Video: Democrats refuse to stand for Pledge of Allegiance
posted at 1:35 pm on June 30, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Via the Weasel Zippers and Say Anything, behold the latest in blogospheric outrage: Democrats refusing to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance! In this case, though, the context actually improves the story. This takes place in Albany, where the New York state Senate remains locked in a power struggle in an evenly divided chamber. Rather than an insult to American patriotism, the Democrats here engaged in an insult to the intelligence of New Yorkers:
Is petulance the highest form of patriotism? After all, according to the Democratic leader of the California assembly, dissent is apparently now terrorism. Maybe the Democrats on the other coast want to make tantrums and sandbox tactics into democracy.
In this case, the refusal to stand comes as the culmination of a series of childish gestures. One member plays exies no erasies with the podium, while her colleagues try to make the chamber into the Democratic Club playhouse (no Republican cooties allowed!). When Republicans try to start the session on their own terms, the Democrats refuse to acknowledge their authority to do so — which is why they remained seated, except for one Democrat, who got pulled back down by his desk partner.
Maybe it’s time for New Yorkers to send blankies to their state Senate and insist that their elected representatives take nap time, followed by lessons on sharing. Everything these people know, they learned in kindergarten — or maybe pre-school.
Blowback
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As a Vietnam Veteran, I should be outraged at this, but, for some reason, I’m looking at them, perhaps, much like I would look at someone with a mental challenge. Is that what Progressivism is, a mental challenge? Have the inmates really taken over the asylum?
DL13 on June 30, 2009 at 2:20 PM
God does not exist. He is being itself beyond essence and existence. Therefore to argue that God exists is to deny him.
Tav on June 30, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Just goes to show you BonQuiQui works everywhere. If not familiar check out king Burger at UTube.
LSUMama on June 30, 2009 at 2:21 PM
As a non-believer that has read the Bible, how is Christianity in IT’S PUREST FORM blasphemy. Are you accusing Jesus of blasphemy?
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 2:21 PM
What would you say if Obama refused to stand?
JiangxiDad on June 30, 2009 at 2:21 PM
Have the inmates really taken over the asylum?
DL13 on June 30, 2009 at 2:20 PM
YES!
LSUMama on June 30, 2009 at 2:22 PM
There is a guy buried in a cemetary near me and his tombstone claims he is the author of the Pledge. His name is Upham, but I cannot remember the first name on the tomb. I see it when I walk my dog in there.
tessa on June 30, 2009 at 2:22 PM
Sort of like the Declaration of Independence, huh?
Johan Klaus on June 30, 2009 at 2:22 PM
You can bet if they asked for a moment of silence for MJ, you would have stood and bowed their head in reverence…
Instead of Pledge of Allegiance, maybe they should have played “Billie Jean”…then they could have moved in and taken their seats while they were in the aisle dancing…
right2bright on June 30, 2009 at 2:22 PM
War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength.
MB4 on June 30, 2009 at 2:23 PM
LOL….
Thunderstorm129 on June 30, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Yes, the leftist radicals won. And we’re nowhere near ready to destroy them, even if we win in 2010. So they still won.
JiangxiDad on June 30, 2009 at 2:24 PM
If they played Michael Jackson’s Thriller I’m sure they couldn’t stay in their seats for long.
portlandon on June 30, 2009 at 1:58 PM
That’s hilarious.
NebCon on June 30, 2009 at 2:24 PM
Already answered that.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 2:25 PM
LOL! Don’t you see me having a conversation here?? Rude.
Thunderstorm129 on June 30, 2009 at 2:25 PM
You’re a weird atheist. I agree with your sentiment and feel the same way about those who disagree with me on religious issues.
And yet you don’t believe God exists, so it must not be blasphemy.
It’s illogical to claim that it must be blasphemous if God does exist though. If God exists, surely someone wrote about him. Why not Abraham, Paul, Mark, etc.?
