Video: Stewart exposes absurdity of flag debate

The latest Bloomberg Poll measured the 2006 race for Congress, and has Democrats comfortably leading Republicans by 14-points.  With things getting desperate as we get closer to election time, the Republicans have spent the last two weeks trying to ignite a culture war in an attempt to maximize their political base's voter turnout this November.

Republicans like Orrin Hatch, who authored the flag amendment that was rejected this week, still insist that this was not an election year ploy.  As Jon Stewart, host of the Daily Show, explained, no American is buying that line:

Click to watch video clip

---------- Partial Transcript ---------

STEWART: "In the end, the amendment fell one short of passing the United States Senate.  But as Senator Hatch explained, the motivation was pure."

(begin video segment)

SEN. HATCH: "Bringing it up at this time was certainly not an election year ploy.  We have Democrats and Republicans who feel very deeply about this.  It is bipartisan.  The last time we brought it up was in the year 2000."

(end video segment)

STEWART: "And that wasn't an election -- oh!"

Two weeks ago it was gays.  Last week it was flags.  Now expect guns and God to be next.  This year you have a clear choice to make.  Either you vote to continue the culture of fear, or you vote for a culture of reform.  Your choice.
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Other blogs writing about this issue: Donkey Path, They Get Letters, WMFU's Beware of the Blog, Libertarian Librarian, Maine Democrats, DC Mr. Anthrope, I'm Taking my Country Back, Death of the Message Board, RJS Journey, Terry Cowgill, A Crank's Progress.