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Oregon representative Carolyn Tomei, a Democrat, says she didn't think "anyone would notice" when she came up with a revision to the Pledge of Allegiance — swapping out "one nation under God" for the groovier, if less traditional, "one nation under love." Conservative bloggers picked up on the change when Tomei led the Oregon House in reciting the pledge this week.... A spokesperson for the Oregon House Speaker downplayed the dust-up: "My hope is that this is the last time I talk about it."

**SNIP** Geneva District 304 officials released a statement late Thursday morning explaining a parent used “language that is not typically heard in a school setting” in the library in front of a kindergarten class. School officials called police to “minimize the disruption,” according to the release. Sheriff’s Lt. Pat Gengler said the parent was volunteering at the school during the time afternoon kindergarten students start their day and saying the pledge. That evening, the same parent emailed school board members, administrators and some parents in the community, and also posted a message on Facebook, claiming Mill Creek students state the...

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve ramped up its stimulus to the economy on Wednesday, expressing disappointment with the pace of recovery in employment as contentious U.S. budget talks heighten uncertainty about the outlook. The central bank replaced a more modest stimulus program due to expire at year-end with a fresh round of Treasury purchases that will increase its balance sheet. It committed to monthly purchases of $45 billion in Treasuries on top of the $40 billion per month in mortgage-backed bonds it started buying in September. In a surprise move, the Fed also adopted numerical thresholds for policy, a...

It was just a routine House State Government Committee meeting and Chairman Daryl Metcalfe asked Pennsylvania state representative, Babette Josephs, to lead the patriotic pledge. She refused because it has the word “God” in it.This is what the dingbat said: “Based on my First Amendment rights and based on the fact that I really think it’s a prayer. I don’t pray in public.” [Inquisitor] More from the Inquisitor:Josephs noted after the meeting that Congress chose to insert “under God” into the pledge when she was about 14 years old. The Democratic politician maintains that the additional wording turned the...

This breaking news is brought to you by CONS (Combined Obama News Services). By Executive Order, President Obama today adopted a New Pledge of Allegiance for the Nation and made recitation of the old version unlawful. He also adopted a new and better National Anthem for us. The New Pledge of Allegiance. After much thought, President Obama made another gutsy call to advance his vision of a New Reality for America. His idea perhaps grew from a small seed planted in his fertile mind by an e-mail his beautiful First Lady sent, appropriately dated September 11, 2012, entitled "Pledge to...

Did anyone else hear Debbie Wasserman Schultz loudly say 'I' just before Giffords launched into her rousing Pledge of Allegiance last night?

UPDATE: CNN responds (see below) To stand or not to stand — that is the question that CNN’s Wolf Blitzer and Piers Morgan struggled with for all of the presentation of the colors, the Pledge of Allegiance and half of “The Star-Spangled Banner” on the closing night of last week’s Republican National Convention. A recently uploaded YouTube video shows “The Situation Room” anchor and the host of “Piers Morgan Tonight” sitting throughout those events, as they were jeered and heckled by attendees at the convention to stand, initially waving off those calls until finally standing at the halfway point of...

CORRALES, N.M. - A controversy emerged Tuesday night at the Corrales Village council meeting when the audience was asked to say the pledge of allegiance in Spanish. The words in Spanish on a projector didn't help, and even after the mayor explained that it's a village tradition, the crowd defiantly said the pledge in English. Corrales Mayor Phil Gasteyer said the incident was disrespectful, unfortunate and embarrassing. "There was some disrespect shown to the village and its residents," Gasteyer said. The mayor said he's never had a crowd challenge the Spanish language before. He said it could have something to...

I’d like people’s opinion on this and I’m surprised that I have not seen this idea posted. 1) Romney should be asked to sign a pledge that he will sign an executive order halting Obamacare within one week of his inauguration. If he refuses this to this, he’s not serious about repealing this law and does not deserve conservative support. 2) All House and Senate republicans up for election should be asked to sign a pledge that they will immediately introduce and or support legislation defunding all aspects of Obamacare. Same logic here, if they can’t make the commitment they...

A Pledge signed by every Congressional candidate must be circulated and signed BEFORE the November election. Now is the time. We need a concrete plan that will not just "hopefully" allow us to linger on and die slowly like the rest of the world. Major tax code overhaul would -ignite- the economy...

