Posted on 06/26/2002 3:17:41 PM PDT by 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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Do you personally have a problem with the 'under God' part? I'm assuming you do, as you neglected to capitalize the word 'God' in the context of a Supreme Being.
I don't quite understand what is relevant about the fact that he was a socialist. If an individual Democrat and an individual Republican can agree on a single issue, why can't a Republican and a socialist agree on a single issue? Our founding fathers debated over and offered dissenting viewpoints on just about every topic that was included in the Constitution, and yet they still held some political viewpoints in common. Also, having been kicked out of a church for one's liberal views is somewhat different than being liberal in a political sense. In reference to the doctrines of most religions, it doesn't take much of a dissenting viewpoint to be considered "liberal" by the church.
Impose WHAT religion? Tell me, specifically, what religion (Catholicism, Bhuddism, Santaria, Wicca, Scientology) is being imposed upon your children when a teacher leads the Pledge, and how it is being imposed, seeing as how they have the freedom to not say it.
If your argument is that "well my children are athiests", then obviously God does not exist, therefore your children are being harmed by nothing. Do you freak out in the supermarket and cover your children's eyes when you see a box of Lucky Charms? After all, the store is imposing it's belief in leprechauns.
Since this republic is founded on the notion that our rights are endowed by our Creator and our system of government and it's Constitution are blessed by our Creator, aknowledging the same is, by definition, Constitutional. The Constitution rests upon the Declaration of Independence. The two are inseparable, or else they mean nothing.
The Pledge will prevail, the famously overturned 9th not-whitstanding. Any mealy mouthed ungrateful little brats that don't like it can just wipe their snotty noses and shut up.
It's not illegal to play the pledge on private radio, or in any private setting, therefore, there is no "civil disobedience", in that act. So what is the point , then?
Typical McC... can't get your facts straight. Would you like to find a URL that states that the Judges ruling in favor of this opinon were either one appointed by Bush X41? I bet you can't because neither was...... but you knew that or maybe a McCaniac didn't. Judge Fernandez, who desented was appointed by President Bush, X41. The other two Judges with concurring opinions were appointed by Nixon and Carter....
Now, do you think McC will continue to obstruct judicial appointments?
I am thinking the same thing. When the public money is removed from the system, the power to dictate this nonsense goes away. The Boy Scouts told the govt to stick their UNICEF and federal support, sticking to their religious principles (banning gay scout leaders) . That appears to be what needs to happen with parents and school kids across the nation to maintain our religious principles and freedoms.
While the terrorists attack the nation and our way of life from the outside, the leftists/non-believers attack us from within. Both are just as dangerous.
And you have added such reasoned discussion to this topic. /sarcasm
If you can't handle disagreement you shouldn't hang around here. BTW, conservatives can be, and many are, opposed to mixing religion in state business.
There is more to the pledge than civil disobedience. BTW, the airwaves I believe are publicly owned -- private comapanies need a government license to use them. Thus civil disobedience would still apply.
Well you McCainiacs are having trouble again with the facts, if you mean the Judge that wrote the decision. What part of the following do you not understand......
Profile of Judge Alfred T. Goodwin
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Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Appointed by: President Nixon, 1971
Profile of Judge Ferdinand F. Fernandez
Copyright and Trademark Notice | Disclaimer | Revised: 3/13/01
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Court: United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
Appointed by: President Bush, 1989
Now do you want to still say the Judge that wrote the opinion was a Bush Appointee?
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