Mr. Habecker blamed the "inflammatory" tone of the campaign for his defeat, saying his opponents portrayed him in ads and mailings as anti-American.
"They said I turned my back on the flag, that I'm not patriotic, that I didn't support the troops in Iraq, which is completely false," he said.
The debate began in May, when Mrs. Jeffrey-Clark proposed that the town board of trustees recite the Pledge before each meeting. Her proposal was approved, and trustees said the Pledge without incident for several months.
Then Mr. Habecker said he would no longer recite the oath, arguing that it infringed upon his rights to free speech and freedom of religion. Instead, he sat during the Pledge.
Mr. Clark and others began organizing a recall shortly thereafter, collecting enough signatures to put the proposal on the Feb. 15 ballot. Mr. Habecker sued, winning an injunction and a five-week delay while a federal judge considered the issue.
I think it's reason enough. When public officials refuse to even STAND for the Pledge, the burden is on them to convince the public that they are good citizens. If they can't, well, tough titty.
Good riddance to this prycke ... May the same thing happen to everyone else like him.
Not to a community that takes loyalty to country very seriously. It's not petty to them and they are the voters. I happen to share their values and would have voted him out too. That's how it's done in American communities -- you vote your values. If you live in San Francisco, you vote your values of homosexuality, abortion, forced minority hiring, high minimum wage and opposition to American foreign policy. That's your right in that community. In Estes Park, you vote your values of patriotism and respect for God. That's your right in Estes Park. Get it?
It's not petty. Not saying the Pledge is something that may have decent motives. Not standing is a refusal to acknowledge one's obligations to society and nationhood. It is placing one's private ego ahead of one's public obligations. It legitimately creates a presumption in the mind of the public that such a person is not to be trusted. And it is probably right. I am very glad that this man has been booted from office. The fact that he's considering legal action against the people on this is further evidence that he's an arrogant SOB who does not respect democratic government and should not be in any public office whatsoever.
In short, you are far too kind. We need to be fighting these people, not making excuses for them.