Posted on 05/31/2011 8:43:16 PM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
MSNBC's Martin Bashir on May 31 insisted that Sarah Palin's bus tour amounts to a "breach of a federal law."
Anchoring his eponymous program, Bashir scolded, "In fact, the whole thing could be in breach of a federal law because the United States Flag Code establishes important rules for the use and display of the stars and stripes, the flag of the United States."
(VIDEO AT LINK)
In his accusatory "Clear the Air" segment, the former ABC Nightline anchor lectured Palin that "standards of respect and etiquette" discourage using the American flag for "any advertising purpose whatsoever."
"She drapes herself in the stars and stripes and makes millions of dollars in the process," chided Bashir. "This has got nothing to do with the presidency and everything to do with filling her pockets."
The only problem: the Supreme Court ruled in 1989 that flag burning is protected by the First Amendment. If flag burning is protected speech, certainly displaying the flag on a tour bus is legal. Or do the rules not apply to Sarah Palin? In Bashir's warped sense of reality, conservatives like Palin would be arrested for flying the American flag at rallies in which they promote causes that Bashir does not support.
Where was Bashir's patriotic tongue-lashing for any Democratic politician who has ever flown the American flag at campaign rallies and in political advertisements?
Even if Bashir wasn't aware of the landmark Supreme Court decision that settled flag-desecration issues, he is still misunderstanding the section of U.S. code from which he cited as evidence of Palin's crimes.
The Congressional Research Service, a non-partisan organization that provides legal analysis to members of Congress, clarified that observance of the Flag Code is "purely voluntary" in a 2008 congressional report: "While wearing the colors may be in poor taste and offensive to many, it is important to remember that the Flag Code is intended as a guide to be followed on a purely voluntary basis to insure proper respect for the flag."
By doubting another citizen's patriotism and labeling her a criminal, the man who lambasted Palin for exploiting the American flag for political purposes committed the same sin he ostensibly loathes.
A transcript of the segment can be found below:
MSNBC Martin Bashir May 31, 2011
3:57 p.m. EDT
MARTIN BASHIR: It's time now to Clear the Air and to ask a question: what is the purpose behind Sarah Palin's current bus tour? It's difficult to ask that question directly because Sarah Palin specializes in checkbook journalism. That is, she only gives interviews to a network that pays her in excess of $1 million a year. So we're forced to make judgements from the outside and it all looks like the precursor to a presidential campaign. The vehicle itself reminds us of all those campaign buses that crisscross the nation at election time. The media are ever-present, catching her every handshake and every book signing. And the journey itself – visiting locations of national importance along the East Coast and proclaiming once again as the most patriotic American that ever lived.
And yet, even in her paid-for interview, she seems coy and almost confused about what she's doing. "This is not a campaign bus," she said on Fox News. "This is a bus to express to American how much we appreciate our foundation and to invite more people to be interested about all that is good about America." It all sounds like a wonderful commitment to American values and American history, but it's nothing of the kind. In fact, the whole thing could be in breach of a federal law because the United States Flag Code establishes important rules for the use and display of the stars and stripes, the flag of the United States. Under standards of respect and etiquette, it's made clear that the flag of the United States should never be used for any advertising purpose whatsoever. Yet that's precisely what Sarah Palin is doing. She's using the flag of the United States for her own financial purposes. She drapes herself in the stars and stripes and makes millions of dollars in the process. This has got nothing to do with the presidency and everything to do with filling her pockets. And by raising her profile, she raises her income. It is as simple as that. So she was right when she said that hers is not a campaign bus. It's a cash bus and she'll keep it rolling for as long as she can. Thanks so much for watching.
They won’t be able to take 18 months of this. They will be checked into the nut house by November 2012.
You’re so right. I usually omit a word...LOL.
“They went to NJ to plead their case to Chris Christie”
Christie = Mitt. Pure and simple.
Oh Dude, that picture you posted grossed me out. I was looking around to see how it is relevant to the topic. I finally saw the small American flag on the floor next to Biden, but it was too late for me to miss seeing the back of Michelle Obama’s flabby thigh hanging. Yuck, yuck, yucky! Gross!
Mitt will be maaaaad!
LOL.
I humbly apologize. Poor Mitt.
Get ready for stories about a ‘cabal’ forming with SP, Trump, Cain, West, even Bachmann and a few others that have been mentioned along with the term ‘tea party’. Also look to see stories about the ‘insurgent tea party candidates threatening the national security of America’ with ‘radical ideas that could lead to world upheaval’ and similar stupidity. The fear is already out of control on the 1st day Palin even looks like she is serious about a run... and we are well over a year out. It WILL go beyond anything we can presently imagine
We MAY see an increase in ‘conservatism’ out of congress (Kinda doubt it but maybe) to attempt to keep Pubbies on the Rez. I decided a while ago to register indy, but changed my mind so I can vote Palin in the primary. I imagine there are many like me. They can get all “McCain conservative” (as the election nears, but I won’t be fooled. They will only do it out of fear, not out of conviction.
Hey Martie,
I just got off the phone with Sarah and she has agreed to burn the bus when she’s done with the tour.
Of course you realize that then all registered democrats will have to vote for her in 2012.
Right!
Scare tactics are already underway.
Puny George Will has delcared that Sarah Palin cannot be trusted with the *football*, but of course the anti-American, unAmerican Marxist can.
Har!
There ya go.
Yup, saw that. They will only get crazier. Do they EVER stop to think how their insanity actually sounds outside the ‘elite’ circles? They will soon ;)
Here’s a serious Msmlib article prediction...coming soon to a news outlet/talkshow near you. The meme will be...
Palin will cause a war in the mid east with her un-nuanced ideas and approach to the Israeli/Pali peace process. Since she favors Israel, Netenyahu will become emboldened and threaten to attack Iran and Syria without cause,causing the peaceful Palistinians to retaliate. To quote A DU idiot’s favorite phrase, ‘bank on it’ ;)
Seriously, I expect this any day now.
Tee-Hee-Hee.
First he sweated Huckabee, then Mitch Daniels...
Yes, and she and Bibi will have to ask, which is worse, a nuclear Iran?
That *is* coming, and *that* will sink obama.
That's really weird! Seriously, how did that happen?
Oh duh, I was just looking at the flag, not the spectators.... In my best Rosanne Rosannadanna voice, “Never mind!”
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