Not Quite the Banner Day One Might Have Hoped For

If wrapping oneself in the flag were a form of desecration, senators on both sides of the issue would have been in some trouble yesterday. Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) called a midday news conference outside his office with two colleagues. They stood in front of three gold-trimmed flags, eagles atop each.

"The American flag represents everything this country stands for," Sen. Jim Bunning (R-Ky.) told the assembled. "I am ready to go on this amendment!"

But is this the most important issue facing the nation? Frist was uneasy. "You know, it's interesting, in terms of the question of why, why, why now," he began, then decided to rephrase the question. "Is it important?" he asked. "You bet it's important."

Fortunately for Frist, his Democratic counterpart was struggling on another flag-bedecked stage. "I think we have some misplaced priorities," Sen. Harry Reid (Nev.) said, condemning the amendment at a news conference. "I don't think it's the right time to bring up the issue." Reid seemed a bit sheepish as he acknowledged, "I'll vote for it."

So if he thinks bringing it up is such a bad idea, why is he voting for it? "I'm confident it won't pass," Reid explained.

Hatch alone seemed unburdened of doubt. "This sends a message to the [Supreme] Court like it's never been sent before!" he said. "In my opinion, there's nothing that would supersede this in importance."

Nobody would join Hatch in assigning the "most important" label.

"I know how y'all use those questions," said a suspicious George Allen (R-Va.).

"I'm not going to put it 'the most important,' " said Norm Coleman (R-Minn.).

"I wouldn't call it the most pressing," demurred John Cornyn (R-Tex.) How about top 10? "I can't give you a top 10," Cornyn again dodged.

Out on the floor, the debate was getting sloppy. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), a supporter, displayed a poster of Iwo Jima. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.), an opponent, countered with a poster of Kid Rock wearing a flag.

Was this any way to amend the Constitution? Hatch went to the floor to steel the chamber's resolve. "I was asked this afternoon by a large body of media: Is this the most important thing the Senate could be doing at this time?" he told his colleagues, answering the question, "I can tell you: You're darned right it is."

An hour later, Hatch fell a vote short of his goal. But there was no time to wallow: Oregon's Smith was already on the floor, hailing Oregon State University's college baseball World Series victory.

"Mr. President," Smith announced with an enthusiasm that eluded him during the flag-burning debate, "I stand before you a Beaver believer."