Constitutional Amendments

Hey folks,

There has been a big move as of late by the GOP to amend the Constitution for various reasons. Why is this? Just this month alone the Right Wing Radicals have tried to amend the Constitution to prohibit Gay marriage, and now, to outlaw flag burning. Both failed in the Senate.

The 66-34 tally on the flag amendment yesterday was one vote less than the two-thirds, or 67 votes, required to send it to the states for ratification. The House cleared the two-thirds threshold last year, 286-130.

Sponsored by Sen. Orrin Hatch R-Utah, the amendment read,

"The Congress shall have power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States."

There was more in this than just flag burning. An alternative put forward by assistant Democratic leader Dick Durbin of Illinois, would have made it against the law to damage the flag on federal land or with the intent of breaching the peace or intimidation. It also would have prohibited unapproved demonstrations at military funerals. The Senate also rejected this also.

It was interesting to see some of those that voted for it. Like Democrat Evan Bayh of Indiana and Republicans George Allen of Virginia, Sam Brownback of Kansas, Frist, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, and John McCain of Arizona. Some who voted no were Joseph Biden of Delaware, Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Russell Feingold of Wisconsin, John Kerry of Massachusetts.

Well it is an election year. Can you see this being a head to head John McCain face to face with Hillary, "I voted vote it, you voted against it." Then you have John Kerry? How did you vote? "I don’t know." Depending on the latest polling data.

Now I understand the "American Values Agenda". I can even say I agree with a lot of it. House Republicans intend to hold several votes this summer and fall, to try to stem the tide of the moral decline in this country They will be touching on abortion, guns, religion and other priority issues for social conservatives. This of course is also, in part, an attempt to improve the party's prospects in the midterm elections. But messing with the Constitution is dangerous, and not the way to do it. You cannot force "values" on people. You cannot legislate morality.
Peter