Tom Allen: Getting by with a little help from his friends

Since coming to the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Tom Allen, D-ME, has repeatedly voted against a constitutional amendment that would outlaw desecration of the United States’ flag.

Now that he’s running for the United States Senate, he’s getting noticed for it.

Like many politicians, Allen’s nascent campaign has established an online presence, through the social-networking website MySpace. After a greeting from Allen, users are treated to lengthy posting on the website’s front page theorizing that the collapse of the World Trade Center was caused by a controlled demolition, rather than a terrorist attack.

Allen is free to delete the posting, which criticizes the 9/11 commission for not “(including) the possibility of controlled-demolition” in its report to Congress, but has left it on his campaign page since at least March 1, 2007.

Allen has also attracted an eclectic group of “friends” to his “Tom Allen for Maine” page, including one whose profile features the burning of an American flag. The picture of the burning American flag is seen by anyone who visits Allen’s MySpace page.

The liberal Democrat has repeatedly voted against House resolutions that would allow voters to determine whether a Constitutional amendment should be adopted to prohibit flag burning. Allen voted against the proposal in 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003 and 2005.

At least two of Allen’s friends feature web videos promoting the legalization of marijuana. The links are available to anyone who visits Allen’s MySpace page, regardless of age.

Last week, Allen voted in favor of an amendment sponsored by New York Democrat Maurice Hinchey that would supersede state laws in controlling the use of medical marijuana. The amendment failed by a margin of 165-262. In the past, Allen has opposed the use of the military for drug interdiction, supported needle exchange in Washington, DC, and opposed subjecting federal employees to random drug tests.

Allen’s other friends include those using his site to promote their views on issues ranging from global warming to abolishing the federal reserve to ending whale hunting.

Another is a seemingly topless woman from Ellsworth, Maine.