For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
June 26, 2002
White House Reaction to Circuit Court Ruling
Remarks by the Press Secretary on Court Decision
The Metropolitan Center
Calgary, Canada
2:37 P.M. (Local)
MR. FLEISCHER: You have a question about the court case?
Q The President's reaction?
MR. FLEISCHER: The President was informed at the G-8 Summit about
the San Francisco court decision pertaining to the flag. The
President's reaction was that this ruling is ridiculous.
The Supreme Court, itself, begins each of its sessions with the
phrase, "God save the United States and this honorable court." The
Declaration of Independence refers to God or to the Creator four
different times. Congress begins each session of the Congress each day
with a prayer. And of course, our currency says, "In God We Trust."
The view of the White House is that this was a wrong decision, and
the Department of Justice is now evaluating how to seek redress.
Q The National Republican Congressional Committee is urging
all Republican House members to tell school districts to ignore this
decision. Does the President support that?
MR. FLEISCHER: Well, of course, this decision is a decision of a
circuit court, which has an impact in the area of the circuit court; it
is not a national decision. And I think that people very naturally are
going to react strongly opposed to this.
It's notable, yesterday when the President was in Arizona
comforting the families who lost their homes in the fire, the thing he
said that brought the most warmth and hope to those people gathered in
that high school was "have faith in God Almighty." That, more than
anything, brought a reaction from people who were looking for help.
And I think this decision will not sit well with the American people.
Certainly, it does not sit well with the President of the United
States.
Q But does he support this call by the National Republican
Congressional Committee to tell school districts, even in California
and Oregon and in the 9th Circuit, to ignore the law?
MR. FLEISCHER: Terry, I don't think it comes down to what anybody
is telling people. People are going to feel very strongly about this
themselves and take the actions that they're going to take. I think
most Americans have faith in God and they're going to express it in the
Pledge, every day, that they can.
Thank you.
END 2:40 P.M. (Local)
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