posted on April 28, 2004 01:19:29 PM new
WASHINGTON -- Rep. Jim McDermott, a Washington Democrat who criticized President Bush while visiting Baghdad, omitted the words "under God" as he led the House in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance this week.
Mike DeCesare, a spokesman for McDermott, said Wednesday that McDermott had made a mistake.
The 67-year-old McDermott told him that as a child he had learned the pledge without the words "under God," DeCesare said. The phrase was added to the pledge in 1954.
"Basically he caught himself up," DeCesare said, adding that McDermott was unsure whether to include the phrase "under God" because the 2002 ruling by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals is being reviewed by the Supreme Court.
"Today he says, 'I should have said it,' because the pledge has been amended and in the future he will do that," DeCesare said. "Basically it was the wrong time to have a question in your thoughts."
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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."- Carl Sagan
posted on April 28, 2004 01:23:40 PM new
And they probably believe people think they're going to be fooled by making [after] statements like that.....after they say or do what they're really feeling/thinking.
No guts....to just be honest about where they stand on the subject.
posted on April 28, 2004 01:34:37 PM new
I know what some people *might* say: he learned it that way as a child
BUT how long has McDermott been a Congressman? And they recite the pledge REGULARLY? Ya think he forgot? yeah right!
On the local radio, they are talking about it.... saying that there were objections after he said it..... and the head of Congress said he was putting it all in the 'official transcript' for that day....
don't have a url for the radio, sorry
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"Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known."- Carl Sagan
posted on April 28, 2004 01:47:44 PM new
One section of the above link:
The House has overwhelmingly approved two resolutions expressing outrage at the June 2002 decision by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that it is unconstitutional to have schoolchildren recite the Pledge in class because it includes the words "under God."
Mr. McDermott was one of seven Democrats who voted against a March 2003 House resolution approved 400-7 that condemned the 9th Circuit decision as inconsistent with the Supreme Court's interpretation of the First Amendment. The House passed a similar resolution, 416-2 in June 2002, immediately after the court's decision, and Mr. McDermott joined 10 Democrats in voting "present."
"Congressman McDermott already knew that he had a problem with the words 'under God,' based on two votes he cast. The question is why he put himself in the position of embarrassing the House in this way," Mr. Sessions said.
posted on April 28, 2004 05:21:43 PM newBUT how long has McDermott been a Congressman? And they recite the pledge REGULARLY? Ya think he forgot? yeah right!
Actually he could have. I don't know about you, but every once in a while I slip through time somehow myself. I haven't worked at the Motion Picture Academy since 1986--but sometimes at work the phone will ring and, without thinking, I will answer it with "Academy Library"..... And the bookstore "B.Dalton's" has been called that for about 30 years, but it was "Pickwick's" when I was growing up--and every once in a while I will refer to it by that. Stuff like that happens sometimes.
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Censorship, like charity, should begin at home; but unlike charity, it should end there --Clare Booth Luce
posted on April 28, 2004 11:10:09 PM new
You know what Bunni? Reading this post I am trying to recite the pledge of allegiance to myself, and its been so long, I cant get past the first sentence. But I just did it again and it came back to me.
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United states of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, undergod...oops...gone again...indivisable, ,something, something, something.
He could have had a brain fart, but hearing it recited everyday, I doubt he'd forget that one line, too. (Ya gotta love politics!!)
So since I cant remember the pledge, I will just sing a song: "oh, united we stand, divided we fall, and if our backs should ever be against the wall...we'll be together.......ToGether.....lalala.....
(how sixties, eh?)
