| Show Kerry rr Edwards war an and a May a a 0 on I 0 05 5 DO s S v I Helen Dewar The Washington Post For some Republicans it is the perfect perfect perfect per per- political storm a Senate vote on ona ona ona a constitutional amendment to protect the US U.S. flag that would put Democratic presidential nominee John F. F Kerry running mate John Edwards and Minority Leader Thomas Daschle on the spot just a afew afew afew few weeks before the Nov 2 elec elec- The Senate GOP leadership has not scheduled a vote on the proposed amendment but Majority Leader Bill Frist R noted last week that its it's a high priority for veterans groups Other Republicans say a vote is likely before the Senates Senate's Oct 8 target date for adjournment As senators Kerry Mass Edwards NC and Daschle SD S.D. have voted against the amendment and are described by colleagues as still opposed to it But Kerry and Edwards who rarely leave the campaign campaign cam cam- paig trail for Senate votes are not expected to show up for the flag debate unless it appears their votes would be decisive As it appears now the vote could be close enough to focus attention on Kerry and Edwards if they do not suspend suspend suspend sus sus- pend campaigning to return for the roll call or if they do return and their votes turn out to be critical in defeating defeating defeating defeat defeat- ing the amendment Similarly if Daschle turns out to cast the or make-or- break vote Republicans will almost certainly use it against him in his close race for reelection in South Dakota Some Republicans believe the three Democrats' Democrats votes against the proposal propos propos- al or al or absence when the roll is called- called can be used against them effectively at a time of war terrorism threats and heightened patriotism If Kerry and Edwards vote against the amend amend- ment or fail to show up for the vote going to have to explain why said Sen John Cornyn R- R Texas a key backer of the proposal But Democrats describe the GOP strategy as a cynical ploy that could backfire among voters who are fed up with gotcha politics and congressional congressional congressional inaction on other issues They also say such divisive initiatives could dash any prospects for serious business being accomplished over the next month All they're doing is setting the stage for second 30 ads for the campaign campaign campaign cam cam- said Sen Richard Durbin D- D Ill a foe of the measure Amendment supporters contend the flag deserves special protection as an important national symbol while opponents including Kerry have argued that flag desecration can be punished under criminal statutes without tampering with the Constitution The flag proposal which would empower Congress to ban desecration of the US U.S. flag would be th S 'S cond sponsored GOP-sponsored constitutional amendment to come to a vote in the Senate this year A measure to bar sex same-sex marriages drew 48 votes in ina a procedural showdown in July nearly nearly nearly near near- ly 20 votes short of the two-thirds two majority needed to amend the Constitution The flag amendment has considerably considerably considerably consider consider- ably more support though it has yet yetto yetto yetto to gamer enough votes for passage senators on both sides of the issue say When it was considered in 2000 another presidential election year the amendment got 63 votes four short of the 67 needed when all senators are present Based on statements statements statements state state- ments and previous votes both sides count 64 senators in support of the See Flag continued on page 8 Flag continued from page 6 amendment this year 01 r Without Kerry and Edwards the number required for approval would drop to 66 or even lower if other senators also were absent The reason is that two-thirds two of the senators present and voting are required to amend the Constitution rather than two-thirds two of the full membership of Kerry Kent and Edwards could come under heavy pressure to return if it appears that the amendment might pass in their absence The House has already approved the amendment If the Senate follows suit the proposal will go to the 50 states for ratification Approval by three-fourths three of the states usually by legislative action is required to amend the Constitution |
