We're not obliged to defend dumb people because other dumb people will act in bad faith. If Democrats don't condemn examples of flag burning, then those will be used against them and they'll be more likely to chime with non-MAGA types than invented or old outrages.
I do not believe - and I'm getting a bit frustrated that I keep having to restate this point - that Democrats discouraging people from burning flags is a panacea. I just think it's better than the alternative.
What I'm saying is they don't need us to invent ammunition. They won on "eating cats and dogs." A condemnation by Dems has no bearing on what Reps will or will not say. The alternative is to not participate in their stupid debate that you won't win, and talk about shit that matters.