Nov 17th, 2008
Posted by Larry Frankel, Washington Legislative Office at 1:48pm	Free Speech

Are Calls for the Death of Baggy Pants a Positive Sign of Obama's Governing Style?

A recent New York Times article, entitled "Can Obama Help Kill Baggy Pants Look?" credited our president-elect with making a fashion statement about low-slung pants that expose underwear. One MTV appearance by the president-elect probably cannot kill the baggy pants look with its deep roots in the prison population.

But it sure does set an important tone: passing a law is not the best way to handle every situation. On MTV, Obama called municipal ordinances that ban baggy pants "a waste of time."

"Having said that," Obama said, "brothers should pull up their pants. You are walking by your mother, your grandmother, your underwear is showing. What's wrong with that? Come on."

It seems clear that the former constitution law professor understands why we should not legislate against personal freedom of expression. Hopefully, the president-elect will also use the bully pulpit to influence many other small issues and leave the legislation to the big stuff.

Permalink |	Free Speech

Tags: Civil Liberties News

1. Liberal hater Says:
   Nov 17th, 2008 at 4:26pm

   Apparently the only freedom of expression that the ACLU does legislate against is religion in the public sqaure. OH, unless it's a muslim, which the ACLU protects(Islam) with all their left-wing ability. They only want to stamp out Christianity!

2. john herbert Says:
   Nov 21st, 2008 at 9:19pm

   What the liberal hater fails to recognize is, we the voices on the left as they will lable us, SUPPORT the voice the first amendment. The law that protects all the people. By their stand against what ever it is that they hate, it is strange how they egnore the law that enables them to vent their feelings. FREEDOM OF SPEACH.
   They RECOGNIZE the constitution only when it useful to their agenda.

3. Religious Freedom Supporter Says:
   Nov 30th, 2008 at 3:37pm

   I don't agree with the ordinences but personally I would not hire anyone who came into an interview with me if they had baggy pants.

   Its not discrimination its a business owner's right to set rules for their business.

   Another note the only religion christians recgonize is their own. The 1st amendment not only recgonizes free speech but the "Freedom FROM" religion.

   Christians in this country are the biggest group who violate the amendment. You have white supremesist groups that violate the rights of others. The ACLU supports the rights of all and it is because of this the christian religious right wing groups are against them.