A a schoolboy, one of Red Skelton’s teachers explained the words and meaning of the Pledge of Allegiance to his class. Skelton later wrote down, and eventually recorded, his recollection of this lecture. The last sentence was a prophecy of what would happen decades later. From the Red Skelton Hour January 14, 1969 You Tube link of Red Skelton's Pledge of Allegiance I: Me, an individual, a committee of one. Pledge: Dedicate all of my worldly goods to give without self-pity. Allegiance: My love and my devotion. To the Flag: Our standard; Old Glory ; a symbol of Freedom; wherever...

I Pledge Allegiance To The Flag...... I want my USA.

The phrase "One nation under God" has been officially part of the Pledge of Allegiance since 1954. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pledge_of_Allegiance#Addition_of_.22under_God.22 ... The phrase "under God" was incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance June 14, 1954, by a Joint Resolution of Congress amending §7 of the Flag Code enacted in 1942 ... And we haven't won a single war since then. Think about it.

FALMOUTH, Mass. -- Roughly 1,000 people filled Falmouth's Town Hall green Monday evening to recite the Pledge of Allegiance in unison. The outpouring was spurred by outrage over a decision last Monday by Melissa Freitag, Vice Chairman of the Board of Selectmen, not to say the pledge at the weekly meeting. As acting chairman, Freitag started last Monday night's meeting with a poem, then went on to say she'd "rather not" say the pledge. She then quickly moved on to the night's business. Fellow selectmen later told NewsCenter 5 that they were caught off guard by Freitag's exclusion of the...

Lawmaker Replaces Pledge with PoemApr 26, 2012 A Massachusetts lawmaker is under fire in Falmouth after she opened a town meeting with a poem instead of the traditional recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. Melissa Freitag, the vice chair for the Falmouth Board of Selectmen, refused to say why she would not allow her fellow lawmakers or residents to recite the pledge. “I would rather not tonight,” she replied when Selectman Kevin Murphy questioned her about the omission. **SNIP** Falmouth resident Brenda Scannell told the newspaper that Freitag’s decision was baffling. “I just don’t get that at all,” she said....

Scottsdale, Arizona (CNN) - Members of the Republican National Committee gathering in Arizona were invited to meet with Mitt Romney in private Friday and have their pictures taken with the presumptive GOP nominee, but there was a price of admission: loyalty. RNC members and state GOP chairmen were welcomed into the private reception only after signing a form pledging to support Romney as a delegate to the national convention in Tampa. – Follow the Ticker on Twitter: @PoliticalTicker All 168 members of the committee have a vote at the convention as "superdelegates" – and one of Romney's supporters on the...

Oral arguments were heard in a Massachusetts Superior Court on Monday over a lawsuit filed by an atheist couple who believe that their children are being discriminated against because the Pledge of Allegiance – which is said every day in Mass. public school classrooms under state law – contains the phrase "under God." "The daily recitation in public schools of a pledge declaring that the nation is 'under God' is discriminatory toward atheists and humanists," David Niose, president of the American Humanist Association and lead attorney for the plaintiffs in the case, stated. "No child should go to school each...

In Massachusetts Superior Court a lawsuit has been filed by an atheist couple. They claim their children "are being discriminated against because the Pledge of Allegiance." The Pledge is said in school.. in the classroom. The couple is upset about the phrase "under God." According to The Christian Post.. "The daily recitation in public schools of a pledge declaring that the nation is 'under God' is discriminatory toward atheists and humanists," David Niose, president of the American Humanist Association and lead attorney for the plaintiffs in the case, stated.

Acton,Ma. - This morning, Superior Court Judge Jane Haggerty is scheduled to hear arguments in Doe vs. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District. The case, brought by an Acton family, asks the court to order Acton schools to remove the phrase “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance. The plaintiffs, who call themselves the “Does” to protect their identity, are atheists — albeit not particularly courageous ones, as they attempt to remain anonymous in their lack of belief. The Doe case is only the most recent example of the abuse of our legal system by plaintiffs who seek to cleanse society of...

Under GodFebruary 7 is a notable historical day for the acknowledgment of God in modern America: it is the day that a sermon was preached before President Dwight D. Eisenhower, suggesting that the words "under God" be added to the pledge. The sermon was preached by the Rev. George M. Docherty, pastor of New York Avenue Presbyterian Church in Washington, D. C. (you can download and see the full sermon, with his notes and additions). This sermon was preached for Lincoln Day, and it had a great impact on those listening, including President Eisenhower, who was seated in the same...