And I agree with your last sentence. You really shouldn’t live your life based on the idea that God doesn’t exist.
Esthier on June 30, 2009 at 2:25 PM
Today, go out and find a pacifier and mail it here.
The Capitol Building
Executive Chamber
c/o State Senate Democrats
Albany, NY 12224
pjean on June 30, 2009 at 2:25 PM
If it looked like it would cost him the next election, I would say bravo! I would also do a little jig.
MB4 on June 30, 2009 at 2:25 PM
He is not the founder of Christianity.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 2:26 PM
Now ur starting to get it.
JiangxiDad on June 30, 2009 at 2:27 PM
Same here (thought not a vet). Maybe it’s the angle or the camera view, almost like we are looking at some other form,or species, like looking at a zoo.
I almost feel sorry for them, they are so out of touch…but more worried about what kind of mind elects people like this…I can see why it is important for the black leaders to keep their “people” un-educated.
right2bright on June 30, 2009 at 2:28 PM
The important thing to understand here is that the Democratic Leader, Malcolm Smith was so obnoxious in running the Senate that he created a backlash in his own party. Republicans were not allowed to participate in bills, got a fraction of what Democrats got in member items, and could not offer amendments that would have gotten a majority approval. Thus, the Republicans were solidly opposed to Smith.
However, since Smith had only a 32 to 30 majority, he had to get all his votes to do anything when the Republicans were a block; so he kept leaning on his democrats to vote for things they did not support. This got two of them mad enough to defect long enough to vote with the Republicans to dump Smith as Senate Majority Leader. Thus, Smith made his own problem.
Now the Senate is split 31 to 31 with no tie-breaking Lt. Gov. because he was promoted to Governor to replace Spitzer. They need some consensus to do anything but Smith still insists on ignoring the Leadership vote and acting like he alone is still in charge. Thus, his position is “I get my way or the people’s work will not be done”. Meanwhile his advertising blitz makes out that the Republicans are mad dogs that need to be put down and blames them for the State’s financial crisis brought on by the Democrats overspending.
Its like you kick a dog and then he barks; then you hit him with a stick to make him shut up. Then when he bites,you scream “mad dog” give him a lethal injection and claim you had done everything you could to control the dog.
KW64 on June 30, 2009 at 2:28 PM
He didn’t say He was…he asked a challenge and you avoided it.
right2bright on June 30, 2009 at 2:29 PM
Well, it probably goes without saying that the Sixteenth is unconstitutional.
The Dean on June 30, 2009 at 2:29 PM
I have known a (very) few atheists in my life who were just what the name implies: aware of the darkness of the void, and brave in the face of nothingness. I’ve never felt the need to argue with them, and they’ve always honored the fact that I couldn’t live without whatever faith I manage.
As far as the current trendy atheism, OhEssYouCowboys says it better than I ever could. People who’ve never had the opportunity to have the crap scared out of them don’t qualify as courageous, and snarkiness is just childish.
warbaby on June 30, 2009 at 2:31 PM
And people out there keep voting for these Dumb-a-carts…. Can these clowns say Nazi, Communist, or idiot!
Confederate on June 30, 2009 at 2:31 PM
A pledge to uphold the U.S. Constitution upon being sworn in is one thing, although I doubt that any such pledge makes many, if any, politician the slightest bit more likely to uphold the Constitution, but repeated proforma/”on your sleeve” pledges, particularly with “one nation under God” in them, is quite another.
MB4 on June 30, 2009 at 2:33 PM
Pawlenty says he won’t stand in the way of the MN Supreme Court decision to appoint Franken the winner. Wished the waiting could go on longer, but I still feel these past eight months have elevated the whole joke around a Senator Franken. His appointment to senator means about as much as if he were made the town dog catcher. And I’m sorry to have insulted dog catchers.
pjean on June 30, 2009 at 2:34 PM
Starting? Assumes “facts” not in evidence.
