People For the American Way today applauded the senators who helped defeat the Flag Desecration Amendment and with their votes protected every American’s right to free expression.

PFAW President Ralph G. Neas made the following statement:

“The Constitution is truly what defines America, and the freedoms and liberties it protects are more important than any symbol, even one that is cherished by so many Americans.

“Many senators seem to have forgotten that the First Amendment’s free speech protections have real meaning only if they are upheld for even the most unpopular views. Senators who opposed this amendment should be commended for having the courage to say that protecting dissent is protecting freedom.”

“The Republican leadership continues to pump up the false idea that the nation faces an epidemic of flag-burning, and trots out this amendment as an election-year stunt to rally their political base. No doubt there are campaign consultants feverishly at work on ugly political ads to unfairly impugn the patriotism of senators who took a principled and patriotic stand for our First Amendment freedoms. Fortunately, I believe voters will see such nonsense for what it is – a desperate effort to distract people from the failures of the Bush administration and its congressional allies to deal with the problems that are really having an impact on American families.”