Pledge protester faces recall vote

THE WASHINGTON TIMES ^ | December 21, | Valerie Richardson

[Former Military Chick]

Voters in this woodsy mountain village will decide soon whether to recall a member of the town's Board of Trustees who refuses to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

David Habecker, a two-term member of the board, faces a Feb. 15 recall vote after drawing the community's ire for refusing to stand because he objects to the phrase "under God."

He said the wording violates Article VI of the U.S. Constitution, which states that "no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States."

"This makes the Pledge a religious test for public office," said Mr. Habecker, who works as a building designer. "It's establishing a requirement for people who want to run for this office: You have to be religious. You have to believe in God."

Trustee Lori Jeffrey-Clark said Mr. Habecker shocked many voters and other trustees with his decision. During a September meeting, Mr. Habecker announced that he would no longer take part in the Pledge until Congress or the courts removed the words "under God."

"We were just kind of stunned. We had no idea he felt this way or that he had this sensitivity," said Mrs. Jeffrey-Clark, a retired Navy officer.

The seven-member, nonpartisan board began reciting the Pledge at the start of meetings in May at Mrs. Jeffrey-Clark's request. For the next three months, Mr. Habecker stood and joined the other trustees.

The recall effort followed shortly after Mrs. Jeffrey-Clark took her 10-year-old nephew and his Cub Scout troop to a September board meeting to fulfill a civics requirement.

"I told the Scouts that Mr. Habecker has a First Amendment right to make a statement by sitting down during the Pledge," Mrs. Jeffrey-Clark said.

[Former Military Chick]

What will be next folks.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

They've already tried to force the people of Los Cruces to change the name of their time.

I think that San Francisco may be next.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

GAH!

What I meant was: "change the name of their TOWN."

That's better.

[reaganaut]

It's not a qualification for holding office, or being elected.

Why can he just not NOT say "under God" and recite the rest of the pledge. Methinks he just doesn't believe in pledging Allegiance to our flag and is using religion as an excuse.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Classic RDDB.

[freepatriot32]

"it just didn't feel right." He decided to do some research on the Constitution, and when he came across Article VI, Clause 3, "it was like a light bulb going off," he said.

So this little athiest has managed to live his whole life in the usa and run for office and get elected and the sob never once in his life decided to read the constitution that he took a oath of office to uphold and defend?That alone should get him recalled in february or impeached immediately

[reaganaut]

RDDB?

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

Red Diaper Doper Baby.

A term coined by Michael Savage to describe the hideously warped progeny of the "Greatest Generation", which went on to wreak untold havoc on our nation's system of higher education-specifically-and the broader culture.

[reaganaut]

I'm familiar with Savage, I've just only seen it spelled out. Now I know the FLA for it. :) I'd bet $$ he's one.

[kingu]

Hmm. Let's see.. He's making a political statement, the folks who hold the keys to his job are making a political statement.. Sounds like he'd better decide to stand for the pledge, or find a real job.

[Cobra64]

Classic RDDB.

?

Sort of like ASTM, NAPM, APICS...

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

NQAI!

[Cobra64]

ASTM= American Society of Testing Materials

NAPM _ Nationnal Association of Purchasing Materials

AISI = American Institute Society of Industry.

And your acronym means....? What?

[Cobra64]

Then again, newbies that are wise guys around here and don't pay attention, are perceived as FUBAR.

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1271120/posts

[Cobra64]

Do not dub me shapka broham

Nice ID. And what is a shapka? Or a broham?

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

It means "hat", in Russian.

The broham part I swiped from a very funny skit on "SNL", starring Horatio Sanz.

He and his cast-mate played Turkish swingers-kind of like the roles Steve Martin and Dan Ackroyd played years before-who hosted their own TV chat show.

The phrase "Do not dub me shapka" comes from Everything is Illuminating.

It's probably one of the most amusing, touching novels that's come out in recent memory, even if the conclusion is kind of depressing.

[Cobra64]

Oh, I should have known. My Russian is a little rusty as an English descendent, never having been to Russia. (shaking head in disbelief, and rolling eyes).

[Do not dub me shapka broham]

I've never been to Russia, either.

Though, I grew up and went to school with a lot of native Russians.

Most of whom emigrated to the United States during the '80s, with all of the other Russian Jewry who were finally granted the freedom to leave the U.S.S.R.

One of my best friends-who, unfortunately, I've lost touch with-still lives in Brighton Beach, to the best of my knowledge.

[Elkiejg]

The issue has energized the community and fueled worldwide debate on a host of conservative and atheist Web sites alike, such as FreeRepublic.com and the ChurchofCriticalThinking.com. Each side says it has received numerous phone calls and e-mails in support of its stance, and letters on the subject are running regularly in the Estes Park Trail Gazette newspaper.

FREEPERS RULE!!