Political Quotes

“whether it would ever be a crime to write on the flag or wear it at a concert, who knows? This whole debate is about restoring the power of elected officials to be able to manage such events. The Supreme Court, in a 5-to-4 decision, took the power away from everyone who is elected to have any say about the flag. This happened in 1989. We have lived here free, open, safe, and secure of being able to regulate conduct toward disrespecting the flag for most of our life. Only since 1989 and a 5-to-4 decision have we had this problem. I stand here wanting every elected official to have the constitutional power that we previously possessed before the 5-to-4 decision. And we will decide among ourselves what a good statute might be or may not be. Everybody can go through that process and be answerable to the people. I do not believe it is a burden to place on our citizens at large not to disrespect the flag. It is a burden we can bear as a people. If you do not like me, there are a million ways you can show your displeasure with my time in the Senate. But the fact is, I am an elected representative. All I am asking citizens as a whole is that we have one thing in common--that we are able to talk with each other and debate issues without destroying the flag. To me, that is a burden that we can bear. Freedom without responsibility is chaos. So it doesn't bother me one bit to turn to my worst enemy and say: This one thing is out of bounds.…”