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发帖数: 29846 | 1 Veterans Demand Lake County Democrats Remove Obama's Face From American Flag
By Michael Billera
A group of veterans and the head of the Lake County, Fl. Democratic Party
engaged in a standoff after the veterans complained about an altered
American flag. The flag had a picture of President Obama's face located
where the 50 stars would traditionally be located.
The Lake County Democratic Headquarters in Tavares were flying two flags
outside their office, reported the Florida Political Press. The first was a
traditional American flag and just below was the altered Obama-face flag.
A group of veterans saw the flag and asked the flag be removed.
"It's a cult of personality to show his face, like Stalin or Mao," said John
Masterjohn, a former Marine and retired schoolteacher, reported the Orlando
Sentinel. "It's despicable. They don't realize how sick they are."
Nancy Hurlbert, chairwoman of the Democratic office, said it was the first
time anyone had complained about the flag, reported the Orlando Sentinel.
"I was surprised," she said after taking down the flag. "No one had called
us. We have a phone."
While, altering the American flag is in violation of the federal flag code,
it does not constitute any jail time due to U.S. Supreme Court decisions.
Desecrating a flag is protected under the First Amendment.
Around 4 p.m. on Wednesday, about six veterans appeared outside the
Democratic headquarters. Dan Van Beck, a member of the veterans group, said
he would give Hurlbert a POW/MIA flag to fly in place of the Obama-face flag.
Hurlbert said she would research the issue, but did not take the flag down.
Van Beck said he would take the flag down for her.
"No, you will not," Hurlbert reportedly said. "This is private property."
The group decided to take no further action, but after some time, Hulbert
came out and took down the flag. She did not take the POW flag.
"We're proud of our president and we didn't realize it was in violation,"
she said. "I am the chair and I take responsibility for this."
The veterans, appeared pleased with the results.
"I'm sorry it had to come to this but you do not desecrate the American flag
," said Van Beck. |
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