Legion Commander Blasts Senate Leaders Over Failure to Move Flag Amendment

Clear Lake (Kemah) Elks Lodge #2322 ^ | November, 2004 | Elks Government Relations Report

[BellStar]

American Legion Commander Thomas P. Cadmus has excoriated U. S. Senate leaders for failure to schedule a vote on a constitutional amendment to protect the flag. “Your inaction sends a message,” he wrote in an open letter. “The flag you are willing to drape over the caskets of our heroes, military and civilian alike, isn’t important enough to protect on our own soil.”

Action is considered unlikely during the lame-duck session, but the story could be different next year with a new party alignment. Partly because of his opposition to the amendment and charges of obstructing Senate votes, Sen. Thomas Daschle, the Democratic leader, lost his re-election bid in South Dakota.

[BellStar]

"Partly because of his opposition to the amendment charges of obstructing Senate votes, Sen. Thomas Daschle, the Democratic leader, lost his re-election bid in South Dakota."

Most folks agree this was the issue that rode him out of the Senate on a rail.

[risk]

The RNC is dead wrong on this plank. It would sully the definition of the first amendment and import a tinge of fascism into our constitution. Its proponents are well-meaning, and they're often military or ex-military, but this is a civilian issue, not a military one.

[BellStar]

It's all about the Flag.

[america-rules]

Burning the flag is the ultimate free speech but I'd like to beat anyone who does it with a baseball bat !

[BellStar]

Ping!

[risk]

I don't know if it's the ultimate free speech. It's hard to conceive of an appropriate moment for flag burning (other than the prescribed method for retiring used ones).

[BellStar]

"Burning the flag is the ultimate free speech"

I used to believe that but I never could orate fire or a flag no matter how heard I tried.

[BellStar]

BTTT

[BellStar]

Please Bump!

[risk]

The difficulty with free speech (or expression) is that it's not always what you want to read, hear, or see. The RNC plays into the hands of its political enemies by offering to "suppress freedom of expression" on behalf of the state. Statesmen know better. The RNC should know better! Where are the RNC statesmen with the courage to speak up on this matter? I saw one outvoted during the RNC convention's platform parliamentarian sessions. He made good points, but the well-meaning (and naive) flag wavers won the day.

Tell me why we're wasting time on this issue when thousands and thousands of Mexicans will illegally immigrate into America in the next year?

The RNC needs to get to work on the real issues facing America. Leave the first amendment alone. Dilluting it in any way does not serve the cause of freedom.

[elizabetty]

Burning the flag is the ultimate free speech but I'd like to beat anyone who does it with a baseball bat

My son is a Boy Scout and this is how they dispose of tattered flags. They have a respectful and solemn ceremony and then burn the flag. I guess the military does the same. He had a hard time understanding that people were burning flags as a sign of disrespect, he just can't comprehend why anybody would do such a thing.

[MissAmericanPie]

I'm glad something finally rode him out of town on a rail.

[Lancey Howard]

LOL

[Lancey Howard]

Most folks agree this was the issue that rode him out of the Senate on a rail.

You WERE joking, right?

[BellStar]

Sen. Thomas Daschle felt the same but was obviously way out of step with the majority.

[risk]

Sen. Thomas Daschle felt the same but was obviously way out of step with the majority.

The majority is not always right. This is a Republic, thankfully. Without better statesmen, we are in trouble.

However, it's good riddance to see Daschle go. In lieu of statesmen, I'll take overbearing patriots over traitors like him, if only temporarily. Fascism kills. A flag amendment is fascist. It upholds the state over the individual's right to express his frustrations with it.

Millions have fought to defend our rights to express frustration with the government, and this smarmy crowd would wipe it away with an amendment? Crass!

[BellStar]

Members of the American Legion, Elks and 100 other membership flag waving organizations. had this as the top issue in get out the vote memos to members in South Dakota. Unless you are a one of the tens of thousands of members of one of these organizations you do not have any knowledge of the size of this effort to dump Daschle because the media discounts these people and these organizations you get no coverage.

[Ophiucus]

I don't know if it's the ultimate free speech. It's hard to conceive of an appropriate moment for flag burning (other than the prescribed method for retiring used ones).

It doesn't matter how appropriate the speech or expression thereof. How appropriate is calling Pres. Bush a liar? How appropriate are the speeches or placards at a KKK rally?

Is appropriate speech to be the only speech allowed?

Freedom of speech means being able to express ignorant, wrong, or simply unpopular viewpoints - or it isn't free.

[risk]

Thank you. I hope your voice is heard by the RNC. They are driving away good Americans who would like to switch parties with these kinds of initiatives.

[Ophiucus]

I used to believe that but I never could orate fire or a flag no matter how heard I tried.

So such a freedom should only apply to talking? Not to writing, chat, blogging, painting, sculpture, singing, etc?

Or is only approved methods of approved speech to be free?