Political Quotes

“you have heard the debate for 2 days now. On one side of the aisle, those supporting this amendment have summarized their feelings in three words: Respect the flag. On the other side of the debate are those who say: Respect the Constitution. They understand that what we are being asked to do is historic. Senator Byrd has reminded us. This would be the first time in the history of the United States of America that we would amend the Bill of Rights. It is a historic moment. And it takes some audacity and bravado for any sitting Member of the U.S. Senate to believe they have a better idea than James Madison, Thomas Jefferson, and our Founding Fathers had over 200 years ago. It takes a special circumstance for us to even consider changing that beloved first amendment, which has guided us for more than two centuries. The incidents of flag burning are rare. They are disgusting. But there are ways we can deal with this without defiling this Constitution. Senator Hatch's amendment says do not desecrate the flag. I believe we should not desecrate the Constitution. There is a way. The pending amendment points to the way: a Federal criminal statute carefully drawn to meet the Supreme Court test that would really deal with preserving and protecting the flag as we know it, as an important symbol of America, without invading our Bill of Rights. And the second part of my amendment which I am offering is one that you know about because you hear about it all the time.…”