Frank Lautenberg: “I stand here proud of my country, proud of our liberties, proud of our flag. I went to Europe as a young man during…”

“I stand here proud of my country, proud of our liberties, proud of our flag. I went to Europe as a young man during World War II--the first time I was out of the country--and put on a uniform to defend the honor and freedoms that this country represents. Now we talk about flag desecration by the actions of a few who dare burn our flag. It is a repulsive, ugly act. We never want to see it. But do we take away their right to dissent and do we say America is a country that can't stand dissent? No. One's patriotism may be another person's desecration. Here's a picture--I show this poster not at all to denigrate the President of the United States, but that is the hand of the President of the United States using a magic marker to write on this flag. He never intended to be disrespectful; he loves this country. I differ with him on policy, but is that desecration, I ask you? I think this second poster is another example that represents desecration. Here he is, Kid Rock, with his head through the flag. Is that a desecration? It was such a desecration that he was invited to perform in a concert at the Republican Convention, and they partied with him. They loved him. What constitutes desecration? A lapel pin? We worry about what we do for our soldiers and say that we love the flag so much, but we won't allow news photos of flag-draped coffins coming into Dover? Pictures of those flags are banned? What is going on here? This is politicking at its worst.…”