What is Howard Dean's Stance on the Flag Amendment?

FrenchieCat

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Mon Nov-24-03 01:14 AM
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What is Howard Dean's Stance on the Flag Amendment?

According to several sources Howard Dean's stance on the Flag consecration amendment appears somewhat "vague". As you know, Wes Clark was body slammed by the press (surprised?) for his. They are in fact making sure that it's part of his signature description when he is described. Some of his supporters were initially quite upset. There were a few threads posted in Du. However, those same supporters, when attempting to figure out alternative candidates, found that only Edwards, Kerry, Carol Mosley Braun and Al Sharpton were firmly against such an amendment. They also found that Representatives Kucinich and Gephardt had actually voted for it in the House. When they got to Governor Howard Dean, they didn't know quite what to make of his stance.

So can we get some clarification from those Dean "Stance Experts"? Does Dean support the amemdment or not? in attempting to answer the question, this is all I could find:
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2003/11/14/friday/?ref=http://images.salon.com/src/ads/aol/aol_splash2.htm
Dean's cute flag flap - Joe Conason's Journal
Several readers distressed by Wesley Clark's remarks supporting the flag desecration amendment wrote in to declare that they had dropped their support of the retired general in favor of Howard Dean. But others pointed out what I didn't know about Dean's own record on this issue. Two years ago, as governor of Vermont, he brokered a legislative resolution that urged Congress to "take whatever legislative action it deems necessary and appropriate to honor and safeguard the United States Flag." While a bit vague, that sounded much like an endorsement of the Constitutional amendment.

Around that time, Dean rather pompously declared that politicians should declare their positions on the flag issue before voters went to the polls in 2002. That requirement didn't apply to Dean himself, as he "coyly" told the Rutland Herald, because he wasn't on the ballot that year. So now that he is running for president, the candidate who prides himself in speaking bluntly should explain the limits of his support for the First Amendment -- in plain English. <8:22 a.m. PST, Nov. 14, 2003>
Article links
brokered: http://www.leg.state.vt.us/docs/2002/journal/SJ010116.htm
coyly: http://rutlandherald.com/hdean/38411

AND THIS:
Dean intervenes in flag dispute
December 1, 2001
By TRACY SCHMALER Vermont Press Bureau

MONTPELIER — Gov. Howard Dean is working quietly to try to broker a compromise in the prickly debate over a constitutional amendment banning flag desecration.

“I think this is a no-brainer; I think there is a compromise to be had and I’ve certainly made that clear to people who are involved behind the scenes,” Dean said during his weekly press conference Friday.

In the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks Dean said he believed the Legislature would want to act on the question and suggested that it would be important for voters in the upcoming elections to know where their candidates stood.

“I do think the Legislature should pass a resolution,” he said. “I think the public is going to want to know where people are standing in the 2002 election
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But Dean is not apparently holding himself to that standard. He refused to reveal his position on amending the U.S. Constitution banning flag desecration, noting coyly that he would not be a candidate in 2002. He may, however, be a candidate in 2004, if he decides to run for president.

And This:
JOURNAL OF THE VERMONT SENATE
Joint Resolution Referred

J.R.S. 9.

Joint Senate resolution of the following title was offered, read the first time and is as follows:

By Senators Campbell, Ankeney, Bartlett, Bloomer, Chard, Condos, Cummings, Gossens, Kittell, Leddy, Lyons, McCormack, Munt, Rivers, Sears and Shumlin,

J.R.S. 9. Joint resolution in opposition to the desecration of the United States Flag.

Whereas, the flag of the United States is one of the greatest symbols of our nation, and

Whereas, this symbol represents the defining principles of our country, and

Whereas, these ideals also include the democratic principles of individual freedom enumerated and protected by the United States Constitution, especially by those amendments known collectively as the Bill of Rights, and

Whereas, Americans have placed their lives in harm’s way and, in hundreds of thousands of cases, have sacrificed their lives defending these principles, and

Whereas, their willingness to sacrifice their lives in defense of these cherished principles demonstrates one of the purest and most commendable forms of patriotism, and

Whereas, these patriots have focused on the flag as the ultimate symbol for which they and their families have sacrificed, and

Whereas, the flag serves important ceremonial functions at public gatherings, funerals, celebrations of patriotic holidays, parades and countless other gatherings, and

Whereas, respect for the flag and the various protocols attendant thereto (such as proper display, proper folding, saluting, et cetera) serves as the first introduction, for many young Americans, to the concept of patriotism, and

Whereas, therefore, we, the American people, accord our flag a unique position of respect, love and admiration, and recognize the importance of providing dignity and honor to this symbol, now therefore be it

RESOLVED BY THE SENATE AND HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES:

That the General Assembly expresses its respect, love and admiration for our United States Flag, and be it further

RESOLVED: That the General Assembly expresses its condemnation of all acts of flag desecration, and similar displays of disrespect for the United States Flag, and be it further

RESOLVED: That the General Assembly respectfully urges the Congress of the United States to take whatever legislative action it deems necessary and appropriate to honor and safeguard the United States Flag, and be it further

RESOLVED: That the Secretary of State transmit copies of this resolution to the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the President of the United States Senate and all members of the Vermont Congressional delegation.

Thereupon, the President, in his discretion, treated the joint resolution as a bill and referred it to the Committee on Judiciary.

Joint Resolution Adopted in Concurrence

J.R.H. 15.

Joint House resolution entitled:

Joint resolution in memory of former Representative Maud-Ann Durgin.

Having been placed on the Calendar for action, was taken up.

Thereupon, the pending question, Shall the joint resolution be adopted in concurrence? was decided in the affirmative.

Adjournment