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White House Says Court Ruling On Pledge Is 'Wrong'(Graham: Constitutional Amendment If Necessary)
CNSNEWS.com ^ | 6/26/02 | Jim Burns

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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61 posted on 06/26/2002 3:56:15 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: arthurus
Yes, it is the most overturned court in the country. All 3 of the offices I contacted today told me that 29 of the last 30 rulings made were OVERTURNED.
62 posted on 06/26/2002 3:57:25 PM PDT by DJ88
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To: kattracks
Bypass the Senate for judge appointments??? How does that work?
63 posted on 06/26/2002 3:57:25 PM PDT by The Raven
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To: PhiKapMom
Yeah, watch Feinstein try to run from this. That _____ has been watching this court slice and dice our heritage for decades. Like she didn't know what they were. She's basicly working for the underground against us.
64 posted on 06/26/2002 3:58:56 PM PDT by DoughtyOne
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To: mlo
It's perfectly easy to grasp. Why can't a teacher have her class pledge allegiance? This pledge has been in use well over 100 years. And the group left out is pagans and atheists? Give me a damn break! I think there's something sick about a philosophy that sees as one of its achievements stopping the pledge of allegiance in school.
65 posted on 06/26/2002 3:59:00 PM PDT by Williams
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To: PhiKapMom
I wonder if Mr. Dasshole saw this coming? Maybe he got an election issue, but not the one he wanted. ;)
66 posted on 06/26/2002 3:59:35 PM PDT by demlosers
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To: DoughtyOne
President Bush needs to ask for prime-time network airtime for an Oval Office address to the nation. In this message, he needs to tie Daschele, Leahy, and the rest of the Dims to THIS ruling, and lay out the facts for the American people that prove these scoundrels are holding up justice for puny political purposes. Then he needs to ask the American people to lobby their Senators to get on with their asigned duty WRT Advice & Consent now.

He needs to get on the air ASAP.

67 posted on 06/26/2002 4:00:23 PM PDT by savedbygrace
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To: Carolinamom
The 9th District judges seem to overlook the fact that we have freedom OF religion, not freedom FROM religion.

Freedom OF religion means that the state should not impose yours on my children.

68 posted on 06/26/2002 4:01:40 PM PDT by mlo
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To: PhiKapMom
Every newscast I have heard is talking about how mad the people are and the fact that daschle is holding up Pres Bush's common sense nominees for judges.

Great!! Let's keep the two points linked.

(p.s. do you include the three "mainstream" networks in those who mentioned both points?)

69 posted on 06/26/2002 4:02:34 PM PDT by CedarDave
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To: nofriendofbills
No, lets just remove the Liberial judges who gave us this attack on our nation. Our forefathers didn't accept tyrannical rule from across the ocean we shouldn't take it from these judges in our own nation. We should physically take these liberal tyrants out of the court.
70 posted on 06/26/2002 4:02:38 PM PDT by RHINO369
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To: mlo
I think that you are a)deliberately trying to bait us into arguing with you; or b)you just don't get it.

Either way, mlo, the ENTIRE country is absolutely FURIOUS about this and OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD.

Yours is being drowned out. It is important to us. Our kids CANNOT say the Pledge of Allegiance at school anymore....IT'S UNCONSITITUTIONAL.

Anway, I'm done arguing with you. I am entitled to my opinion; I think this is an important issue because the next thing you know they'll be taking away our guns, our freedom of speech, etc. This is only a small pebble in the pond, but if you let it grow, it will soon become a boulder in a raging river that sweeps our rights away, one by one by one. That is what I care about.

71 posted on 06/26/2002 4:03:51 PM PDT by DJ88
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To: Williams
It's perfectly easy to grasp. Why can't a teacher have her class pledge allegiance? This pledge has been in use well over 100 years. And the group left out is pagans and atheists? Give me a damn break! I think there's something sick about a philosophy that sees as one of its achievements stopping the pledge of allegiance in school.

Atheists and pagans don't have rights to their beliefs?

The words "under god" were added in the 1950's. The original pledge did not contain them.

72 posted on 06/26/2002 4:04:14 PM PDT by mlo
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To: DoughtyOne
I watched her say she was embarrassed by this decision and then went on to say she was holding this Court together! What did she mean by that! Then I remembered her and Boxer were the ones that told Pres Bush not to nominate Rep Chris Cox to the 9th Circuit because they wouldn't approve.

What a hypocritical lowlife she is!

Sen Jeff Sessions (R-AL) just gave a brilliant speech on the floor of the Senate and also put some blame on the SCOTUS for their rulings in recent years forbidding prayer at football games, graduation, etc. Want to get a copy of his speech because he was wonderful and said everything I agreed with.
73 posted on 06/26/2002 4:04:48 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: DoughtyOne
Rep. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the House Judiciary Committee, vowed to go a step further if needed.

Is this the same clown that failed to vote for all of Clinton's impeachment articles? The same clown that supported John McCain for President? The same clown that voted for campaign finance "reform" What a disgrace you are Lindsey Graham.

74 posted on 06/26/2002 4:04:57 PM PDT by VA Advogado
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To: Carolinamom
Exactly! It is Freedom OF religion and Sen Jeff Sessions went into all those rulings that have gone against that original premise on the floor of the Senate moments ago.
75 posted on 06/26/2002 4:05:49 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: mlo
Wake up. The pledge contains the words "under God." Period. It is an historic national symbol not to be rewritten by the 9th Circuit or any other unelected left wing dictators. As far as I am concerned you are a lass as long as you don't say the L.
76 posted on 06/26/2002 4:06:47 PM PDT by Williams
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To: Miss Marple
CALL SENATORS & LEAHY & DASCHLE TO TELL THEM TO MOVE ON D. BROOKS SMITH NOMINATION - POST HASTE!
77 posted on 06/26/2002 4:06:54 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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To: DJ88
I think that you are a)deliberately trying to bait us into arguing with you; or b)you just don't get it.

I'm expresing my views, just as you are. That's all.

Either way, mlo, the ENTIRE country is absolutely FURIOUS about this and OUR VOICES HAVE BEEN HEARD.

And I'm hopeful that this anger will lead to something useful. It may be a good thing in the end.

Yours is being drowned out. It is important to us. Our kids CANNOT say the Pledge of Allegiance at school anymore....IT'S UNCONSITITUTIONAL.

This is simply not true. I've already explained why. Nothing stops your children from saying the pledge of alliegence.

78 posted on 06/26/2002 4:07:04 PM PDT by mlo
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To: nofriendofbills
You are so right! Enough is Enough! Time to take the Country back from the liberal judges that make the law as they go and this time they used Separation of Church and State which is NOT in the Constitution to make their ruling.
79 posted on 06/26/2002 4:07:07 PM PDT by PhiKapMom
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To: mlo
Atheists ( just like JW's and others who object) are not required to say the pledge in schools.
80 posted on 06/26/2002 4:08:16 PM PDT by anniegetyourgun
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