MB4 on June 30, 2009 at 2:35 PM
1) “Maybe”?
2) These governments, local, city, state, and federal, no longer REPRESENT the people; these governments FEAST upon tax dollars paid in earnest by their constituencies.
That is tyranny in its essence. How much have we paid to fund it?
NY keeps pushing out bad lawmakers but unfortunately, not at the same rate that the bad lawmakers keep appearing. The breed that would speak loudly and honestly in the language of the middle class, and to start paying back palpable tax refunds / be fiscally conservative to the core can be the trend setter. The time is right.
LibertyBoyNYC on June 30, 2009 at 2:36 PM
The time is right!!!!
LibertyBoyNYC on June 30, 2009 at 2:37 PM
Petulance…..The reality is that these people are making law backed by the full weight of the state which can and will take your wealth, liberty, or both to enforce and ensure you obedience to whatever they enact.
cjk on June 30, 2009 at 2:38 PM
The Democrats were saving their energy to stand for a moment of silence for Michael Jackson.
Star20 on June 30, 2009 at 2:39 PM
I don’t recall the Republicans throwing a temper tantrum in the Senate when Jim Jeffords switched away from the Republicans and threw control to the Democrats.
BillyGoatGruff on June 30, 2009 at 2:41 PM
Literally speaking, he is. The word means, belonging to Christ.
Maybe, but disrespecting the pledge isn’t a good sign either.
Esthier on June 30, 2009 at 2:42 PM
Clearly, these [unbelievably] elected “representatives” do NOT have upholding the essence of the Constitution in mind. The American Spirit is at all times a vigilant one, the overriding American independent doctrine is Revolutionary to the bone. Public servants must be thoroughly infected with this fervor, or else this is what happens. Government’s a business to these abusive and tyrannical lot, so why not expect them to act in a self-serving manner?
How do we solve this?! I think you ALL know, each of you!!
LibertyBoyNYC on June 30, 2009 at 2:42 PM
I bet they would stand quick enough if they just changed a few words:
“I pledge allegiance to 0bama”
“One Country, Under Marx, with Liberty and Justice for none”
LegendHasIt on June 30, 2009 at 2:45 PM
Wow. LevStrauss turned this post into a religion-bashing fest.
In other news, it rained somewhere in the world today.
MadisonConservative on June 30, 2009 at 2:47 PM
If I were a democrat, I’d be ashamed to admit it!
byteshredder on June 30, 2009 at 2:47 PM
No Esthier, I am an honest practical atheist. I reject the spirit, yet respect the thousands of years of human evolutionary spiritualism. I am the outcast, but am normal mentally. I respect the bibles teachings, but don’t believe the miracles. Jesus was a great man and prophet, I just don’t believe in his miracles. That’s the only difference. People who disrespect religion because they were forced to believe a certain way in their childhood, then rebelled in their adulthood are dishonest. People like Maher were to his thinking, victimized by religion thereby making organized religion a joke. Most atheists are like that. They have absolutely no concept of history or the evolutionary faith based concepts of early humans.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Truly you have a dizzying intellect.
Hebrews 11:6 So, you see, it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that there is a God and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him.
Mojave Mark on June 30, 2009 at 2:47 PM
Flyover, I dunno, I seem to read a hint of faith in your posts. I didn’t mean for my earlier post to you, about “atheists,” to be read as a personal attack. If you considered it to be, I apologize.
My discussion was meant for those who seem so angry and bitter, whenever “God” or “Jesus Christ” is brought up.
I wish you well, hope that you will look for God, and that oSu and KU meet up in the Big 12 Championship game, this fall.
:O)
OhEssYouCowboys on June 30, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Initially, you said you prefer to exercise your right not to stand.
Then you said that liberty and allegiances are hard to reconcile.
Lastly you said this might conceivably embarrass dems and cause them electoral harm.
I said, now ur getting it.
