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American Morning

U.S. Senate Reacts With Bipartisan Outrage After Appeals Court Rules 'Under God' Unconstitutional

Aired June 27, 2002 - 07:01   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: Up front this morning, the U.S. Senate reacting with bipartisan outrage and plans to recite the Pledge of Allegiance earlier -- later today. This after yesterday's appeals court ruling that "under God" is unconstitutional.

That ruling read in part now: "When the Pledge is recited in a classroom, a student who objects is confronted with an unacceptable choice between participating and protesting."

More throughout the morning here. First, in Atlanta, we want to hear from some real folks. We have heard from politicians all day yesterday and through the afternoon. Brian Cabell sampling reaction to the ruling with us this morning -- Brian, good morning.

BRIAN CABELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Bill. Here is the headline in "The Atlanta Journal Constitution," "Under God Overturned." I think you'll see these headlines all across the United States.

We are at Joe Muggs (ph) Coffee Shop and Newsstand in Buckhead in northern Atlanta. We have talked to a number of people this morning, nothing but negative comments. People say if kids don't want to say "under God," they can just remain silent. We have heard nothing positive about this. In fact, I think all across the United States reaction is almost uniformly negative toward this ruling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I believe in God, and I think that's -- I suppose that's why it's very important to me that this nation is under God, and that it stays that way.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was basically shocked about it. I can't believe they would actually do it. I mean, I grew up my entire life saying the Pledge of Allegiance through middle school, grade school, high school, and you know, we never hear it said now anyway.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, I am furious about it, because to me, the whole country is one nation under God. The whole world is under God period, and I think it's wrong to take it out of the Pledge.

(END VIDEO CLIP) CABELL: So as you can see, Bill, not too many people happy about this ruling, at least in the newsstands and the cafes. All across the United States today, we have heard nothing but negative opinions, but of course, there are some positives, but we are still waiting for the first positive opinion for this ruling in this particular newsstand -- Bill.

HEMMER: We might hear in a couple minutes here, Brian. The man who brought the suit is in Sacramento, California. We'll talk with him in a moment here on AMERICAN MORNING. Brian, thanks -- Brian Cabell in Atlanta.

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