Last updated on July 17th, 2023 at 09:36 pm
After Donald Trump suggested that people be put in jail for burning the flag, top Republican Senators Mitch McConnell and John McCain reminded Trump that flag burning is protected under the First Amendment, as McConnell signaled to reporters than any legislation banning flag burning would be DOA.
Video of McCain:
https://youtu.be/12acpZAOZXc
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McCain said, “I do not approve of burning the flag. I do believe there should be some punishment, but as of right now, the Supreme Court’s decision is that people are free to express themselves that way. But I do not approve of it, and I think there’s other ways for people to express their views.”
Senate Majority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) told reporters:
Sen McConnell on flag burning: "The Supreme Court has held that that activity is a protected First Amendment right"
— Erica Werner (@ericawerner) November 29, 2016
Mitch McConnell on flag burning: "People like that pose little harm to our country. But tinkering with our First Amendment might."
— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) November 29, 2016
McConnell has opposed every bill to criminalize flag-burning and has not brought a single flag burning amendment to the floor as leader.
If Mitch McConnell doesn’t want it to happen, then Donald Trump’s dream of putting people in jail for burning the flag is dead on arrival. Trump isn’t even in office yet, and already Senate Republicans are disagreeing with him and refusing to take up some of his ideas.
One can almost count the days until President Trump is angrily attacking Senate Majority Leader McConnell on his Twitter account. The Trump/McConnell marriage looks destined to fail in spectacular fashion.
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