JiangxiDad on June 30, 2009 at 2:50 PM
Gosh, I thought I was watching second graders being filmed after their teacher left the classroom for a few minutes. What is the age limit for being a New York Democrat State Senator anyway…….8?
Didn’t Candidate Obama have to be reminded to wear his pin while he campaigned? They only learned from the best!
yoda on June 30, 2009 at 2:51 PM
As a NY state resident, I`m not bothered by the senate gridlock. They can do less damage when they`re not working.
ThePrez on June 30, 2009 at 2:52 PM
They would have been standing on their desks.
cjk on June 30, 2009 at 2:52 PM
That is common in a lot of atheists. Their parents forced them into church, and they rebelled. My husband did it himself, only he was 14 or so when he did. By 19, after a year or so of debates with me, he calmed significantly.
I think everyone should explore all religions and even question whether or not they really do believe in God. I think it’s very healthy. But I don’t see the point in railing on those with faith.
I appreciate your perspective here.
Esthier on June 30, 2009 at 2:53 PM
With tears of gratitude that Marx, Lenin and Stalin had brought such prosperity and happiness to the world.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 30, 2009 at 2:54 PM
I just received another (my 6th) notice from the State of New Jerk re. the brand new payroll tax to pay for the city’s subways and buses. Somebody’s still working :(
JiangxiDad on June 30, 2009 at 2:55 PM
No, where Democrats are in control, taxes are automatic. Taxes coincide with the waxing of the sun, every day.
OhEssYouCowboys on June 30, 2009 at 2:57 PM
We got them from the “outta da Hood” program.
Alden Pyle on June 30, 2009 at 2:58 PM
Religion is a beautiful thing. Faith is the hardest denominator for us.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 2:59 PM
They’re being very clever this time. It’s a payroll tax, but the employer must pay it, not the employee. They’re attacking businesses in NYS. And of course, the result will be less hiring, as it becomes more expensive to add workers with the new tax. It’s perfect democrat rule, taken right from the pages of Atlas Shrugged. In my own case, I’m just going to limit hiring, and salaries, and try to raise prices, to recoup the tax. All in all, it will hurt the economy. I guess their thinking in Albany is that sooner or later Obama will bail out NY so it doesn’t matter what they do now. But I’m going Gault ASAP, so they won’t have me to kick around anymore.
JiangxiDad on June 30, 2009 at 3:03 PM
Why? The Pledge was written by a socialist. I’m not a fan of the Pledge and I leave parts out, specifically indivisble.
Tim Burton on June 30, 2009 at 3:04 PM
New York State is a banana republic.
RobCon on June 30, 2009 at 3:04 PM
Where?
Johan Klaus on June 30, 2009 at 3:05 PM
Brings to mind one of my favorite quotes from Ann Coulter:
“We’ve finally given liberals a war against fundamentalism, and they don’t want to fight it. They would, except it would put them on the same side as the United States.”
snaggletoothie on June 30, 2009 at 3:06 PM
Americans first or Democrats first.
Answer given.
kurtzz3 on June 30, 2009 at 3:06 PM
This is a silly “controversy”.
DaveS on June 30, 2009 at 3:06 PM
AMERICA is a banana republic! Wake it up!
LibertyBoyNYC on June 30, 2009 at 3:08 PM
How is this silly?
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Ed,
.
If this you-tube video does not go viral on the internet, then HA commenters who can embed it should do so and re-release this video everyday for one straight month till a formal response from the state representatives from NY is given. This apology can then be used in the up and coming primaries for these incumbents re-election bids. This is the height of disrespect of from these representatives toward the people of NY state and reflects poorly on these representatives lack of patriotism and honor to say the least. Furthermore, the balance of American public officials across the nation should weigh in on this misbehavior and should denounce with ridicule and admonition. This behavior is not dissent, what it is indicative of is the ongoing decay that is randomly displayed by individuals and groups. These pockets of our population whom express their characteristic distain and anxiety of this country. This type of behavior is a state in which all hope is lost should not be encouraged by our silence but rather with righteousness and resentment.
