I got this email response from Mark Dayton (RE: Flag Burning)

[Maleficus]

September 16, 2004

Dear Mr. ******:

Thank you for your letter concerning flag burning. I am a proud cosponsor of legislation to create a Constitutional Amendment to ban the burning of the flag. In supporting this Amendment, I am not seeking to compromise or sacrifice the basic and essential freedoms of the First Amendment, which the United States Supreme Court has interpreted to include the burning or desecration of the American flag. However, in acknowledging and respecting the complete and essential protections of the First Amendment, I seek to place the American flag, the great symbol of our country, our freedoms, and our great democracy above our individual political protests.

My best regards.
Sincerely,

Mark Dayton
United States Senator
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This was in response to the Flag Burning thing on the ACLU's website.

So there you go. What do you think?

[Wickerman]

1. Well, if Mark is co-sponsor that tells me he believes in it

I don't and am saddened that he takes that stance, but I can't think less of him for it.

He'll still get my vote come 2006.

[Maleficus]

2. He'll still get my vote too.

I'm just discouraged with him for taking this stance on this issue, much like you are.

:(

[Dickie Flatt]

3. Hmm. Complete first amendment protection, excluding the exceptions.

Uh huh.

[OneBlueSky]

4. what they're trying to create is a thought crime . . .

the approved method of disposing of American flags is burning, which the American Legion does regularly . . . so it's not the action that will be outlawed; it's what's in someone's head when the action is accomplished . . . if you're a Legionnaire, your thoughts are "good" when you burn a flag, so that's okay . . . if you're a demonstrator, however, your thought are "bad" when you burn a flag, and for that you could be arrested and charged with a crime . . .

yet another step on the road to fascism . . .

[Maleficus]

6. It's getting scary.

I am really worried about the current state of our "democracy". It's heading towards fascism, just like you said. :(

[loveable liberal]

5. if the country is going in the toilet under bush anyway....

why worry about being re elected. Be liberal, be progressive, be proud, dont cower under the right wing nazi machine. first its the flag, then its the image of the flag, then its the president, then its the congress....we either have freedom and liberty or we dont. Mark needs to choose a side.