Posted on 03/20/2003 10:02:57 AM PST by LurkedLongEnough
Capitol Hill-AP -- The House has voted to condemn a federal appeals court's ruling that the phrase "Under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance is unconstitutional in public schools.
The non-binding resolution states that the phrase reflects the religious faith central to the founding of the nation.
The resolution passed 400 to seven. Fifteen voted present.
House Judiciary Chairman James Sensenbrenner says the appeals court refused to re-hear the case at a time when the nation is preparing for a war to "defend the values" of the nation's founders.
A Democrat who voted "present" says he thinks the resolution sets a dangerous precedent. Massachusetts Congressman William Delahunt says it tells judges that they'd better tailor their Constitutional views to the congressional majority if they're going to be confirmed.
Ahahahahaha! That from the party of obstruction? No, judges now know that if they want confirmation in the Senate (not your job, House dude) they'd better tailor their Constitutional views the the extremist pro abortion lobby.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., said the 9th Circuit decision was "exactly consistent" with the Supreme Court rulings over the last 40 years on school prayers. The court, he said, "has said that we cannot ask schoolchildren to recite a prayer or a belief in God in the classroom setting, even if we allow the dissenters to walk out of the room."Nadler was one of seven Democrats to vote against the resolution. The others were Robert Scott of Virginia; Jim McDermott of Washington; Pete Stark and Mike Honda of California, Gary Ackerman of New York and Barney Frank of Massachusetts.
If it had been a "weighted" vote the resolution would have failed.
A Nadler apologist.
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