Americannodash on June 30, 2009 at 3:08 PM
Two year olds.
BrideOfRove on June 30, 2009 at 3:11 PM
1. Florida 2000
2. Iraq 2003
3. Jeanne-Claude Kerri, 2004.
Del Dolemonte on June 30, 2009 at 3:16 PM
MadisonConservative on June 30, 2009 at 2:47 PM
No I didn’t. Go back to the tape. I was baited.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 3:17 PM
Poow wittle baby Dems had their feewings huwt. Send the Whaaaaambulance!
infidel4life on June 30, 2009 at 3:20 PM
I did not nor have I ever said that it doesn’t exist. We don’t know the answer on this one, so we shouldn’t pretend to. But if it did, making up crap about it would definitely be blasphemy.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 3:21 PM
All I saw was some hateful worthless human beings. They could live, they could die. Who would care?
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 3:23 PM
I have a name for people like that, but it’s rather crude…and would be an insult to cats everywhere to be compared to that unpatriotic coward.
ynot4tony2 on June 30, 2009 at 3:26 PM
You can’t tell. The people who wrote about him make some ridiculous claims that are not credible at all, all that miracle nonsense makes the rest of the things attributed to him just as questionable. Are the people who wrote about him guilty? Yes. If he himself claimed everything attributed to him? Yes.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Then say “I am a proud agnostic but still believe in the basic tenets of the Christian faith”. Dang, dude, take a stand.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 3:28 PM
Do me a favor, read my 2:47 post. That is the true HONEST thinking of an atheist.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 3:30 PM
Yeah good catch. “Full of individuals” would have been better or something to that affect. Pretty soon once we take out the bad and silly stuff and the obsolete words, we’ll be left with “to, the, under, and one”.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 3:31 PM
Oh, STFU, both of you. Stay on topic.
Jaibones on June 30, 2009 at 3:32 PM
Disgusting!
davenp35 on June 30, 2009 at 3:33 PM
Oh please if the New Yorkers were smart to bein with this wouldn’t be happening.
Engrpat on June 30, 2009 at 3:34 PM
Kind of similar to the Californians. Stupid is as stupid does.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 3:36 PM
And yet, without a twinge of irony, you just did.
L.N. Smithee on June 30, 2009 at 3:37 PM
If they are going to act like children, then they should be treated like children. Give them a swift kick to the rear and send them to their homes for a few years to think about what they did.
thuljunior on June 30, 2009 at 3:38 PM
Wasn’t it at the New York State Democratic convention in Albany a few years ago where the attendees spat upon the Boy Scout color honor guard? These creatures are despicable low lifes worthy of all public scorn that can be heaped upon them. It is oh so obvious that they do not think of themselves as leaders, but as rulers. For the esteemed crats of Albany,
“I fart in your general direction”.
sannhet on June 30, 2009 at 3:39 PM
No that is your stereotype for one. An atheist, if it means no god, no how, merely jumps to conclusions.
And as far as faith being beneficial for evolutionary purposes, that is a complete joke, history is full of examples of it retarding progress. It is also harmful because it helps destroy critical thinking, too many fools use their fable books as one stop shopping for answers to some of the most important questions. We shouldn’t coddle stupidity or gullibility.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Care to elaborate.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 3:41 PM
Fine, but let’s be clear: it’s not all of them, it’s the Democrats.
Kensington on June 30, 2009 at 3:42 PM
I reply to what others say and you tell me to STFU. No you STFU.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 3:42 PM
It’s not like you need to be. I remember the post when it was supposed to be a Christian/Atheist love fest.
Only if it’s made up, which, as you’re saying here, you have no proof of, so isn’t possible that you’re being blasphemous in saying that it’s made up?
