[Behind Liberal Lines]

I can cut a Native American some slack for not standing...but the fact that federal officials, a former US Attorney and reporters refused is shameful.

I also note that the Clintonista attorney fell back on the old "how dare you question my patriotism" ploy.

[mikeus_maximus]

French, who was U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York from 1999 to 2001, said it's unfortunate when people use "something as sacred" as the Pledge of Allegiance to question somebody's patriotism.

Maybe that's because your patriotism IS questionable.

[Ouderkirk]

I can cut a Native American some slack for not standing...but the fact that federal officials, a former US Attorney and reporters refused is shameful. I also note that the Clintonista attorney fell back on the old "how dare you question my patriotism" ploy.

I won't cut the Cayuga Indian one inch of slack. The Cayuga Indian Tribe hitched their wagon to the British in the War of 1812. The Brits lost and so did the Cayuga. The Town of Aurora was built on the ashes of a Cayuga Indian village destroyed after the war. So screw the Cayuga's and their land claim.

[uptoolate]

"French, who was U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York from 1999 to 2001, said it's unfortunate when people use "something as sacred" as the Pledge of Allegiance to question somebody's patriotism."

Sacred? Why yes it is. And that is why "under God" will stay. Shame on the attorney for succumbing to liberal "peer pressure" to stay seated during something he believes is "sacred". Then again I am more inclined to believe that he really doesn't see the pledge as sacred and was just using it as an opportunity to "grandstand" himself.

[El Gato]

I can cut a Native American some slack for not standing...but the fact that federal officials, a former US Attorney and reporters refused is shameful

Private citizens are free to act as they wish, however reprehensibly. However the federal officials should be fired for not reciting the pledge while acting in their official capacity. They work for the "Republic for which it stands", they can certainly pledge allegiance to that Republic or find other work.

[em2vn]

Why would you cut the indians any slack?

[Behind Liberal Lines]

ping

[NativeNewYorker]

A few reporters and two federal Bureau of Indian Affairs officials at a front table also remained seated.

1) The reporters NOT standing is a hell of a statement. Why? When you're covering a meeting like that, you'd want to see who was standing and who was not, because it's an important part of the story. You can stand and study the crowd, whether you recite the pledge or not. NOT standing is an obvious POLITICAL statement that took precedence over the scribes doing their jobs.

2) The federal bureaucrats should be fired. If they don't respect the country, they sure shouldn't be drawing a paycheck from its government.

[jan in Colorado]

Thank you for posting this article.

I am NOT at all surprised that some reporters refused to stand. Most of them root against this Country and do all they can to undermine its success! See tagline...

[jan in Colorado]

My Name Is Old Glory

I am the flag of the United States of America.
I fly atop the world's tallest buildings.
I stand watch in America's halls of justice.
I stand side by side with the Maple Leaf on the worlds longest undefended border.
I fly majestically over institutions of learning.
I stand guard with power in the world.
Look up and see me.

I stand for peace, honor, truth and justice.
I stand for freedom.
I am confident.
I am arrogant.
I am proud.

When I am flown with my fellow banners,
my head is a little higher,
my colors a little truer.

I bow to no one!
I am recognized all over the world.
I am honored - I am saluted.
I am loved - I am revered.
I am respected -- and I am feared.

I have fought in every battle of every war for more then 200 years. I was flown at Valley Forge, Gettysburg, Shiloh and Appomattox. I was there at San Juan Hill, the trenches of France, in the Argonne Forest, Anzio, Rome and the beaches of Normandy, Guam. Okinawa, Korea and KheSan, Saigon Vietnam. Know me, I was there.

I led my troops, I was dirty, battle worn and tired,
but my soldiers cheered me, And I was proud.
I have been burned, torn and trampled on the streets of countries I have helped set free. It does not hurt, for I am invincible.

I have been soiled upon, burned, torn and trampled on the streets of my country. And when it's by those whom I've served in battle -- it hurts. But I shall overcome -- for I am strong.

I have slipped the bonds of Earth and stood watch over the uncharted frontiers of space from my vantage point on the moon.
I have borne silent witness to all of America's finest hours.

But my finest hours are yet to come.
When I am torn into strips and used as bandages for my wounded comrades on the battlefield,
When I am flown at half-mast to honor my soldier,
Or when I lie in the trembling arms of a grieving parent at the grave of their fallen son or daughter,
I am proud.
MY NAME IS OLD GLORY... DEAR GOD, LONG MAY I WAVE.
Author © Howard Schnauber

[Fixit]

Dan French, protege to the late Senator Daniel P. Moynihan, graduated law school in 1995.

French was first appointed to be a US Attorney by Clinton in '99, and left in early 2001 when Dubya took office.

Dan French came into his job as U.S. attorney with something to prove two years ago. Of the 94 U.S. attorneys across the country, none had less legal experience.

There was grumbling in the legal community that someone just four years out of law school didn't deserve to run an office where career prosecutors had been putting away criminals for decades. As the top prosecutor in the Northern District of New York, French was in charge of prosecuting federal crimes in a 32-county region that includes Syracuse.

...

He said he wants to get involved in federal lobbying and might eventually run for public office. But he and his wife, Channel 9 reporter Kelly French, plan to stay in the Syracuse area.

[potlatch]

Thanks for the ping!

[potlatch]

Ping of interest!