Oklahoma politicians react negatively to ' Pledge of Allegiance' ruling

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma political leaders are condemning a federal judge's ruling that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional.<br/><br/>Democratic Governor Brad

Wednesday, September 14th 2005, 6:06 pm

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Oklahoma political leaders are condemning a federal judge's ruling that reciting the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools is unconstitutional.

Democratic Governor Brad Henry described the ruling as silly. Senate Republican Leader Glenn Coffee says it's "wacky."

US District Judge Lawrence Karlton ruled Wednesday that the pledge's reference to one nation "under God" violates school children's right to be "free from a coercive requirement to affirm God."

Attorney General Drew Edmondson, a Democrat, says he'll join legal efforts to preserve the pledge.

Edmondson and other attorneys general have twice intervened to support the pledge. Edmondson says the nation's highest court had previously indicated that the pledge, as written, doesn't endorse any particular religious belief.