Esthier on June 30, 2009 at 3:43 PM
Yes but it’s the Democrats who are bananas!
Shy Guy on June 30, 2009 at 3:46 PM
Chrisitanity has always been man made.
LevStrauss on June 30, 2009 at 3:46 PM
They are still working on the final wording and that is coming soon after they release the new military oath of which my “sources” have obtained a copy.
“I swear by Karl Marx this sacred oath that I shall render unconditional obedience to Barack Obama, the Supreme Ruler of the ACORN Reich, supreme commander of the armed forces, Divine Ruler of all that he surveys and that I shall at all times be ready, as a subservient soldier, to give my life for this oath.” (Emanuel Rahm Form 666)
MB4 on June 30, 2009 at 3:57 PM
There are a couple of you posting on this site, and I respect that. I am a Christian, and I always laugh at the people like LevStrauss, they take what the Christians and the faithful have created, they live it, they flourish in it, the participate in it, other words they take, but they refuse to give back. Ungrateful would be a pleasant word, like most beggars, they have their hand stretched out, but they never thank the giver. They whine and cry about not having “enough”, but never are thankful for what has been provided to them.
The fabric of this society is woven tightly by the threads of the faithful.
Schools, hospitals, relief organizations, care for abandoned children, abused women, displaces families, the least among us.
But they are blinded by their greed, and only want more, and give so very little back.
Thanks for acknowledging the faithful…we are not that far apart.
right2bright on June 30, 2009 at 3:58 PM
So you say, but unless you know, you’ve proven nothing but that you’re willing to possibly be blasphemous will condemning others for it.
Esthier on June 30, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Blasphemy is a victimless crime.
MB4 on June 30, 2009 at 3:59 PM
This is sick. If it is the pledge or the national anthem people need to stop what they are doing and act like an American.
As a military wife this makes me so angry. On base when we go to the theater before the movie starts the National Anthem is played and everyone stands until it is over. When the flag is lowered for the day the national anthem plays over the loud speakers and everyone stops and stands with hands over hearts or salutes. Even if you are in your car, you stop, turn down the raido and show some respect. What a bunch of a$$holes.
milwife88 on June 30, 2009 at 3:59 PM
Are you ignorant? Where did I say that faith was beneficial to humans. I said that I was in the minority based on several thousand years of human evolutionary behaviors. Humans have always believed in a superior being. That has been proven by historical facts. Hell even an alcoholic believes in a higher power of his own choosing. What are you talking about. I was saying that I am in the minority (as well as you apparently)in regards to faith. You can reject faith all you want, and I will join you. But historically, we are not on the right side of history as you would want to believe.
FlyoverJ-HawkFan on June 30, 2009 at 4:01 PM
Then why is Lev complaining about it?
Esthier on June 30, 2009 at 4:03 PM
An atheist using religious words like blashemy (at least in a religious context), always reminds me of those comedians who purposely misuse words, or the athlete who uses a word they don’t understand…yeah when I went to the basket, I switched hands and laid it in with my left, that’s because I am amphibious…
You should really learn the context of the word, before using the word so losely…it is very pugnacious of you.
right2bright on June 30, 2009 at 4:04 PM
You weren’t baited. You live for this. You come on and insult everyone who has faith, calling them “stupid” or “gullible” or any other insults. You can’t help yourself. You’re an anti-religious fanatic, a mirror image of a religious fanatic like St. Olaf who comes on and tells us all that there is only one true church.
MadisonConservative on June 30, 2009 at 4:05 PM
Someone who tries to carry a cat by the tail learns something they can learn in no other way.
- Mark Twain
MB4 on June 30, 2009 at 4:07 PM
Out of curiosity, are you well educated? Not an insult, just interested if you are educated formally?
right2bright on June 30, 2009 at 4:08 PM
If people don’t want to have their beliefs made fun of then perhaps they should not have such funny beliefs.
MB4 on June 30, 2009 at 4:09 PM
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