Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) said in a statement that she would "support federal legislation that would outlaw flag desecration, much like laws that currently prohibit the burning of crosses, but I don't believe a constitutional amendment is the answer."

I have a rant about this matter that I will deliver if this effort is successful. For the time being I'm holding my touge because I think this is a bunch of political grandstanding and this won't actually come to pass.

My cynical perspective on Clinton's comment above is that she is opposed to the amendment, but she doesn't have the guts to come out and clearly explain why. Cross burning is not prohibited by law, nor can it be. Intimidation is prohibited by law. Burning a cross in order to intimidate people is illegal in several states and those laws have been upheld when carefully applied.

Is Hillary asking for a ban on flag burning in the context where it is used to intimidate? One could certainly imagine such a context, were a violent islamist group to burn a flag while chanting "death to the infidels." However, this isn't really what this is about. In fact, almost no one burns flags in the U.S. When it happens it is usually an expression of frustration with the system rather then a threat of violence against the people. Is American Recordings attempting to intimidate you? Was Johnny Cash anti-american?

Intimidation isn't really what this is about, and Hillary knows that. Thats is why I see this comment as an attempt to avoid discussing a matter which I feel is vital to our identity as a nation.

This is a grave decision we face. Choose wisely.