Clark Supports Anti Flag-Burning Amendment

[magnoliamouth]

OK, I had REALLY high hopes for a Wes Clark candidancy, but this proves he not really a Dem if he doesn't understand why flag burning (as awful as it is) is free speach.

The New York Times reports that former general and corporate lobbyist, now presidential candidate Wesley Clark supports "a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it illegal to desecrate the American flag by burning or other means, a position that puts him at odds with many constituencies in the Democratic Party and several other candidates for the Democratic nomination for president." Changing the U.S. Constitution to ban flag desecration has been criticized for years as a dangerous attack on free speech and dissent. Clark announced his positiion before the American Legion, a well-funded group long behind the amendment through the Citizens Flag Alliance.

http://www.nytimes.com/2003/11/12/politics/12CLAR.html?ex=1069648567&ei=1&en=3e9515bd12aa8d94

[Renew Deal]

1. I guess Dean, Kucinich, Edwards, and Gep aren't really dems either?

Just checking.

[magnoliamouth]

11. huh?

Show me documentation of Dean, Kucinich, Edwards, and Gephart supporting making flag-burning ILLEGAL!

[Renew Deal]

14. Go find it yourself but...

Dean supports a law to do this, not necessarily an amendment, but but but. Kucinich and Gep voted for it. Edwards supports a law.

[magnoliamouth]

17. YOU made the point, YOU prove it.

Uh... no. YOU claim that these people support laws that make flag burning illegal, the burden is on YOU to prove it.

[wakfs]

2. This is unacceptable.

I cannot support a candidate who wants to jail flag-burners.

I'll bet he'll also come out in favor of the War on Drugs, the Patriot Act, etc.

Not gonna support him, wouldn't be prudent.

[SlavesandBulldozers]

4. excellent point

I wonder what his stance is on the war on drugs, judging from this I bet his solution is increased militarization of the police forces.

[Renew Deal]

7. Is this a joke.

You need to either find out more about Clark or check out GD some more. Get going

[wakfs]

18. Find out more? Huh?

Hey, the person posted a link to a story that says Clark supports a constitutional amendment banning flag-burning.

That's it, that's the line I won't cross. I don't give two shits about what's posted in GD. I now know all I need to know about Clark.

Are you in FAVOR of banning flag-burning? Do you support amending the constitution for such a stupid idea? I don't get your point.

If the guy's willing to bend to the masses of ignorance on the right of the political spectrum without a fight, I do not trust him to handle other issues of importance to me.

[The Backlash Cometh]

3. Flag-burning issue is a trick question.

As an American, you can be against the act of flag burning, you can also express your disgust for people who burn the flag, but if you're a real American, you understand that the essence of American freedom is living in a country where people can express themselves in such a manner without having goon squads come after them.

[rock]

5. I agree

This is an acid test as to whether one understands freedom or not, IMHO.

[lancdem]

6. This is not a disqualifying issue for me

even if I think the amendment is a dumb idea.

[bowens43]

8. It's another step on the proverbial slippery slope.

What next? Ban criticism of the government during time of war? anyone who favors this amendment lacks a basic understanding of our Constitution and the freedom it was meant to protect.

It absolutely IS a disqualifying issue for me. That goes for ANY candidate who would support amending the Constitution to place limitations on our freedom of speech.

[AlabamaYankee]

9. I sent his campaign an e-mail

but haven't heard a thing back.

The burning of a national flag has traditionally been seen as the ultimate expression of displeasure of dissent - pure political speech. Since the First Amendment was established primarily to PROTECT political speech any move to prohibit flag burning cuts its heart out.

I would really like to hear Clark's rationale for this support.

[ajacobson]

10. It was a question on the campaign trail

somebody asked and Clark answered. This is not a "burning" issue (sorry couldn't help myself) in the campaign, it's a Republican wedge issue that doesn't merit continued scrutiny. Some may want to make it into a purity issue, but as others have pointed out, quite a number of candidates would fail that purity test. Certainly Clark's statements on why the Patriot Act is flawed and his support of dissent as a patriotic principle should give you a sense of where his values are. Sheesh.

Move along, there's nothing to see here...

[magnoliamouth]

12. There is a LOT here.

This goes to the heart of what FREEDOM and FREE SPEACH are.

There were MANY Dean supporters who were effectively ready to jump ship once Clark got into the race, but it's statements like these that have prevented that shift.

[newyawker99]

16. Hi magnoliamouth!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[otohara]

13. Not Cool General

as Joe Conason said, how many American's are out there burning flags that Wes Clark feels the need to tamper with The Bill of Rights

http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/2003/11/12/clark/index.html

[Rowdyboy]

15. Can you spell w-e-d-g-e i-s-s-u-e?

80% of Americans oppose flag-burning, so lets pressure all our candidates to take a stand on a meaningless issue sure to destroy their campaigns. Thats the ticket to losing next November!

[indypaul]

19. To paraphrase:

My support is to those who would burn the flag and
wrap themselves in the constitution. Rather than to
those who would burn the constitution and wrap themselves
in the flag. Just like the "don't ask, don't tell" policy and
the "partial birth abortion" these are wedge issues that
only serve the purposes of the opposition and candidates
should simply ignore them and respond with the same
bull shit the question entails and emphasize that
aspect of any such questions.

[robbedvoter]

20. You may burn a flag, but not in Vermont: dean signed a law

making it illegal
here's the candidates roll call on it - good luck in finding better:
http://robbedvoter.forclark.com/story/2003/11/12/63519/402

[eileen_d]

21. I don't think flag burning should be illegal

But I don't think it's an important issue at all. I don't even think it's a free speech issue. Flame away, but I think burning a flag is just a disrespectful action. I think it should be legal, but not constitutionally protected.

[stickdog]

22. The bottom line.

Kid: Hey! Who left all this garbage on the steps of Congress?

Amendment: I'm not garbage.

(singing)
I'm an amendment to be.
Yes, an amendment to be,
and I'm hopin' that they'll ratify me.
There's a lot of flag burners who have got too much freedom.
I wanna make it legal for policemen to beat 'em --
'cause there's limits to our liberties,
'least I hope and pray that there are,
'cause those libril freaks go too far.

Kid: Well why can't we just make a law against flag burning?

Amendment: Because that law would be unconstitutional. But if we changed the Constitution...

Kid: Then we could make all sorts of crazy laws!

Amendment: Now you're catching on!