White House Says Court Ruling On Pledge Is 'Wrong'(Graham: Constitutional Amendment If Necessary)

CNSNEWS.com ^ | 6/26/02 | Jim Burns

[kattracks]

(CNSNews.com) - The White House Wednesday called a California appeals court ruling on the Pledge of Allegiance "wrong," and announced that the Justice Department plans to take action.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the pledge is unconstitutional and should not be recited in schools, because the phrase "under God" violates the establishment clause of the First Amendment of the Constitution.

"The view of the White House is that this was a wrong decision and the Department of Justice is now evaluating how to seek redress," White House spokesman Ari Fleischer said.

"The Declaration of Independence refers to God as the creator four different times. Congress begins each session of the Congress each day with a prayer and our currency says 'In God We Trust,'" he said.

Fleischer emphasized that the decision is one from a circuit court that only affects nine states and not a national court decision.

"I think that people are very naturally ... going to react strongly opposed to this," he said. "I think this decision will not sit well with the American people and it certainly does not sit well with the president of the United States.

"I think most Americans have faith in God, and they are going to express [their faith] and the pledge everyday that they can," he said.

Meanwhile, Rev. Lou Sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition said the ruling should be a wake-up call for President Bush to appoint more conservative court judges -- even if it means bypassing the Senate.

"We can expect more anti-God decisions like the one just handed down by the judicial tyrants in San Francisco, if we don't get good conservative judges on the federal bench," Sheldon said. "Senators Daschle, Leahy, and McCain need to get out of the way and confirm Bush's nominees quickly.

"We're sick and tired of Tom Daschle blocking the confirmation of God-fearing judges like Charles Pickering," he continued. "Americans want men like Pickering on the bench who respect America's religious heritage and understand that we truly are a nation under God.

"If Senators Daschle, Leahy, and McCain don't get out of the way this week, I think it's time for President Bush to begin making recess appointments of his judicial nominees," he said. "Enough is enough!"

Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, vowed to go a step further if needed.

"If necessary, I will offer a constitutional amendment to ensure Americans can voluntarily say the [Pledge of Allegiance] in public and private settings without being in violation of the law," said Graham.

"The reference in the Pledge to being 'one nation under God' is in no way the establishment of religion by the government. If America ever needed God's blessing and guidance, it's now," he concluded.

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[Dan217]

First let me state that I am so conservative that I think that Rush is a flaming liberal. That being said, I am old enough to remember reciting the pledge in school before the words "under god" was added by Pres. Eisenhower in 1954. I do think that the court ruled correctly in this case according to the 1st amendment. The pledge was written and
distributed by socalists who were interested in selling american flags to schools. Now that the current version has been used since 1954 it has become a tradition. I know that most people don't even know how to recite it properly.
The proper way is "one nation under God", not "one nation,
under God,. Like I said, I grew up reciting the pledge without the words under God. This was during WW-II and I think that we the people were just as patriotic as the folks are today. I don't personally have a problem with the addition of the words "under God", but I do think that we
should obey the Constitution.

[rwfromkansas]

Give me an fing break. Every thing the courts do on religion is a slippery slope that leads to something else. It is time the bastards are hanged for their crimes. If this guy is shot tomorrow, good riddence. I won't do such a deed myself, but I won't feel the slightest bit sad if the judges are murdered. I am so angry about this I can hardly contain the rage.

[Dan217]

First let me state that I am so conservative that I think that Rush is a flaming liberal. That being said, I am old enough to remember reciting the pledge in school before the words "under god" was added by Pres. Eisenhower in 1954. I do think that the court ruled correctly in this case according to the 1st amendment. The pledge was written and
distributed by socalists who were interested in selling american flags to schools. Now that the current version has been used since 1954 it has become a tradition. I know that most people don't even know how to recite it properly.
The proper way is "one nation under God", not "one nation,
under God,. Like I said, I grew up reciting the pledge without the words under God. This was during WW-II and I think that we the people were just as patriotic as the folks are today. I don't personally have a problem with the addition of the words "under God", but I do think that we
should obey the Constitution.

