Heading into the November elections, there will be no shortage of political candidates wrapping themselves in patriotism and expressing their love of country.

But judging from the mood of the electorate during the primary elections, disgruntled Americans will be looking for more substance than photo ops and political spin from the candidates. Wearing a flag pin makes for a good visual, but hopefully, voters will be gauging their candidates on the issues.It should concern us, however, when our flag is disrespected.We remember the turbulent 1960s when social unrest being fueled by civil rights and the Vietnam War propelled thousands into our streets in protest. The Supreme Court has made it clear that using the flag as part of a protest - even burning a flag - is protected by the First Amendment.Today, attacks on the flag are just as common but rarely receive the news coverage they did from the large networks a half century ago. Stories do surface, however, through localized news outlets, showing how homeowners associations, school boards and city councils are bowing to special interest groups or people who may be "offended" by the American flag.In Colorado last week, a man with the patriotic name of Samuel Adams (one of our founding fathers) created a stir shortly after moving into his apartment complex and hanging an American flag on his balcony to commemorate July Fourth.Adams received a letter from his complex telling him he had to take the flag down. The association cited a clause in the lease that says residents cannot hang flags or decorations from their balconies.Although the American Flag Act of 2005 gives homeowners the right to display an American flag, it doesn't specifically protect renters.Controversial Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio, an outspoken opponent of illegal immigration and famous for his no-nonsense brand of tough justice, also made news last holiday weekend.To celebrate July Fourth, he had more than 8,000 prisoners in the Maricopa County jails wear uniforms promoting the stars and stripes. On Monday, Arpaio, an Army veteran, had the military veterans incarcerated in his jail pass out the flag uniforms to other inmates.An official statement from the sheriff's office said: "Sheriff Arpaio ordered the new look out of respect for our nation's heritage and with the aspiration of adding the respect each wearer will hold for themselves."He also explained that the American flag is a symbol of freedom and liberty and hoped that the inmates felt a sense of pride and honor in sporting the colors of the flag.This is not the first time Arpaio used inmate clothing to make a statement. In the past, he ordered prisoners to wear pink underwear, explaining that it was to prevent its theft by the released inmates. A federal appeals court later struck down the pink underwear mandate, saying that it resulted in punishment without legal justification.Arpaio first made news in 1993 by erecting a tent city to house his prisoners in the desert. When inmates complained, he responded: "It's 120 degrees in Iraq and the soldiers are living in tents and they didn't commit any crimes, so shut your mouths."The tent city was criticized by groups that contended it was a violation of human and constitutional rights.Two years ago, about three dozen inmates rebelled against Arpaio's policy of putting American flags in jail cells by desecrating the stars and stripes. This act earned them a "bread and water" diet from the sheriff.The so-called nutra-loaf consisted of a baked loaf of ground-up fruits, vegetables, milk powder, dough and other ingredients. It did fulfill nutritional requirements, but ranked quite low on the palate meter.Arpaio said he runs a patriotic jail system and would not tolerate desecrating the flags by tearing them up or throwing them in the toilet.The First Amendment applies to "whoever knowingly mutilates, defaces, physically defiles, burns, maintains on the floor or ground, or tramples upon any flag of the United States."Arpaio said that when anyone tampers with the flag, they are tampering with government property, and thus it is not a First Amendment issue.Arpaio's in-your-face military brand of justice strikes a nerve with many voters disgusted with a legal system that they feel is weighted on the side of already-coddled criminals. When it comes to patriotic fervor and taking action, he certainly outdistances those politicians just content with wearing a flag lapel pin.By Jim Zbick |

tneditor@tnonline.com