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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[DJ88]

"How's that gonna show 'em? Radio stations are privately owned."

It's really easy. You go to every country radio station in your area, hand them the recording and I guarantee you 100% that they will play it.

[summer]

bttt

[DJ88]

"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."

Darn right it was...why do you think that special session was called just a short time after the ruling came in? When I tried to call D.C., I could not get through. I finally called the Senators offices here in Tampa and expressed my views, and I was able to get hold of Adam Putnam in Washington. The young man on the other end of the phone said that he had never seen anything like this in his life. The phones were ringing off the hooks, in every office. Same thing in Tampa with Graham and Nelson...when I finally got through, the lady in Bill Nelson's office told me that I was over the 2,000th caller. And guess what? NONE OF THEM WERE HAPPY.

[goodieD]

but it isn't tyranny of the majority..because it's always one or two people who cry and cause trouble about this stuff.. the majority of people in this country think like we do, but are too afraid to do anything about it.

[KC Burke]

The real issue is not the "wall of seperation", (that opinionated turn of phrase analysis of what the First Amendment meant by Jefferson in an off hand letter written in a political dispute setting) that was used in '47 by actvist leftist judges to write rather than judge, law, but instead why we have allowed a Federal Establishment of a Religion?

That's correct...we have an established Federal Religion.!

Dewey, learning from Rousseau's arrogance, developed Secular Humanism as a Religion (in his own words) for our schools. This banishment of reference to God is a step in that establishment.

Our founders wanted public education for young children first, and foremost, to instil general precepts of Jeudeo-Christian heritage which they considered education's first job. Avoiding establishment of a particular church denomination as a Federal Church, accepting the State established churches, they still felt that the primary reason to even have basic public education was to teach Virtues that were self evident to all that fought in the Revolution.

Without an amendment, this can be cast out as Established Secular Humanism when the Federal Government should ban to allow the "free exercise" of religious thought in general where it was meant ot flourish by the founders.

[Amelia]

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

Neither is the Pledge of Allegiance.

And let me tell you, I'm a teacher, and I WILL say the Pledge at school. It's MY flag too, and I can pledge allegiance to it if I want to.

The children are not required to say it anyway, because of the Jehovah Witness case.

[Scott from the Left Coast]

Ah, can you say Constitutional Amendment? Like to see the leftist RATS work up the muster to vote against it. Like to see them try to do that in the state legislatures too. They'd be doing some pretzel logic to try and keep their wacko constituencies in line (that favor this) while they vote for it. And, Oh Lord, can you imagine frying their bacon with some with some other adjunct church/state amendments clarifying a whole lot of issues they're on the wrong side of? This could turn into a route!

[Kevin Curry]

"Since I was a small boy, two states have been added to our country, and two words have been added to the Pledge of Allegiance: Under God. Wouldn't it be a pity if someone said that is a prayer, and that would be eliminated from schools, too?" - Red Skelton

The time has come to say goodnight,
My how time does fly.
We've had a laugh, perhaps a tear,
and now we hear goodbye.

I really hate to say goodnight,
for times like these are few.
I wish you love and happiness,
In everthing you do.

The time has come to say goodnight,
I hope I've made a friend.
And so we'll say "May God bless you,"
[Note: offensive and constitutionally suspect words have been deleted
Until we meet again

We miss you, Red. It's probably just as well for you that you left us when you did. Your good heart could not bear to know where and how much farther we have fallen.

[Tolerance Sucks Rocks]

Earth to Ninth Circuit:

GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD GOD

So there!

[anniegetyourgun]

What part of "voluntary" don't you understand.

BTW, superstition has nothing to do with it. But you have nothing to worry about, mlo. If you want nothing to do with God, He'll grant you your heart's desire.

[henderson field]

"God can leave the United States a smoking ruin..."? What do you think is happening in Colorado and Arizona right now?

[FreeReign]

This pledge issue is nothing but a distraction. It will make for good talk radio for a few days, but it is really irrelevant to real conservative issues in the long run.

To you the pledge is a distraction. To me it isn't.

[henderson field]

I don't think they care about the word "God". What they really want to avoid is pledging allegiance to the Constitution, particularly in the case of politicians, unelected officials and lawyers, particularly under oath. If they don't pledge, they don't violate the pledge. As it is now, they can be deported for a violation (fraudulent nationalization) when we finally get the INS under control.

[FreeReign]

I always thought it was the discarding of the constitution, the trampling of the Bill of Rights, and the assault on private property that was the reason to get riled and angry.

What evidence do you have that proves, getting "riled and angry" over the pledge excludes getting "riled and angry" over issues?

I know of no correlation.

[FreeReign]

Goldi-Lox:"We need to play Red Skelton's reading of the Pledge on every radio...every hour."

How's that gonna show 'em? Radio stations are privately owned.

Playing Red Skelton's reading of the Pledge on private radio stations is a bad thing because radio stations are private? What do you mean?

[mjaneangels@aolcom]

The ruling says that teachers can't recite it with "under god".

So you are saying that teachers do not have the right to free excersize of religion.

[Victoria Delsoul]

"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!"

Bump!

[FormerLurker]

Although I may at times have been critical of this administration's policies, I highly commend the President and his administration for speaking not only in a timely manner, but in a concise and well thought out fashion.

Thank you for the exemplary stance on this matter President Bush.

[BillyBoy]

>>Buchanan was right!<<

Although oddly enough, many of Buchanan's Dixiecrat supporters have been running about on this forum bluntly stating they hate the "socialist" U.S., and of course, despise the idea of pledging allegance to it:

Back when I was a rebellious teenager, I often thought...they really die so that I would be forced to recite a loyalty oath to my government each morning at my government school?
posted on 6/26/02 2:10 PM Central

I have wondered recently where the "indivisible" part came from, because the founding fathers clearly intended for the Union to be "divisible," since they had quite decisively "divided" themselves from King George. My bet is that schizophrenic tyrant Lincoln put it in there.
posted on 6/26/02 2:17 PM Central

NO BIG DEAL. What's the controversy??
posted on 6/26/02 3:07 PM Central

The "one nation UNDER GOD" portion was added later to the pledge. I can't see the need for outrage here. This is simply courts affirming the separation of church and state.
posted on 6/26/02 1:34 PM Central by CecilRhodesGhost

The pledge is socialist bs anyway. Hopefully this will be the end of it. For those who are shocked about the socialist origins, look it up for yourself. Use google - it will take you ten minutes, tops.
posted on 6/26/02 1:29 PM Central

Hard to believe that a little "ditty" written by a Socialist, which didn't mention "God" for it's first 62 years, is causing so much consternation. Under the First Amendment, anyone is free to exercise practically any religious belief they choose; they may not use the power of Government to impose it on anyone else. What's so complicated about the concept??
posted on 6/27/02 2:20 AM Central

Personally, I can't figure out why these Alec Baldwin clones don't put their money where there mouth is. If America sucks SO bad (and apprantly has since 1860, they claim), then they should exercise their right to "secede" and LEAVE the country. Our RINOs and the Baldwins can have fun in France where religion is DOA.