Flag Burning: Who's right, who's wrong

[Bucky]

This is how I tally this issue (again, it's not a voting issue, but it's annoying)

Wrong, supporting a Constitutional amendment: Clark and Kucinich

Wrong, supporting legislation, but not the admendment: Dean

Almost right, but then panders: Kerry, who says, "If I saw someone burning the flag, I'd punch them in the mouth because I love that flag."

Unknown, cause I can't Google my way to finding his views on this: Sharpton.

Right, opposing the amendment without advocating vigilante-style street "justice" (née violence) as a substitute: Edwards and Lieberman. This is why I like lawyers. But I'm still voting for a soldier.

[RowWellandLive]

1. Question on Dean's position

Is legislation possible without an amendment? If it was I think it would have been done by now. Personally, it makes me cringe when the flag is burned but I do not like the idea of a constitutional amendment. I guess I mostly agree with Kerry on this one. Although I would not really punch them, just speak my mind in opposition. Guess that means I'm really with Edwards and Lieberman.

I'm confused :shrug: This is just not one of the issues that I care deeply enough about to consider when choosing a candidate. An amendment is not going to pass. It's more symbolic then anything else. I just can't really get worked up over it.

[Eric J in MN]

3. The Vermont legislature was determined to pass a bill

The Vermont legislature was determined to pass a non-binding resolution
asking the US Congress to outlaw flag-burning.

Originally, they were going to call for a US Consitutional amendment, but Howard Dean got them to drop that part.

[NewYorkerfromMass]

2. Kerry's also a lawyer and he's 100% right

because he can't afford to lose the veterans' vote to Bush.

[Bucky]

16. No, he's wrong. He's trying to have it both ways.

What kind of mind upholds an unpopular law in the dependent clause of a sentence, then advocates street violence as a sound alternative in the independent clause of that same sentence. What's worse, he then tacked on "because I love that flag," thereby making it a run-on sentence. Buddy, if you love bad grammar so much, why don't you go join the Republicans?

Um, wait, that's not what I meant to say. :)

What I mean to say is that Kerry's ethical position is totally undercut by his pander about nose-punching. And why the nose of all places? I'd go for the jaw. No I wouldn't. I'm against street violence (must remember that, must remember that...). The position he takes is just so silly. It sounds like the verbal equivalent of his posing for shots while quail hunting or riding his hog onto Leno's stage. It's a pose to hide his core cultural liberalism. I prefer my liberals as the kind who will, like Clark or Kucinich, stand right up and say "I'm a liberal" and not do any compensational poses. With the possible exception of their support for a flag-burning amendment.

[ThirdWheelLegend]

4. I am gainst an amendment, I disagree with Kucinich

but since I agree with Kucinich on the other 99% of the issues I am sticking with Kucinich.

Although Kucinich's reasons are interesting, he supports it out of his respect for what America truly should stand for and not what corporatism has done to this country.

TWL

[SheilaT]

5. The whole flag burning thing is yet another way

to distract us from things that are really important. Like health care. Jobs gone overseas. Illegal wars.

How many people burn flags every year, anyway? Not to mention, the correct way to dispose of a flag is to burn it.

There are probably already sufficient laws and regulations about setting fires in public places to cover the extremely rare burning of a flag. Nothing else is needed.

[7th_Sephiroth]

6. flag burning is free speach

if they can outlaw flag burning they can just as easily outlaw protesters themselves

[LBJBestEver]

7. Flag burning = another Democratic wedge issue the rightwing uses to divide

[Jerseycoa]

11. Welcome to DU, LBJBestEver

:hi:

Will you please bring back the Great Society?

[Shanty Oilish]

8. First Amendment. As long as you don't burn it in a crowded theater....

...burn away. 99 times out of 100 you'll look stupid or worse, but freedom of expression should rule the occasion.

[Shanty Oilish]

9. Kerry

"If I saw someone burning the flag, I'd punch them in the mouth because I love that flag," Kerry said.

That would be the Kitty Dukakis Clause. John Kerry is a very thorough student :)

[buckeye1]

10. Oh please.

Everything is going to hell and this is an issue? Please focus,the time is short.

[Edge]

12. Flag Burning = Freedom of Speech.

I back freedom of speech(as well as the rest of my freedoms) 100%.

Tell me I can't do it and I'll punch you in the mouth.

[shance]

13. Bucky I hope you write as a living because you are CREATIVE***

and a good writer.

I like your unknown category***....

Ya know, if flag burning is not the biggest god-damned(excuse me while I channel my father*) distraction, I dont know what is.

Burning a flag is a symbol of discontent and something going wrong in America. My opinion.

I dont at all like the idea of someone burning our flag, and yet at this point (Hi John Ashcroft who is Im sure keeping tallies at DU**) I couldnt blame a few here and there that indulged in the ritual. They are angry, and chances are they have good reason to be.

There are American citizens as I write this, that are being denied their rights, incarcerated without due process even in foreign lands without a lawyer and without their families even knowing where in the heck they are, and much, much more.

SO, if a few burn a flag here and there, I would think if I was in the Administration, I would want to take a look at the situation and see if there was some legitimate motivation behind the skewering....I bet there would be. Most Americans are so grateful to be in this country and to be American. As of late, with all the tremendous injustices and violations of Americans civil liberties after 9/11, Im confident that feeling has changed.

[flaminbats]

14. Would I then be allowed to punch the Senator?

the two parties in this nation are the fascists and the nazis...take your pick!

Almost right, but then panders: Kerry, who says, "If I saw someone burning the flag, I'd punch them in the mouth because I love that flag."

I burn my flags in accordance to the Betsy Ross rules, if such a person expects me to accept this insult for my patriotism, he will never need my vote!

[LiberalBushFan]

15. Clark knows it's not right, and would never do it.

But he knows its importance in the South, and knows that it's a bad stand for the primaries, but he's looking beyond the primaries to beating Bush. He said this, though in different words, in a small speech I saw.