Orrin Hatch: “I have been interested in these arguments because, if I recall it correctly, the distinguished Senator from…”

“I have been interested in these arguments because, if I recall it correctly, the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts has said that basically America is different from the long list of repressive regimes or dictatorial regimes--from Cuba, to North Korea, to Nazi Germany--because we do not have a law prohibiting flag desecration. But until 1989, we had State laws, in nearly all of the States, prohibiting flag desecration. If I recall it correctly, I believe the distinguished Senator from Massachusetts is saying we should not have a State law protecting the flag. If I recall it correctly, he voted for the flag statute to protect the flag back in 1989, and just yesterday voted for the McConnell amendment which would have done the same thing. Now look, there is a certain ``elitism'' around here in this country that literally is saying: We are above having to protect the flag of the United States. If somebody defecates on it or urinates on it, we do not want to give them any publicity for that. It is kind of the ``high society'' approach to things. If you want to be a member of the ``high society'' group, then don't do the ``unintellectual'' thing to protect our flag. That is what is getting me about this. We had, for 200 years, in 48 States, anti-flag-desecration statutes that protected the flag.”