Democratic NY State Senators Refuse to Stand for Pledge, Try to Silence Republicans

New York State Senators locked themselves in their chamber so they could be first into a special session called by Dem Gov Patterson in order to take possession of the podium and silence NY Senate Republicans.

Then as the session opened, Dems refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and when one attempted to, he was pulled down into his seat by colleagues.

From the NY Daily Balance:

Here’s shocking video of State Senate Democrats, including Darrel Aubertine, Dave Valesky, Bill Stachowski, Brian Foley and every other Democrat lawmaker, sitting through the Pledge of Allegiance in protest over their loss of power in Albany.

The video shows one Democrat, Brooklyn’s Martin Dilan, trying to join in reciting the Pledge, but he is immediately and forcefully pulled down by two fellow Democrats, Kevin Parker of Brooklyn and Ruth Hassell-Thompson of Westchester.

Not a single Democrat lawmaker stood during the Pledge, including Sens. Darrel Aubertine, Bill Stachowski, Dave Valesky and Brian Foley.

I couldn’t be more shocked if they were Chicago Democrats, could you? 

Comments

[Gary]

The Pledge of Allegiance to the United States flag is an oath of loyalty to the nation of the United States of America. It is often recited at public events. Congressional sessions open with a recitation of the Pledge.

The current Pledge of Allegiance reads:

"I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.[5]

According to the United States Flag Code the pledge should be recited by standing at attention facing the flag with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform, people should remove any non-religious headdress with their right hand and hold it at the left shoulder, with the right hand being over the heart. People in uniform should remain silent, face the flag, and render the military salute.

Question: How's does refusing to show respect for the United States further their cause? Why don't they just refuse to take a bath? Isn't that just as childish?

And yet another example of liberalism being the politics of adolescents.

[Charles]

There is nothing other than childish behavior being shown by the members of the New York State Senate on both sides of the aisle. They are all more interested in retaining their prerogatives (read $$$) than in doing their duty to the people who elected them. We New Yorkers should vote every last one of these turkeys out of office at the next election.

In fact, while we're at it, let's abolish the State Senate and the U.S. Senate so we can get some of the people's work done instead of all this childish politicking. The idea of a bicameral legislature is inherently anti-democratic and inefficient.

[Amy Proctor]

I appreciate your comments, but if we abolished the senate at the state and national level, what would we rely on, the White House?

The Senate is part of the all important 3 part government system, the legislature.