U.S. Senate candidate Harold Ford Jr. said he would have voted for a constitutional amendment protecting the nation’s flag if he had been in the Senate when the vote was cast yesterday. The measure failed by a single vote.
In a statement, Congressman Ford said:
“Had I been in the Senate for yesterday’s vote, I would have voted in favor of the constitutional amendment banning desecration of our flag. Free speech is one of our nation’s most cherished and important values. But just as important is the protection of our flag, which is the clearest symbol of those values.
“The flag is more than just a piece of cloth. It is a symbol to ourselves and the rest of the work of freedom, democracy and the promise of a better tomorrow. It adorns our ships and leads our troops into battle. The flag demands our respect and deserves constitutional protection. If elected to the Senate, I will be proud to be the final vote necessary to see that it gets that protection.”
The Ford campaign said, "Congressman Ford’s record shows he has been in favor of a constitutional amendment banning desecration of our flag his entire career:"
Voted YES on passage of the joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment to state that Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
H J Res 10, 06/22/05, Roll Call #296
Voted YES on constitutional amendment prohibiting flag desecration: The Desecration of Flag resolution was a vote to put forward a Constitutional amendment to state that Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States
HJ RES 4, 06/03/03, Roll Call # 234
Voted YES on constitutional amendment that proposed Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
HJ RES 36, 07/17/01, Roll Call # 232
Voted YES on amendment to prohibit burning the U.S. flag: An amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States.
HJ RES 33, 06/24/99, Roll Call #252
Voted YES on passage of the joint resolution to propose a constitutional amendment to allow Congress to prohibit physical desecration of the U.S. flag.
HJ RES 54, 06/12/97, Roll Call #202