Politicians Decry Pledge Decision: Democrats Worry About the Fallout

ABCNEWS.COM ^ | Thursday, June 27, 2002

[JohnHuang2]

W A S H I N G T O N, June 26 — Politicians from both parties rallied within moments

to support the Pledge of Allegiance today after a federal appeals court ruled it was unconstitutional, with the Senate voting 99-0 to condemn the court's decision.

Democrats, recognizing the potential for political havoc because they have historically been seen as more likely to oppose such things, and because the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals judges are generally considered to be among most liberal in the country, rushed to the floors of their respective houses to denounce the opinion.

"This decision is nuts. It is just nuts," said Senate Majority Thomas Daschle, D-S.D. "A higher court should overturn this, or we will do it."

"Our founding fathers must be spinning in their graves," said Sen. Kit Bond, R-Mo. "This is the worst kind of political correctness run amok."

"This is just so meaningless, so senseless," said a visibly agitated Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., called the opinion "stupid."

Daschle pulled together his caucus, and within a few hours, he led the Senate to vote 99-0 in favor of a hastily drawn resolution disparaging the ruling.

A group of House members sang "God Bless America" on the steps of the U.S. Capitol at about the same time.

In Canada, spokesman Ari Fleischer said that President Bush's first reaction upon hearing of the decision was, "That's ridiculous."

Some Republicans sought political leverage by claiming that liberal Democratic judges were responsible for the values reflected by the decision.

The National Republican Congressional Committee, which supports GOP House campaigns, sent members a memorandum urging them to "put out a statement as soon as possible."

According to the NRCC, a good statement would include a call for every school board to "ignore this decision," and language blaming "Liberal Democrat Tom Daschle and Senate Democrats [for] holding up 45 of President Bush's judicial nominees who would serve as a counterweight to this type of nonsense."

Rep. Lindsey Graham, a Republican candidate for Senate in South Carolina, appeared to follow the NRCC's advice. "The ruling shows how far certain elements of the judicial branch have gone to declare war on all things related to religion," he said in a statement. "It is important, now more than ever, that common-sense conservative judges be appointed and confirmed to the federal bench."

Alfred T. Goodwin, the judge who wrote the decision, was appointed by President Richard Nixon, a Republican.

Democrats have been attacked in the past for not taking seriously the Pledge of Allegiance.

In the 1988 presidential campaign, then-Vice President George H. W. Bush regularly noted that his opponent, Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis, vetoed a bill that would have required teachers lead students in the pledge each morning.

Today, many Democrats were quick to point to their religious and patriotic credentials.

Sen. John Edwards's office sent out a press release detailing the North Carolina Democrat's daily communion with God.

"Senator Edwards recites the pledge each morning after the Senate convenes and is led in prayer by the Senate chaplain. Senator Edwards also is a leader of the Senate Prayer Breakfast, a group of current and former senators who meet each Wednesday morning."

ABCNEWS' Marc Ambinder, Linda Douglass, Dean Norland, Edward O'Keefe, and Katy Textor contributed to this report.

[JohnHuang2]

Thursday, June 27, 2002

Quote of the Day by RooRoobird14

[Bigg Red]

Some Republicans sought political leverage by claiming that liberal Democratic judges were responsible for the values reflected by the decision.

Okay, GOP, now let's see you actually efficiently use that leverage against the 'Rats who are blocking the President's judicial nominees. Can we get an expert spinner here??? Well, I can dream, can't I?

[Jeff Head]

SET ASIDE THE 9TH CIRCUIT COURT RULING

IMPEACH THE RASCALS! ROUTE THE VIPERS OUT!

[JohnHuang2]

Amen!

[meenie]

The Congress has the power to limit the jurisdiction of the courts. This is one case where they should be doing it. They hate to do this though, because other unpopular decisions which they love would place them in the uncomfortable position of taking responsibility for not limiting them.

[chachacha]

Democrats, recognizing the potential for political havoc because they have historically been seen as more likely to oppose such things

Lets add to the above statement that the LIBERAL DEMOCRATS have supported almost every immoral cause that has come down the pike in the last 60 years.

ABORTIONS

PRAYER IN SCHOOL

OPEN BORDERS

IMMAGRATION POLICY

QUOTAS

OVER BLOWN CRIMINAL RIGHT POLICIES

GAY RIGHTS

JUST TO NAME A FEW!

[Batrachian]

I'm sure the Republicans will take every opportunity to throw away whatever political advantage may come from this.

Prediction from me: Expect "In God We Trust" to be declared unconstitutional and removed from currency in the not-to-distant future. It has to be, using the logic of the Pledge ruling.

[cousair]

I hope there is a LOT of fallout, and that it goes on forever. Seventeen of the judges on the ninth were appointed by Clinton, and some by Carter. Daschle is holding President Bush's appointees for judgeships from even being heard, and this is EXACTLY where the problem is. I hope and PRAY that the GOP gets on this and stays on it until Daschle and his Liberal Party decide that they don't have a chance at re-election in the fall. THE TIME IS NOW!