have a credible show of force against flag burners.


I mean, George Bush wouldn't REALLY ban flag burning, would he? I mean without getting an international coalition first.


In fact didn't she make a speech just today saying "Mr. President, do not rush to ban flag-burning..."?


So don't say she was in favor of flag burning, she was just voting to protect the country from fire hazards.

The real blame lays at the feet of George Bush.


Sarcasm OFF

[CTLawGuy]

5. kick

[leesa]

6. All non-issues being turned into issues by the Repubs and their

media. Refer to them always as non-issues.

[bigmonkey]

7. A Small Observation.

I always find it useful to remind folks who are all revved up about this that burning a flag is considered to be the only respectful way of disposing of it when it is worn or soiled. You can't outlaw burning the flag.

[patmacsf]

8. Wing-nuts pull this every election year

Bush's Daddy played the game too. It's a pathetic mis-use of our government, but the Dems let them get away with it every four years. Funny thing is they balance their vote so they never actually get enough votes because even they don't want to live with the implications of their silly law.... Can you imagine how many so called flag wavers would end up in jail because they left their flag out in the rain or overnight or ....

[dr.strangelove]

9. THIS WILL HURT

Those Dems in close contests should be given a pass on this. While I don't have a problem with any non-violent form of speech, most polling data suggests that the Democrats are split on this issue. Many Dems favor a flag burning amendment. Don't have time to find poll data, someone else will I'm sure.