Defenders of the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance go out of their way to emphasize that no one is forced to say those words - and because there is no compulsion, there is no case for removing them. While it may not be illegal to skip that phase, some of the same conservatives who emphasize the voluntariness of the words turn around and viciously attack anyone who dares to drop them - thus reinforcing the fact that what they aren't trying to accomplish through they law they do want to enforce by other means.
Les Gehrett writes in the Gazette Times about how Linn County Commissioner John Lindsey, a Republican, is actively working against the re-election of fellow Republican Cliff Wooten. Why? He doesn't say "under God" in the Pledge:
"He does not recite 'under God,' " Lindsey said. "As a veteran, I have mixed emotions about that. If someone's going to be a political leader, I do start to have a problem with that. If you are going to portray yourself as a conservative Republican, at least act like one." Asked to respond, Wooten said he was running against Skiens, not Lindsey, and he didn't want to get involved in what he called "smear tactics."
In particular, he didn't wish to elaborate on the question of the Pledge of Allegiance. "I'd rather not respond to that because religion is a personal thing," Wooten said. ... "Our party cannot afford to be represented by these RINO-type Republicans (Republicans in Name Only)," Lindsey stated in the letter.
So - a person can't be a conservative Republican without agreeing with Lindsey on religion and on religion's relationship to politics? A person who does not treat America as "under God" cannot be a conservative Republican? What a completely ridiculous and asinine position to adopt. Calling that a "smear tactic" is being awfully generous and polite, I think. Wooten is doing the right thing by trying not to let religion become a political issue - Lindsey could learn a thing or two from him.
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