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Backdrop Collapses at Clinton Rally, Knocks Down American Flag

Metaphor alert

September 10, 2015

The backdrop at a Hillary Clinton rally collapsed on Thursday, mimicking the downward trajectory of Clinton’s campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

Livestream footage from NBC affiliate TMJ4 shows a modest crowd milling around in an auditorium when the black backdrop behind Clinton’s podium collapses, knocking over an American flag and Wisconsin state flag.

The crowd of presumptive Democrats screamed and whipped out their smartphones to record the incident, though none rushed the stage to right Old Glory. The backdrop was restored after several minutes by event staff. Only then was the flag rescued.

According to Free Beacon video analysis, the American flag was knocked against Clinton’s podium by the falling backdrop, bringing the flag into direct contact with the ground.Also falling victim to the campaign's poor stage construction was the Wisconsin state flag, which fell completely to the floor and out of sight. This analysis leaves little doubt that Clinton violated the Flag Code maintained by the American Legion, a century-old veterans group.

Section Eight of the Flag Code, titled "Respect for the Flag," states that "the flag should never touch anything beneath it, such as the ground, the floor, water, or merchandise." (emphasis added).

In 2006, then-Sen. Clinton voted against a proposed Constitutional amendment that would have outlawed the desecration of American flags. The Clinton campaign did not offer comment or apology for their violation of the Flag Code.

Thursday’s act of flag desecration will only add to the miasma of scandal surrounding Clinton, whose private email server is being investigated by the FBI and CIA. Clinton’s use of a private server for official business may have compromised state secrets, jeopardizing the flag she swore to protect.

Clinton’s many scandals have solidified public distrust of the candidate, who was recently overtaken in two key Democratic primaries by a challenger, socialist Sen. Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.).