MSNBC Anchor: Palin‘s Use of American Flag Could be ’Breach of Federal Law’

The Blaze ^ | June 1, 2011 | Jonathon M. Seidl

[FortWorthPatriot]

Martin Bashir, it seems, is not a fan of Sarah Palin. And during his MSNBC show and “Clear the Air” segment, he went looking for a way to roast the possible 2012 candidate who is now on a national bus tour. So what tool did he use to blast the woman even many of her detractors see as patriotic? The American flag.

According to Bashir, Palin could be breaking the law by displaying the American flag on her tour bus:



Here’s what he had to say:

"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."

NewsBusters quickly takes Bashir to task, especially reminding him that the U.S. Flag Code is not federal law:

"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."

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.”

Considering Palin’s profile has been raised so much in the last week, she can expect attacks like this from the left. But attacks like this are a weak attempt at a nuanced smear campaign.

[gimme1ibertee]

Seidl needs to talk to the HAND...

More like the closed fist...

[FortWorthPatriot]

You know what? I did a search. It didn’t come back with any matching results. So I posted.

Arrest me.

[Genoa]

This will go nowhere. Obama used a facsimile of the flag on his logo too.

But Sarah Palin isn't running for president. Or she is running for president. Or she's manipulating us to think that she is. Or that she isn't. Or something.

[gimme1ibertee]

Too bad a lightning bolt didn’t come down at that moment and fry that commie rat bastard.

[McGruff]

Aw Jeez, not this story posted again.

[Lazlo in PA]

PMSLSD would never improperly use, by Bashit's standards, the American Flag.

[FortWorthPatriot]

Refer to Post #22.

[dead]

the whole thing could be in breach of a federal law

Jaw-dropping stupidity on so many levels.

People could learn more by hitting themselves in the head with a hammer than watching MSNBC and the twits they employ.

[The Antiyuppie]

The sudden concern shown by a liberal for the presentation of the US Flag is laudable...but somehow suspicious.

Unfortunately, I can’t write what I’d really like to write about this.

[Bitsy]

Now they are suddenly concerned about the American flag...

And, they are suddenly concerned about breach of federal law - oh, I forgot that is only a concern if it is a conservative.

[BenLurkin]

You know, you can take PMSNBC off the scan list on your TV. It’s easy and — trust me — you won’t miss it.

[Diogenesis]

NBC (MSDNC,GE), thy name is hypocrisy.

[RobRoy]

He didn't complain last time it was done.

What an idiot.

[lucky american]

Pepsi uses it!
There is no flag, just red and white stripes.

[rokkitapps]

That isn’t a flag on her bus, it is a painting of a flag. Commercial purposes? On a bus tour?

[FiddlePig]

You MUST understand... what’s legal for DemWits is often illegal for GOPers. What’s wrong for GOPers is OK for DemWits. Ferinstance: Rep. Anthony Weiner has nothing to fear from his Twitter drama. A GOP politician would have to resign, as some have. When you have no standards, you are held to none... at least by the Drive-bys.

[mnehring]

Someone at MSNBC recognizes what the US Flag looks like?

[StonyMan451]

When I came across this article earlier, I thought it was so funny that I assumed I had inadvertently clicked on my bookmark for The Onion. What a hoot!

[madison10]

That is not a true American flag, it is only stripes of colors.

MSM complains about stripes, but it is okay to trample, burn, pee on, or not bother saluting the flag.(see Obama) Hypocritical morons.

[arrdon]

Sounds like Bashir is in search of a ‘reconing’. Sure we could arrange one.