[rwfromkansas]

Then don't say that part. I didn't say that word in the Pledge when I said it. I didn't go into convulsions for doing so. What is the big deal....if you don't like something, don't say it.

[harpo11]

STAND YOUR GROUND
No Retreat--No Surrender
ONE NATION UNDER GOD

Our Rights do NOT come from man.
Our Rights come from GOD
God Bless America

[rwfromkansas]

Are there Freepers from California that are teachers?

I seriously think we should consider encouraging them to violate this ruling when school starts up. Do we have any money left over from the legal defense fund? We could even support them with that if they have to go to court.

[rwfromkansas]

Good point......let's Freep the WH asking him to get action on this NOW.

[Miss Marple]

Actually, it wouldn't bother me. That is what we recited with the Pledge in the public grade school I attended back in the 50's.

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

In the real old days, the king was called the defender of the faith. I guess I'm a downright reactionary, but I believe that the Bible teaches that the government is supposed to support and defend the worship of the God of the Bible. God raised up nations and tears them down. As such, they owe Him their worship and obedience.

This hooey that we all should be free to worship the God we choose is just that -- hooey. I am never free to do that which is wrong. Therefore, I could never be free to something as sinful as denying the Creator. The only way we even know or understand true freedom is in the first place is through the revelation of God.

[Amelia]

That is what we recited with the Pledge in the public grade school I attended back in the 50's.

We did that in the 60s too...in public school. The Pledge, the Lord's Prayer, and sang The Star Spangled Banner.

The teacher read us Bible stories too.

[savedbygrace]

Go for it. My time is too limited right now to even begin such a task.

[Faith-Hope]

What would happen if the southern states public school districts decided to allow prayer in schools?

[Don'tMessWithTexas]

The phrase under God suggests that this nation is under his rule and dominion. It also indicates that it is under his blessing and protection. If we as a nation deny that our nation is under God, who do we then rely upon for protection and blessing? Do we trust in our own strength and ability? The very thought is enough to make this Texan literally shudder in his boots.

[Clint N. Suhks]

The foundation was laid long ago by atheists, deists, "theists", freemasons, and other rejectors of traditional religion in favor of some nebulous theistic/deistic "God" or, as we now see, no God at all.

Oh, you must be talking about the Boy Scouts of America.

[mlo]

mlo, why is it such a silly idea?

Because the Declaration is not a statute enacted under the Constitution.

[Charlotte Corday]

"Under God" was added to the pledge of allegiance in 1954.

In what ways, since it was added, do you think we have become a more virtuous nation??

Did God disdain the United States from 1787 through 1953?

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Daschle and Gephardt must have filled their pants when they got news of this. I've seen many, many stupid things done in election years...this is (by far) the stupidest.

[DJ88]

"Only at public school, a place they shouldn't be to begin with. Real conservatives wouldn't even be conceding that public schools have a right to exist, much less what should and shouldn't be recited in them."

Which is exactly why my kids go to Catholic school. What's next? We can't sing any songs with the word "God" in them? Almost every patriotic song in this country has God in it.

And I am a real conservative. If athiests and others don't want to say the Pledge of Allegiance, that's fine. But to rule it UNCONSITUTIONAL is ridiculous. We have Freedom OF religion, not Freedom from it. If memory serves me correctly, the reason our forefathers came to this country in the first place was to escape religious persecution, was it not?

[DJ88]

"... it is a well established decision that those whose religion forbids pledging to flags (e.g. Jehovah's Witnesses) are not harmed by being allowed to remain silent while the (gasp) TEACHER leads the rest of the class."

You know, I have a question. Why is it that if a JW comes to my door with a Bible in his/her hand, and tries to preach to me about what a sinner I am, that if I politely ask them to leave because I have my own religion, they act as if I am going straight to Hell? That only their religion is the right one and anyone who disagrees with them is the Devil's Spawn?

I think the next time they come around, I'll slap the Pledge of Allegiance up on my door and read it to them and see how fast they leave. ;-)