Steve Robertson, Director
National Legislative Commission
The American Legion
1608 K St., NW
Washington, DC 20006

Dear Mr. Robertson,

Enclosed please find the completed Congressional Candidate Questionnaire that you sent me recently.

I was surprised to see that the American Legion is only interested in my views on a flag desecration amendment to the Constitution. With so many of our good military men and women coming back from the Middle East in flag-draped coffins or badly injured, I would have thought that your organization would have concerns about my stands on veterans benefits, including survivor benefits, adequate funding for health care, rehabilitation services, retraining and schooling.

While I strongly oppose the Iraq War, I am equally strong on supporting our good military men and women and the veterans they become after their part of the action is behind them. I would urge your organization to put your energies toward assuring those benefits for your members - rather than worrying about how people may flaunt, wear, or dispose of American flags, or starred and striped clothing, that they may happen to own.

Sincerely,


Jean Hay Bright

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In 1989, the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Texas v. Johnson (5-4 vote) overturned 200 years of American tradition and laws by declaring that the people no longer had a right to protect the American flag.

The court ruled that flag burning was protected "speech" as defined by the First Amendment, and invalidated laws in 48 states and the District of Columbia. Moreover, the 5-4 decision ignored the opinions of 4 Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and Justices on 5 Supreme Courts in the last century, not to mention the author of the First Amendment, James Madison, and fellow Founding Father, Thomas Jefferson.

In reaction to the Supreme Court's erroneous decision, and the petitions by 50 states and the wishes of 80 percent of the American people, The Citizens Flag Alliance (CFA) was founded by The American Legion to return to the people their right to protect "Old Glory."

To correct the Supreme Court's mistake, The CFA has petitioned Congress to pass a constitutional amendment that would take power over the flag away from the court and return it to the American people. The full text of the amendment is:

"The Congress shall have the power to prohibit the physical
desecration of the flag of the United States."

Please complete, sign and return this questionnaire to The American Legion at the address at the bottom of the next page or fax (both sides) to the fax number provided.

Question 1: Do you believe burning the American Flag is speech as defined by the First Amendment?

YES

Question 2: Do you believe elected officials have an obligation to correct the mistakes of the court?

I believe in the three branches of government, and the separation of powers, as laid out in our Constitution.

Question 3: Do you believe the people should have the right to protect their flag if they so chose?

The right to protect one's own private property, including flags one may own, already exists. Likewise, flag owners, and those with clothing carrying a stars and stripes motif, have the right to dispose of their own property in a manner of their own choosing.

Question 4: If elected to the 110th Congress, will you vote for the Flag Amendment quoted above?

NO

Question 5: If elected to the 110th Congress, will you cosponsor the Flag Amendment?

NO

To better understand your concerns for this issue, we invite your opinion on the matter of constitutional protection for the Flag of the United States.

I personally love the Flag of the United States of America. But in this day and age, with what we have experienced as a country in the past five years, any attempt to amend our wonderful Constitution to prohibit the desecration of an American flag should be an issue that is dead in the water.

If someone has a gripe against the United States of America, and wants to express that intense anger in a public, provocative way, I would not stand in the way of that person burning an American flag. Better the flag than the Federal Building, or the World Trade Center. Our flag can take it.

Furthermore, to anyone who wants to jail such protesters, at a cost to taxpayers of about $40,000 a year, I would ask -- would you feel any differently if you knew the flag had been Made in China?

See further articles on my web page: http://www.jeanhaybright.us/flag.html

Candidate's Name: Jean Hay Bright      Date: Sept. 6, 2006
Address: 4262 Kennebec Rd, Dixmont ME 04932
State: Maine                                        Party: Democrat
Office Sought: U.S. Senate                  Signature: Jean Hay Bright

Mail to:
The American Legion
National Legislative Commission
1608 K St. NW
Washington, DC 20006

Phone: 202-861-2700, ext. 1300      Fax: (202) 816-2785      Email: mailto:mseavey@legion.org