This makes me lose a lot of respect for Gen. Wesley Clark :

Gen. Wesley K. Clark said on Tuesday that he supported a proposed constitutional amendment that would make it illegal to desecrate the American flag by burning or other means, a position that puts him at odds with many constituencies in the Democratic party and several other candidates for the senate nomination for president.

The general expressed his view in response to a question from a World War II veteran at a Veterans Day visit to an American Legion post. “I’m absolutely in favor of anything that strengthens the American flag,” General Clark said. “I’m in favor of the American flag amendment.”

The remarks drew applause from a crowd of about 100 veterans and spouses who gathered at the American Legion Sweeney Post No. 2 here. But the comments were also a cause for some surprise because General Clark has been strongly critical of the Bush administration, saying it has tried to squelch dissent about its policies in Iraq. A majority of Democrats in Congress have opposed the amendment in recent years, in part because the most recent versions have been vaguely worded. Opponents also say such an amendment violates free speech rights.

Now, I can totally understand why someone would be offended by burning the flag. It bothers me too, but passing a constitutional amendment to ban a certain kind of free expression is a dangerous precedent. Who knows what kinds of political protest would be banned next? Criticizing the president while we’re at war? Expressing love or compassion for “the enemy”? Sure, this is just a reactionary slippery-slope argument, but Clark should know better than to support this crap.

Update : Via NotGeniuses, here’s John Kerry’s view on flag burning :

“If I saw someone burning the flag, I’d punch them in the mouth because I love the flag, but the Constitution that I fought for preserves the right of free expression.”

Heh, heh. Kerry may not stand a chance, but he’s got his moments.