My own personal Congressman, Jim McDermott (D - WA) is taking fire from Republicans for omitting the words "under God" when he led the Pledge of Allegiance in the House yesterday.
McDermott's staff is saying it was inadvertent, that he recited the Pledge the way he learned it as a child, but Talk Left points out that in an interview last month, he seemed to suggest that it was more a matter of principle:
"I personally don't think it adds anything to the Pledge of Allegiance, and I personally don't say, 'under God,'" McDermott is quoted as saying. "I consider it an infringement that I don't like. I don't like infringements of church and state. And so I don't know that I'm rigid, but I try to be consistent."
If it was in fact just his habit, fine, but I suspect this is not the case. I wish he would stand up to the attack dogs and tell it like it is, but I'm still proud of him for doing it in the first place. I'm going to call his office and make sure they know.
