Submitted by John Stauber on
The New York Times reports that former general and corporate lobbyist, now presidential candidate Wesley Clark supports "a proposed constitutional
amendment that would make it illegal to desecrate the
American flag by burning or other means, a position that
puts him at odds with many constituencies in the Democratic
Party and several other candidates for the Democratic
nomination for president." Changing the U.S. Constitution to ban flag desecration has been criticized for years as a dangerous attack on free speech and dissent. Clark announced his positiion before the American Legion, a well-funded group long behind the amendment through the Citizens Flag Alliance. The CFA has been represented by PR and lobby heavyweights including Burson-Marsteller and Belanger Consulting.