Posted on 11/29/2016 1:03:45 PM PST by Innovative
Donald Trump would appear to have done something very controversial (again) on Twitter Tuesday morning, registering his support for making flag-burning a crime punishable by as much as a year in jail or even the revoking of one's citizenship.
As our Philip Bump notes, it's not the first time Trump has pitted himself against things that have been defined by the Supreme Court as First Amendment rights — nor will it likely be the last. And as Bump also notes, Trump's decision to stand against flag-burning is likely to pit defenders of the practice “against the patriotism of people who find flag-burning unacceptable.”
But the size of that latter group might be bigger than the coverage of this topic suggests. And Trump's position probably won't strike most Americans as being all that controversial.
In fact, making flag-burning illegal appears to have had overwhelming public support as recently as a decade ago.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
And Hillary :)
That's why he's President Elect!
What’s the WP angle on this?
They’re pointing out past support for Trump’s views.
When is the other shoe to drop?
How about a federal statute defining beating the snot out of a flag burner as “performance art” and protected as free speech under the First Amendment?
I’ve always opposed flag burning and denying a ‘right’ to burn the flag does not deny free speech. Require them to be more specific, specifically what are they protesting. Burning the flag could mean anything. Spell it out.
The important issue for me today is: “Who is that beautiful woman greeting potential administration picks at the elevator in Trump Tower”?
Now that Trump has said this, flag burning will become the preferred ritual of the demented anti Trump Left. It will of course disgust most Americans and will be associated in their minds with the Democratic Party. The Democrats will lose even more of their traditional base.Trump may in fact be some sort of devious political genius.
As an ex-military, Constitutional Conservative, this matter poses an ethical problem on which I suspect many here are staying silent.
Since I’ve been stabbed in the back here many times, I have no problem putting it out there:
I will defend the Constitution before I defend Nationalism which imprisons a person for exercising their right under the Constitution.
Furthermore, I find it decidedly-convenient to let our enemies exercise their rights and demonstrate their true colors.
I’m not suggesting that I would ever burn a flag in protest but, ironically, I AM suggesting that those who react to a flag-burner in a protest to elicit a reaction deserve the reaction which they receive.
Otherwise, if someone wants to burn a flag on Hollywood Blvd, YouTube or otherwise, go for it and thanks for making your position clear.
Like it or not, you can’t have it both ways. If you want to be able to criticize the government w/o going to the Gulag...eh, I digress.
Fire away.
If Flag burning is considered freedom of speech, then how come I cannot walk around in public naked?
I find flag burning a deliberate attempt to incite the public. If I cursed someone out or used so called “hate speech” I could be arrested. However, someone does this, knowing that it is pisses off 95% of the population and it is consider “Free Speech.” Also, I find such actions a direct threat against the government itself.
It's like that silly "Stolen Valor Act" that was passed almost unanimously in Congress a while back, then declared unconstitutional as soon as it was challenged in court.
That’s a bad example. Flag burning would certainly be protected “speech” in a case involving the flag, not the burning. In other words, a law that criminalizes the burning of the U.S. flag but doesn’t criminalize burning of a banner for the opponent of my favorite soccer team is absolutely unconstitutional by any objective measure.
The American flag belongs to America, not you. Therefore you should not be allowed to burn it just because it is not yours to burn
I thought I paid for it myself.
Unless it’s a Kapernick jersey.
Very interesting. Scalia was right both times.
One might think abortion and death penalty and half a dozen other issues would be more important when appointing judges. But if you say flag burning, then I defer to your wisdom.
It should be against the law to OWN a Kaepernick jersey, not BURN one. LOL.
No, you couldn't. Hate speech is free speech. R.A.V. v. St. Paul (1992).
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