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.

[TheBattman]

Yeah, isn’t it funny how they are “all about” protecting the flag...when it is someone “not of them”...

Thing is - the flag-like representation does not fall under the use laws regarding the flag.

But these scumbags would say Palin is disqualified if she had a hang nail...

The vitriol is unbelievable. How can people have that much hate for ANYONE, short of someone who stole their favorite puppy and tortured it to death....???

[Scythian]

It is bad flag etiquette to have the flag on paper plates, napkins, and all kind of things, this is ridiculous. It's unbelievable how much they hate her, and by extrapolation, fear her ...

[Myrddin]

An illiterate twit hired for his British accent.

[SkyDancer]

I noticed he’s in an alley, too chicken to do it out in public.

[HereInTheHeartland]

The fear, paranoia; and just raving madness they display is funny!

[SkyDancer]

Well as Mark Twain said: “If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed. If you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.”

[IMR 4350]

“How does someone of this intellect even get to be on TV?”

He wears smart glasses and talks with a limey accent so he clearly is smarter than anyone else at MSNBC.

[joe fonebone]

Isn’t falsely accusing someone of committing a felony in fact a felony???? perhaps this little tidbit needs to be repeated, over and over again...

[Silentgypsy]

“suddenly concerned about breach of federal law”
That’s Rules for Radicals, “Make them play by their own rules,” or uphold their own standards, or something. The point is to keep us so busy chasing our tails that we don’t have time or resources to do anything else. The interesting thing is that, since we no longer respond to those stimuli (reverse Alinsky tactics), they’ll grasp at straws, continue to escalate their activity, and provide ample material for our amazement and amusement heh heh heh.
(When I first came here, I asked the FReepers for reading recommendations and action plans. They taught me a lot.)

[Pollster1]

Rampant crime in America:

As with the Arizona shootings, there's only one solution - blame and then prosecute Sarah Palin.

[NavyCanDo]

“Obama used a facsimile of the flag on his logo too.”

Everyone still displaying an Obama Bumper sticker is breaking the law then, according to MSNBC.

[noinfringers2]

Is the CRS really nonpartisan today? Read what came out of that bunch as to Obama’s eligibility. I’ve had enough experience with lawyers to have serious doubts as to integrity or being impartial for many in the field.

[In Maryland]

1. - There is no flag on her bus; there are a few stripes that might suggest a flag, but no actual flag. The jerk probably didn't even do the research to see the pictures.

2. "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. I wonder if he'd like to give us a count of how many GM (Government Motors) dealers used a flag in their memorial day ads and decorations?

[PreciousLiberty]

Where was the giant “BARF ALERT” on this gem?!?

What a giant load of crapola...if that’s the best they’ve got, they’re toast in ‘12!

Palin ‘12!!!

[Bitsy]

When I first came here, I asked the FReepers for reading recommendations and action plans. They taught me a lot.)

Very thoughtful. I wish I would have done that. Any suggestions you want to share with me?

[Bitsy]

I don’t SEE a flag. I see red & white stripes.

Didn’t the Obama kingdom logo thingy on his jet have stripes and was red, white and blue? I do think I saw that!

[LoveUSA]

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.

Then Ralph Lauren is in big, big trouble.

[Melchior]

Bashir must be related to Helen Thomas.

[Ax]

"Everyone still displaying an Obama Bumper sticker is breaking the law then, according to MSNBC."

Everyone still displaying an Obama bumper sticker is a moron, according to AX.

[Silentgypsy]

Yes. You can ask questions on a thread subject you want to learn more about, and the FReepers are usually very generous in terms of reading recommendations and information and strategies for addressing perplexing situations. The publications that helped me the most in terms of learning leftist strategies were Alinsky’s “Rules for Radicals,” Bernay’s “Propaganda,” and the “Twenty-five Rules of Disinformation.” They also recommend books that are valuable on a personal level, e.g., Boundaries by St. Cloud, anything by Dinesh D’Souza, etc. (Don’t quote me on the titles, spelling, etc. Please see tagline snorkle-chortle.)
Happy studying, and if you find something that really floats your boat, please ping me. Gotta lot to learn :)